The Team
Who We Are
Kimberly Butwell
Owner/Director/Instructor
Kim Butwell, Owner and director of Star Dance Company, is originally from Karnak, Illinois, and now proudly rooted in Vienna, Illinois. She holds an Associate of Performing Arts degree and studied at both Shawnee Community College and Southeastern Illinois College, where she also participated in College Choir and Madrigals.
Kim is certified in intro to Preschool Dance, Dance Education, Choreography and Composition, and Strength Training and Injury Prevention. Her extensive performance career spans both dance and musical theatre, with notable roles in productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, Winnie the Pooh, Fame, and Anything Goes.
In addition to her accomplishments in dance and theatre, Kim is also a singer, songwriter, and music producer. As a proud wife and mother, she is dedicated to nurturing confidence, creativity, and passion in the next generation of young artists, helping each dancer discover their unique light and truly shine.
Melana Butwell
Instructor
Melana is a multifaceted artist and instructor at Star Dance Company who blends her lifelong love of movement with rich, diverse background. A mother of three, she grew up studying tap, ballet, and jazz, and has spent nearly a decade as a flow artist exploring fire spinning and aerial arts. she also holds a degree in medical laboratory science, reflecting her dedication to precision and learning. While in college she earned choir scholarships, highlighting her passion for the performing arts beyond dance. Today she brings all of these experiences into a teaching style that is creative, patient, and inspiring. In her classes, students discover not only solid technique but also a sense of self-expression, confidence, and joy that extends far beyond the studio.
Mary Harris
Line dancing Instructor
Hi, my name is Mary Harris. I've lived in Vienna since 2000, but I've lived in Southern Illinois all
my life. I have line danced since the early 80's! I love being active whether outside or inside
and dance is one of those activities that you can do all year long. Currently, I go to dances 3 or
4 times a week. During my high school days, I won a Dance-a-Thon for being the person who
danced for the longest period and was the last person on my feet dancing.
Some of the dances that will be taught in line-dance class will be Electric Slide, Cowboy Hustle,
Mustang Sally, Tush Push, Gin and Tonic, Cowboy Charleston and Catfish, just to name a few.
For dance lessons, you will want to wear something comfortable to dance in and shoes are very
important. For shoes, you can wear boots, but really any kind of hard sole shoes will work. Flip
flops and tennis shoes are hard to dance in, because they don’t slide well. Bring a water bottle
and a small towel, if you want. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!
Maia Annalise
Front Desk
Maia is a Theatre BA and Arts Administration Minor - with a focus in children's theatre. She went to Murray State! Her professional credits include Des Moines Metro Opera (Production Management), Barrington Stage Company (Stage Management), and Playhouse in the park (Direction/ Stage Management). She is incredibly excited to be a part of the Star Dance Company team and cannot wait to greet you at the door!
