The KJSD Staff
Top Row: Tracy Phillips, Keely Jardell, Jessica Moore, Laura Kendrick, Kim Hawkins
Bottom Row: Leigh Anne Reeves, Amanda Meche, Christy Fontenot, Maci McFarlin
Tracy Phillips (Choreographer/Assistant Director): Ms. Phillips is a graduate of Nederland High School and Lamar University of Technology with and associate of applied science in Radiological Technology. Tracy has been teaching at KJSD for five years and was a student teacher for seven years. She was chosen as the Senior Scholarship Recipient in 2000, and received the MPAC performance scholarship in 2003. Tracy was a member of the KJSD competition team for many years and received many over all solo and team awards. She has traveled to Washington D.C., New York, and Walt Disney where she competed performed and took classes. Tracy has also performed in the pre-game and halftime show at two Dallas Cowboy games. She has choreographed for many local organizations and individual dancers. Her choreography has won national and regional awards including National Champions 2004, 2005, and 2006. She is employed in the Cardiac Cath lab at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.
Keely Jardell (Director/Founder of MPAC): Mrs. Jardell is currently the owner of Keely Jardell’s School of Dance, which she has owned and operated for twenty-one years. She has taught dancing for twenty- five years. Keely received her BS Degree in Dance and Special Education from Lamar University. Her choreography has received many Regional and National titles throughout the years. Keely’s dancers have been invited to perform all over the United States and in Spain. In 1996, her dance team performed at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Both the 1996 and 1998 dance teams were named Grand Champions at the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading Dance Competition. For this honor, the dancers performed at pre-game and half-time of the Dallas Cowboy football games in front of 70,000 people. In 2000, her dancers were named Junior National Champions and traveled to Washington D.C and New York City where they performed and took dance classes. Recently the 2006 Competition team won National Grand Champions in San Antonio. In the summer of 2007 the competition team was invited to compete and perform at Disney World. The 2008 Competition team won National Grand Champions in San Antonio. KJSD was recently ranked #3 dance studio in the state of Texas by Dance Magazine. Many former students are now studio owners, choreographers, and have been dancing professionally around the United States. Keely is married to Bill Jardell and the have two beautiful children, Will, who is nineteen and attending Texas A&M University and Mackenzie who is sixteen. She would like to thank her family, staff, and friends for always supporting her love of dance and for remembering “we are family”
Jessica Moore (Choreographer/Assistant Director): Ms. Moore is a graduate of Port Neches – Groves High School. She is currently attending Lamar University and plans to pursue a career in Marketing and Fashion Merchandising. Jessica is manager of Gaudie Couture, and has been teaching at KJSD for six years. She has been a student for eighteen years at KJSD. Jessica received Outstanding Student Junior Scholarship and the MPAC Patsy Castille Smith scholarship during her years as a student. She was a member of the competition team for twelve years, upon which she has won several National Champion titles. She currently choreographs for the KJSD competition team and her pieces have won numerous awards at regional and national competitions. She has also received recognition as “Power Pack” dancer to perform in the opening number at Starpower national competition in 2007. Jessica attends several dance conventions including West Coast Dance Explosion. The Pulse, and Tremaine, in which she has won scholarships. She has traveled to New York to take dance class and compete in national competitions. Jessica was also the original Cat in the Hat in MPAC and held the role for four years.
Laura Kendrick (Choreographer/Assistant Director): Ms. Kendrick is a graduate of Nederland High School and Stephen F. Austin State University where she received bachelors in kinesiology and dance. She is a former student of KJSD and is now in her sixth year of teaching at the studio. Laura was a Kilgore Rangerette & Swingster and a 2-year member of the Stephen F. Austin NCAA National Champion pom squad. She received many scholarships, including one from the Joffrey Ballet and the Tremaine Convention. Laura received the Outstanding Student Award during the first year that KJSD opened in 1989. She also received Senior Scholarship in 1992. Mrs. Kendrick is currently a choreographer for local and statewide dance and drill teams that have earned numerous regional and national awards. Her choreography for KJSD’s competition team has won numerous regional & national titles. She is married to Jamie Kendrick and they have a precious son, Noah. She is a teacher at Nederland High School.
