Stef, born in Omaha, Nebraska began her dance journey at four years old; She immediately fell in love and continued the art throughout her childhood, later moving to southern MN, and continued dancing extensively throughout all of her school years.

When she was fifteen she started teaching at her studio to various age levels, which developed her passion to instruct younger dancers. Stef was also a part of her school’s dance team and served as a choreographer her senior year.

After high school, Stef moved to Duluth and went to school for her Esthetician certification. She ended up back in the dance world after she put her oldest daughter in dance class and started teaching for a local studio, later moving to Madill. 

Stef is embarking on her fifteenth year teaching different styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, heels, musical theater, and tumbling to dancers as young as two, and as old as seventy two! She has also helped build and teach our Darby’s Dancers program. 

Stef enjoys that the dance world is always changing, and loves to challenge herself with continuing education, and studying new styles and movements. She hopes to always be a positive role model and supporter for all of her students, and to always celebrate their victories; both big and small!