Inspire Dance Academy is located in Gardner, Kansas and provides dance for students of all ages and skill levels.
We offer recreational dance and competitive dance in both a fun and safe learning environment.
In addition to dance classes we also offer birthday parties, toddler open play time, and adult workout classes.
We would love for you to join our family!
Meet Our Instructors
Heather Shutt
Our studio owner/director, Heather has been dancing ever since the age of two. She attended the University of Kansas to work towards a Dance Major and Business Minor. Heather has studied many dance forms such as, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hip, African, Classical East Indian, Improvisation, and others. Throughout her dancing years, Heather has attended many dance conventions and competitions, across the United States, where she has had the chance to train with many well known choreographers. She has also been a dancer in choreographic works with Sonya Tayeh, Tina Cooper, Janet Langer and Laura Edwards. Heather grew up competing for 14 years, and has performed in performances in Branson, Missouri with Kidz Roc!, at the Lied Center of Kansas, and Salina Community Theatre with the University Dance Company. Heather strives to challenge herself everyday while she shares her love of dance with her students and inspires those around her.
Denàh Gregory
Denáh Gregory grew up in Stilwell, Kansas, and started dancing when she was 3 years old. When she was 9, she began traveling and assisting for multiple different, choreographers and dance conventions such as Jump, Artist Simply Human, Wild, amoung with many others. After being on tour for many years, Denah decided to focus her career on ballet and performed the lead roles of, Cinderella, Kitri, Odile, Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Rose, Arabian Princess, Russian lead & Lilac Fairy. She also danced professionally in the following contemporary companies: Concept Zero, XY Dance project.
Denah has lived in Los Angles, New York, Michigan and she is now back in her home town Kansas City. Denah teaches regularly at Inspire Dance Academy, as well as teaching master classes, Private lessons and choreography at several studios in the KC area. She is proud to be a faculty member for Symposium Talent dance convention, as well as a judge for there competition. Denah has also choreographed and taught master classes at multiple different studios around the world. Her choreography has won 1st Overall, 1st in Category, Specialty Awards, Title Winner, as well as Choreography awards. After experiencing dancing professionally, Denah is now excited to be sharing her knowledge and love for dance with students all across the USA. She is incredibly grateful for her family and friends that continue to love and support her throughout her career of dancing, teaching, and choreographing.
Ava Aamold
Hi, I’m Ava! I’m 19 years old and graduated from Wellsville High School. I grew up dancing at Inspire, where I discovered my love for dance and the lifelong family it gave me. I’ve been dancing for 12 years, and after beginning to assist classes in high school, I quickly found a passion for teaching as well.
Now, I work as a hairstylist and am so grateful to return to Inspire to share my love for dance with the next generation. Teaching allows me to stay connected to a place that has always felt like home, and I love helping my students grow, have fun, and build confidence both in and out of the studio.
Taylor Calvert
Taylor Calvert has over nineteen years of dance experience. She has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, and hip hop. Taylor danced all four years of high school as a Gardner Edgerton Blazerette. She also danced through her college years, and then went on to continue her dance experience at Johnson County Community College. Taylor is a mother of two young girls who are starting their journey of dance at Inspire. Taylor is very excited and blessed to be joining the family at Inspire Dance Academy. She is excited to share her passion of dance with the students.
Taylor Crouse
Taylor Crouse grew up in Gardner, KS. She started dancing when she was 3 years old and joined her competition team at 6 years old. From there Taylor trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and musical theater. Taylor joined the blazerettes dance team when entering her freshman year of high school. She was on the team all four years while still dancing with her studio the TKO Allstars. Taylor has placed top five to top three with groups and duets as well as top five and earning first place spots with her solos throughout the years at both studio and dance team nationals and competitions. She also earned a national title with her TKO Allstars at NDA nationals in 2020 for Open Pom.
After graduating from Gardner Edgerton High School Taylor joined the JCCC golden girls dance team for two years and was captain for one. JCCC placed 2nd in both hip hop and jazz both years at NDA nationals. Taylor then was offered a spot on UMKC dance team and spent an additional two years on the team as well as being captain her senior year. UMKC placed 5th and 6th in jazz and Pom in the D1 division her junior year and then placed 3rd and 4th in jazz and Pom in the D1 Division her senior year at NDA nationals. Taylor is also apart of the NDA staff this season and is able to travel around and work with teams of all ages preparing them for NDA nationals. Taylor is currently working towards her Bachelors in Nursing to become a Pediatric Nurse. Taylor is so excited for this upcoming season!
Izzy Landau
Izzy has been cheering for 11 years and is currently in her third year with the University of Kansas Cheer Team. She has coached for 4 years, working with athletes of all ages. Izzy loves helping her students gain new skills. Watching their confidence grow, and seeing their excitement when they get something new is one of the best parts of coaching. Cheer has been a huge part of Miss Izzy’s life, and she is passionate about sharing that love with others.
Lexee Feuerborn
Lexee grew up in Garnett, KS and has trained in all styles of dance including tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, modern, contemporary, and choreography. She earned her B.F.A. in Dance with a certificate in Entrepreneurship from The University of Kansas, where she was a member of the Rock Chalk Dancers and University Dance Company. After college, she danced professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs as a 2022–2023 Chiefs Cheerleader.
Lexee is in her 4th season as head coach of the Gardner Edgerton High School Dance Team and her 2nd year as Director of Inspire All Stars. She’s passionate about sharing her knowledge and is excited for another great season at Inspire Dance Academy!
Kara Zech
Kara started dancing around three years of age. She grew up dancing for fun, on competition teams, and school dance teams. Jazz is her passion but has training in ballet, tap, modern, hip hop and lyrical. In college she studied dance at Kansas State University, but is continuing her education in English. She is passionate about sharing her experiences with her students.
Amanda Harrington
Amanda is an experienced educator and coach with a lifelong passion for athletics. She currently teaches Sports Medicine at Olathe North High School and coaches both gymnastics and softball. She has previously coached at McCracken’s Gymnastics, in New York, and even ran her own tumbling program in Wakeeney, KS.
Before coaching, Amanda was a competitive gymnast and softball player, graduating from Olathe North and playing softball at Fort Hays State University. She now lives in Gardner with her husband, Eric, and their two-year-old son, Bryce.
Kylah Carter
Kylah grew up in Gardner, Kansas, where her passion for dance began at a young age. She started dancing at the age of seven when Inspire opened in 2015. After spending her first year dancing recreationally, Kylah quickly discovered her love for performing and making new friends, leading her to join the competition dance team. She continued competing throughout her dance career until graduating in 2025. In addition to her studio training, Kylah was an active member of the Gardner Edgerton High School Blazerettes drill team, where she balanced both school spirit and competitive dance. Through her experiences, she developed a strong appreciation for teamwork and truly enjoys meeting and working with new people. Kylah is currently attending Johnson County Community College, where she is majoring in child psychology and social work. She has a genuine love for children and finds joy in helping others, which strongly influences both her academic path and personal values. She remains deeply involved in dance as a member of the Golden Girls dance team, continuing to expand her performance experience. Looking ahead, Kylah plans to continue dancing at the collegiate level while pursuing her academic goals, combining her passion for dance with her dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of others.
To touch,
to move,
to INSPIRE,
this is the true meaning
of DANCE!
- aubrey lynch
Julie W.
My girls love Inspire! Great environment! Friendly staff! Performances are SUPER organized and fun to watch!
Michelle P.
Best place ever!! Everyone treats you like family and we always look forward to dance every week!!!!
Becky N.
I was at Inspire for my Granddaughters birthday party. What a great idea! Fun for boys and girls and plenty of room to play.