Miss Jean
Hi!!! My name is Jean Patee-Merrill and I am the owner and director of A Step Ahead Dance Company. I have had a love for dancing since I was a little girl. A love that has never left me. Many years ago I attended Missouri Western State College on theater, dance and cheer scholarships, leaving in 1978 to marry my college sweetheart. I have been active in volunteerism for many years including being both a Boy Scout and Girl Scout Leader, have worked with local youth groups, community organizations, and as a substitute teacher for the Maryville RII schools as well as spending thousands of hours attending sporting and school activities for my husband and children. I am currently an Election Judge for Nodaway County, a position that I have held since 1992. I am married to Sgt. David L. Merrill (MSHP, retired) and am the mother of David, DJ, Danielle, Derek, Dakota, Dannen, and Debrielle, and the grandmother of Delaney, Drake, Paige, Landen, Miles, Chase, William, Caleb, Emma, Abigail, Michaela, Tyler, Lillian. and Ellie. |
Miss Taylor.
Hi everyone!! My name is Taylor Merrill and I am a jazz and tap instructor at A Step Ahead Dance Company. My husband, Dannen (Miss Jean's son), and I are proud Spoofhound alumni. I graduated from Maryville High in 2011. I attended Northwest Missouri State University where I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Child and Family Studies in 2015 and a Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling in 2017.
My full time job is as the School Counselor at the Maryville Early Childhood Center. I absolutely love working with our youngest learners and helping them both in school and at the studio! I danced for 20 years both recreationally and competitively and have taught dance for 13 years. I am proud to say that while attending Northwest I was a very active member of Phi Mu, a Bearcat Stepper, and in the Northwest Dance Company. This will be my 12th year instructing at A Step Ahead Dance Company and love every opportunity I have to share my knowledge of dance with our students. I cannot wait to see what the studio's 10th year has in store for our dance family and to watch our students grow in their technique, ability, and love for the sport! |
Miss Debrielle
Hello! My name is Debrielle Merrill and I am so excited to start my 11th season at A Step Ahead Dance Company! My favorite style of dance to teach is clogging, but also teach tap, jazz, lyrical (my second favorite style of dance), contemporary, ballet, hip hop, musical theater, and tumbling classes!
I am a proud graduate of Maryville High School and Northwest Missouri State University. During my time at Northwest I cheered on the Bearcats to 5 national championships as a Bearcat Cheerleader (2 years) and Bearcat Stepper (3 years) where I was also captain my senior year. While at Northwest I worked as a UDA Staffer for 3 years, teaching dance camps across the Midwest, was active in my sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and as a member of the NWMSU Student Senate, was honored to be elected as their treasurer and vice president. Competing in the Miss America Organization, I was able to earn over $30,000 in scholarships as well as being named Miss Missouri 2019 1st runner up. Currently working as a staff accountant for Marsh, Espey and Merrill, I am busy studying for my CPA exam later this year. In my spare time I like to take long walks on the Northwest campus with my golden retriever Major. Our 13th year will be the best year yet and I look forward to watching all of our students grow as dancers and tumblers!!! |
Miss Paige
Hi everyone! My name is Paige Kioh and I am a new teacher here at A Step Ahead Dance Company. I am originally from Kansas City, Missouri, and I attend Northwest Missouri State. I am a Sophomore currently working on my bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and Psychology.
I have been dancing since I was three years old for a total of 17 amazing years! I am a member of Phi Mu’s Chapter at Northwest, and love to stay involved here in Maryville. I am thrilled to be teaching here at the company, and look forward to watching these students grow and develop in their dancing careers! |
Miss Allisyn
Miss Leanna
Coach Henry
Hello, my name is Henry Leyva! I recently graduated from Northwest and am now the head cheer coach for the Bearcat cheerleaders. I cheered collegiately for Iowa Western, University of Central Florida, and Northwest. I love getting to take my coaching skills even further and getting to coach the athletes at the studio.
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Miss Kinzie
Hi! My name is Kinzie Cantrell and I am from Lathrop, Missouri. I am going to be a Senior at Northwest majoring in Early Childhood Education. I am also going into my 3rd year as a Bearcat Cheerleader!
I have been at A Step Ahead for three years now and I absolutely love working with all the kids on acro and watching them get new skills. |