Kelly Duggar Kane – Owner/Director
Kelly has more than 20 years of experience in the dance industry, including instruction and choreography. She received the majority of her training from Martinez-Evans Dance Studio in Martinez, Georgia. There she danced on competitive levels in which she was a part of many award-winning dances. While in high school, she was a two-year charter member of the Evans High School Dance Team and performed in the Opening Ceremonies of the ’96 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. After high school, Kelly began her teaching career in dance, which included ballet, tap and jazz to children of various ages. In 1998, Kelly initiated the Lakeside Middle School Dance Team, which was the first middle school dance team in the Columbia County school district. She coached the team for five years while attending Augusta State University. Kelly was also a choreographer for the Greenbrier High School Show Choir’s production of Godspell.
In addition to Kelly’s dance and choreography accomplishments, she is also a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While working as a registered nurse, she continued to teach dance at Center Stage Dance Academy. Kelly has choreographed many award-winning numbers while teaching for Martinez-Evans Dance Studio and Center Stage Dance Academy, and has finally decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of creating her own dance company.
April Storm-Hartsell – Competition Director
April founded Martinez-Evans Dance Studio in May of 1985. She was owner and director for 24 years. She retired in 2009 but, obviously, God was not finished with her in the art of dance. Merging with Kane & Co. is going to be a wonderful and amazing adventure. April is Assistant Director and Competition Team Coordinator. She was Assistant Choreographer in the Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ga.
In her spare time April judges for a National Competition Circuit “Dance Troupe, Inc.” and works part time at Augusta Vascular Center.
April is married to Mike Hartsell. They lovingly share the joy of their grown children, Jason Storm, Dr. Kelly Storm, Nathan Hartsell and last, but not least, their precious Maltese Miss Dakota Snow.
Sally King – Instructor
Sally King has been a dance instructor with Kane and Company for one year and
looks forward to a new great, fun filled season. Sally started dancing at the
age of 5 in 1993 and entered competitive dance in 1996 at the age of 8. In
2003, Sally was invited to participate in the Youth Dance Ambassadors (YDA)
exercises at the Nationals Dance Competition in Savannah, Georgia where she
performed a routine at the “Banquet of Stars” dinner. In 2007, Sally’s
last competitive dance year, she won the overall award for her solo jazz
performance at the Nationals Dance Competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,
in addition to winning first (Jazz) and second (Lyrical) overall awards for her
performances in the Duet/Trio category with her sister Katy.
Throughout Sally’s involvement with dance, she has obtained vast experience in
several forums, including Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical and other types of dance
and was named “Dancer of the Year” at the studio she performed with. She
has participated in numerous charitable events, school functions, and taught
dance at Lakeside Middle School for team competition.
After High School Graduation, Sally remained active in dance as an Artistic
Director at a local dance studio and was awarded a Teacher Choreography award at
one of the regional dance competitions.
After completing her pre-requisites at Augusta State University, Sally was
accepted into the Respiratory Therapy Program at the Medical College of Georgia
where she will attend in the fall.
Lauren O’Grady Schwamb – Instructor
Lauren has more than 25 years of dance experience, in which she has studied technique, performance, choreography, and pedagogy for students of all ages and levels. Her knowledge of dance encompasses the following genres: tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, and clogging. Some notable accomplishments in Lauren’s career include being a member of the amateur professional dance company- DANCEFX in Athens, GA, a performer in the Jazz Dance World Congress held in Chicago, a three year member of the University of Georgia dance line-The Georgettes, a member/choreographer for the Evans High School Dance Team, a performer in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games, and a member/choreographer/instructor for the Martinez-Evans Dance Studio performance company where she was awarded the Dancer of the Year scholarship in 1996 for excellence in dance. Lauren has choreographed for dance studios around the state of Georgia for the past 15 years. In recent years, Lauren’s choreography has won many overall awards at national competitions including Dance Troupe, Hall of Fame, Star Systems, and Showstoppers.
Lauren’s educational background includes being a graduate of the University of Georgia and Augusta State University, where she studied dance and education. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Minor in Dance Education from the University of Georgia. Lauren continued her studies at Augusta State University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Masters degree in Education. Lauren is currently studying at Augusta State University to obtain a Specialist degree in Education. In addition to teaching dance, Lauren is also an eighth grade math teacher at Riverside Middle School. Lauren is happily married to Mr. Bryan Schwamb, and they have a beautiful daughter, Kaylee, who was born in February 2010.
Haikeem “Keem” Stewart -Instructor
Born Haikeem-Olajuwon Stewart, the oldest of 3 kids, he was struck with the love for dance since his days in womb. The fascination with dance and all things entertainment began with the movie Breakin along with music videos and performances of the late & great Michael Jackson. His biggest influence was that of his mother, after teaching him the legendary moon walk she set the gears in motion of an entertainment genius. A self-taught hip-hop choreographer began honing his skills day in and day out until his junior year of high school when he became a member of “Dem Boyz” dance team at Rockdale County High School; performing at various events such as basketball games, local schools and festivals, and even several drama productions. His senior year provided the most wealth of opportunity; honoring him with the position of choreographer for the prestigious American Music Abroad Organization. Spending the summer of 2007 in Europe touring and performing at several venues catapulted this young man’s desires of stardom to that of destiny. His first year in college he choreographed the opening acts for performers such as Lil Wayne, and became the first and only male member of Augusta State University Nu Chapter Dance Team. In 2009 he returned as Assistant Choreographer for Augusta State University Nu Chapter Dance Team and became a featured member of MC Hammer’s dance site DanceJam.com, but not before becoming a featured semi-finalist for BET’s Ne-Yo Dance contest. In 2010 he became an elite member of Kane & Co. to teach and spread both his talent and love for dance to those willing to learn.
Ashley Levin – Assistant
Elizabeth Shapiro – Assistant
Rachel Thom Greene -Instructor
Rachel Greene began training as a teacher’s assistant under April Storm-Hartsell in 2002. Since 2005 she has been teaching a variety of dance classes including ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, and clogging. In high school, she performed as part of the Martinez Evans Dance Studio Senior Competition Team. She was chosen as a Youth Dance Ambassador by Dance Troup Inc. and was honored by receiving the Spirit Award and Ryan Storm/Dancer of the Year Scholarship Award at MEDS. She studied Music Education at Columbia College and Augusta State University, touring Italy with the Columbia College Choir in 2006. In past years, Rachel has performed in a variety of plays and operas throughout the CSRA. She has also choreographed for community groups such as the Augusta State University Opera Ensemble and Enopian Theater.
Janice Duggar – Office Manager
Janice is the friendly face greeting dancers as they enter our studio. She keeps everyone up-to-date and manages all necessary paperwork. Janice is a retired educator of 25 years. She taught at Hillcrest Baptist School, Murphy Middle School, Harlem Middle School and Lakeside Middle. Her areas of concentration included 7th grade & 8th grade language arts and social studies.