Kim Hawkins (Choreographer/Assistant Director): Mrs. Hawkins has been a teacher at Keely Jardell’s school of dance for thirteen years. She received a BS Degree in Education from Lamar University. Kim has choreographed many tap and clogging routines. Her choreography has been awarded many top Regional and National awards. Kim recently choreographed a clogging routine for KJSD competition team which won 2009 National Champion in San Antonio. She brings her expertise to the stage in whimsical. She performed with the team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She is married to Reagan Hawkins and they have a beautiful daughter Isabelle, and a precious son, Joseph. Kim is a Kindergarten teacher at Langham Elementary in Nederland.
Leigh Anne Reeves (Choreographer/Assistant Director): Ms. Reeves is a graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School and was an elected officer of the Indianette Drill Team. She has recently attended Sam Houston State University on a scholarship from Orange Pride National Champion Dance Team. After attending SHSU she then attended Austin Community College where she danced with Caly X Professional Dance Company in Austin, TX. In March 2007 she auditioned for the television show, So You Think You Can Dance where she passed through three preliminary rounds, and plans to audition again. Leigh Anne is currently Design (with plans to dance also.) This is Leigh Anne’s fourth year of teaching at KJSD and has been a student for 20 years. Leigh Anne has received the outstanding student award in 1997, the intermediate scholarship in 2001 and the senior scholarship in 2005. She was also a member of the 2000 Junior National Champion and 2004 National Champion team in New York City. Leigh Ann also performed in the Dallas Cowboys halftime show in Disney World. She has done choreography for local organizations and individual dancers. She has been a member of the competition team for many years and has received many overall solo, duet, trio, and team awards. Leigh Anne has also been to dance conventions such as Tremaine, West Coast, The Pulse, LA Dance Magic, and the Shock Intensive where she has received scholarships. She has been a member of MPAC for four years and has played the roles of General Genghis Kahn, Sour Kangaroo, Mayzie LaBird, and the Grinch.
Amanda Meche (Choreographer/Assistant Director): Ms. Meche is a graduate of Nederland High School and is finishing up her BS Degree in Education from Lamar University. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society for education majors. This is her fourth year teaching at KJSD. Amanda is a former KJSD student and received Outstanding Student and Junior Scholarship in 1996. She was a member of several competition teams including the team that performed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She has also performed at the Dallas Cowboy pre-game and half-time shows in 1996 and 1998. Amanda was an officer of the Nederland Westernaires and won many overall awards and individual honors. She has traveled to New York City to perform and take classes. Amanda has assisted in choreographing several dances for the competition team including dances that have regional and national titles. She is married to Scott Meche and they reside in Bridge City.
Christy Fontenot (Choreographer/Assistant Director): Ms. Fontenot is a graduate of Port Neches- Groves High School where she was a Drum Major of the Indian Band. She is currently a junior at Lamar University and is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. This is her third year teaching at KJSD. She has been a student for sixteen years and was a member of MPAC for six years. Christy played the roles of Gertrude, Cat in the Hat, Horton and Snow Queen. She has also received many awards from KJSD that include the Patsy Smith Scholarship in 2006, Senior Scholarship in 2004, Dance Achievement award in 2003, and Outstanding Student in 1997-98. She was a member of KJSD competition team for seven years. She has won many National Titles and traveled to New York and Disney World with the team for solo, duet, and team dances. She has also received recognition as a “Power Pack” dancer to perform in the opening number at Starpower national competition in 2007. In the fall of 2008, Christy had the opportunity to work in the entertainment department at Walt Disney World. There she performed in the Christmas Castle Show “Celebrate the Season” along with various other roles.
Maci McFarlin