Alumni

From ages 7-18, Ashley was a member of American Dance Troupe, Muny Kids and Muny Teens, and performed in over 25 mainstage shows at The Muny. After graduation from Visitation Academy in 2004, Ashley became a member of the world renowned “Young Americans”. During her time with the “YA”s, she performed as a cast member of the “Boyne Highlands Dinner Theater” in Harbor Springs, MI, performed and taught on tour in Germany, Holland, England, Scotland, California, and the southern region of America, and danced in “The Magic of Christmas” show at the La Mirada Theater in Los Angeles. After touring, Ashley was honored with a staff position for Dance Excellence in Los Angeles. She then became a member of Actor’s Equity Association and has performed at The Muny as part of the adult ensemble. During the 20o7 season, she was honored to be Assistant Choreographer for Liza Gennaro.

Ashley has trained not only with Krupinski Academy and Young Americans, but also studied with some of the top dance instructors at Broadway Dance Center, STEPS (both located in NYC) and The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. In 2009, Ashley moved to Paris France to attend the Paris Fashion Institute, where she worked with some of the leading professionals in the fashion industry.

Not only is Ashley teaching at Krupinski Academy, she has also started her own photography studio (Kdottie Photography). Along with her mom Caren, they have started an accessory company, Kdottie Designs, creating fun and couture headbands sold all over the world.

Abbey has been dancing since the age of three. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, musical theater and lyrical with Mark and Caren Krupinski. After graduating from Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in Public Relations she returned home to Krupinski’s. Abbey has been teaching and working as the office manager since 2001.

Susan has been dancing since she was three years old. She has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, pointe and musical theater. She received training from Krupinski Academy of Dance and went on to study dance at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. She graduated in 2003 from SIUE. Susan received a Bachelor of Science in Theater and Dance with a Dance emphasis. She had the honor of being a member of the University Dance Organization. Susan has been teaching dance for over eight years.

Bio Coming Soon!

Soprano Julia Bullock, “a notable native daughter” of St. Louis (STL Post-Dispatch) is currently building a career in classical music.   Julia has already sung in some of the premiere concert halls and music festivals across North America; and excitedly makes her South American operatic debut singing the role of Pamina in Peter Brook’s production of A Magic Flute. Heralded by the NY Times as a performer of “appealing freshness,” Julia recently made her Carnegie Hall debut in the Upshaw/Dennehey – Singer/Composer Workshop, and is thrilled to return to Carnegie Hall to perform with the American Symphony Orchestra in February 2012.  She holds degrees from Bard’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program, and The Eastman School if Music; and this fall she will attend The Juilliard School.

Katy Grenfell began her career at the St. Louis Muny doing such shows as “Bye Bye Birdie”, “George M” and “Fiddler on the Roof”.  She went on to perform on Broadway in the original companies of “Grease” with Rosie O’Donnell, “The Life” and “Hairspray”.  You can also see her on TV in Louie CK, Ugly Betty, 30 Rock, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, and As the World Turns.  She made her big screen debut last year along side Robert DeNiro in “Everybody’s Fine”.  Special thanks to Mark Krupinski and Sheila Dugan: the best teachers a girl could ask for!

Louis Williams’ (St. Louis, MO) AGMA: professional performing credits include Don Giovanni, The Daughter of the Regiment, Ghosts of Versailles and Salome with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. His musical theater credits include Ragtime with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, West Side Story with Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre and MUNY seasonal productions. Louis has also performed at the American College Dance Festival National Gala, in New York City at Columbia University and in Washington DC at the Kennedy Center. His choreography, For Those Who Love, was selected as the encore piece for the gala concert at the American College Dance Festival in 2011.  Currently a member of Ashani Dances (www.ashanidances.org) in Seattle, WA.

Louis received a BFA in dance from Webster University’s Department of Dance, with a minor in Speech Communication. He has also studied at the Krupinski Academy of Dance and is a scholarship recipient at Dance Theatre of Harlem, River North Chicago Dance Company, and The Ailey School.

This spring Louis will make his debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago, as a principal soloist in Aida and Rinaldo.

Lori Buchanan just graduated from Northwestern University with a BS in Theatre and minors in Dance and Psychology. During her time at NU, Lori was heavily involved with the drum, rhythm, and dance group Boomshaka, performing for the NU student body and elementary school students all over the Chicago area, and acting as artistic director of the group for her final two years. She also danced in many productions with the NU Dance Program, performing works by Annie Beserra, Joel Hall, Billy Siegenfeld, and choreographing her own piece for the Fall Dance Concert. She also had the amazing opportunity to spend three weeks on a sailboat in the Mediterranean Sea on a Sea|Mester, a sailing-focused study abroad program that takes students around the globe. In the musical theatre world, Lori was fortunate enough to choreograph a student production of Seussical the Musical, and assist Matt Raftery as choreographer of the Theatre Program’s production of Godspell this summer.  Now, Lori is starting post-college life as a resident of Chicago’s beautiful Lakeview neighborhood and working at Chicago Sailing, a sailing school and boat rental company. In the fall, she will begin a yearlong apprenticeship as a dancer with Striding Lion performance group and continue to audition for theatre and dance all over Chicago.

After “graduating” from Krupinski Academy of Dance I joined the Young Americans in California.  I traveled for one year teaching music and dance in Germany, England, Ireland and Scotland.  Currently live in Chicago, IL and am in my senior year at Loyola University Chicago studying Public Relations for nonprofit. Although I currently live in Chicago, I serve on the board of CJ’s Journey Foundation,  a nonprofit organization started in honor of my younger brother who passed away from Childhood Cancer.

Sarah graduated from Paul McCartney’s LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Art), where she shook his hand at Graduation! During her third year, she  played Charity in Sweet Charity. She also starred in a short film by Fargone Films in London. Sarah now lives in NYC!

Emily grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where she began singing and dancing at the age of 5. She studied dance at Krupinski Academy and was a member of the kids and teens choruses in numerous shows at the Muny. She was also a member of the Muny Teens program. After graduating from Penn State University with a B.F.A. in musical theater, Emily moved to New York City and spent the next five years performing in New York, on cruise ships and at Regional theaters including the Muny.  She also taught with Rosie O’Donnell’s Theater Kids for two years in New York. Emily recently traveled halfway across the world for the unique opportunity to teach Musical theater classes in Dubai! She teaches students of all ages at her private voice studio and will be the assistant Musical Director for the Muny Kids this summer. She is extremely excited to be joining the Krupinski’s team and is looking forward to working with all of the rising talent in St. Louis!