Ashley Claybrook

Artistic Director 
(She/Her)

Ashley Claybrook has been a dancer for 22 years training in various styles of dance. Ashley grew up loving all arts but found a beautiful passion for teaching and choreographing. 

Ashley has adored her four years as the Owner/Artistic Director in her long time home, DPU Dance.  She is very humbled by the overwhelming support of the dance community along this journey.

Ashley is unbelievably honored to teach so many wonderful students and she has gained so much on this adventure as the Artistic Director of DPU Dance. Ashley has beautiful plans in store for the progression of Formations Dance Center! 

Bridgette fletcher

Assistant Director

Bridgette Fletcher has danced for 24 years and has been teaching dance at a variety of studios in the St. Louis area for the last 10 years. She specializes in training jazz technique as well as choreographing contemporary and jazz dances.

Bridgette danced professionally for 3 years with Ashleyliane Dance Company, she performed in many ADC concerts and shows. She is the Assistant Director of DPU Dance.

Outside of dancing Bridgette graduated from University of Missouri St. Louis in 2016 with a degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology but is currently working as an artist full time.

As a choreographer she encourages individuality in her students and helps them to find their own voice as an artist. She cannot wait to see where this season goes and couldn’t be happier to be a part of the FDC family.

Katie Kruse

Competition Director
(She/Her)

Dancing since the age of 4, Katie Kruse trained competitively for 13 years in these disciplines with Dance Productions Unlimited (DPU) in Arnold, MO. She began honing her craft in 1998, working with recreational classes in all genres, as well as the competition team.

Katie has continued her dance education by taking master classes and attending many conventions. Her work has won many first place honors, awards for excellence in technique and choreography.

Katie currently continues her extensive training for DPU and FDC Recreational and Competitive Dancers. She is the Competition Director for DPU and FDC programs. She is so excited for the incredible journey ahead at FDC! 

Leslie Murphy

instructor

Ms. Leslie currently teaches all styles of dance.  In 2001, Leslie started dancing and since then found a love for performing and teaching dance.  Leslie danced professionally with Diva La Tap and En L'Air Aerial Dance Company and performed locally & at the Kennedy Center, NYC & North Carolina.  Leslie specializes in aerial & musical theatre.

MaKayla Hunter

instructor
Assistant Competition director

Ms. MaKayla has been teaching at Formations for 5 years.  As a assistant competition director, she has won several choreography awards for her inventive & fresh ideas.  MaKayla also danced professionally with Ashleyliane Dance Company. Her specialties include hip hop & contemporary dance, but she can do it all!

Nichole Waggoner

Instructor,, Seckman Grad

Ms. Nikki is the instructor of our 5-8 year old aerial classes.  Growing up she took 5 years of gymnastics and has been refining her aerial skills for the past 3 years.  Nikki performed an aerial lyra solo in our Aerial Showcase this past year and has assisted and substituted for classes.  Nikki specializes in acro, aerial lyra and aerial silks.  

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Mallory Ellis

Instructor

Ms. Mallory is the instructor our 5-8 year old dancers this summer.  She is a recent graduate of Herculaneum High School and a 4-year competition team member and assistant at Formations.  This past year Mallory taught our 5-6 year old tap & ballet class.  Mallory has been dancing for 15+ years and her specialties include contemporary, lyrical and ballet dance.  We are thrilled that we can still see Mallory this summer at the studio!

Rachel Lowe

 Instructor 
(She/Her)

Rachel has been dancing since she was four years old at Dance Productions Unlimited (DPU Dance). She graduated from Seckman High School in 2018 and competed on their dance team for four years.

She started her teaching journey as a student through the assisting program at DPU Dance. She has continued to assist, teach and now choreographs for the competitive program. She is excited to start her teaching journey at FDC! 

Marcela gomez Lugo

 Instructor 
(She/Her)

Marcela Gomez Lugo, dancer, teacher, writer and translator, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She began her pre-professional training as a ballet dancer at the age of fourteen under the direction of María Teresa Robles at Andanza School of Dance. Marcela continued to refine her dance training by attending summer intensives such as American Ballet Theatre, Bossov Ballet Theatre and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

In 2019, she graduated with the highest academic honors, from Mercyhurst University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance; dual minor in Dance Pedagogy, and Psychology. After moving to St. Louis, MO, Marcela danced professionally with The Big Muddy Dance Company Trainee Program (2019-2020) and obtained a certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT). Currently, Marcela is a company member with Ballet314 where she performs classical and contemporary works such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Ragtime: The American Experience, among others.

She choreographs for local festivals, dance competitions as well as teaches and coaches for several dance studios/programs in the St. Louis area. 

Marcela’s passion for the performing arts, education and linguistics led her to design dance curriculum’s as well as translate various literary texts and entry websites. In 2021, she published her first poetry book “Leaves/Hojas” with Editorial Isla Negra. She is looking forward to teaching and choreographing at FDC this season!