About us.
Dance Studio Party
We are a dance studio resource business that provides newly designed teaching tools, educational flash cards, engaging faculty curriculum, organizational classroom cubbies and dancer cubes to the dance studio industry. As a studio owner for over 45 years, Karen brings classroom experience, educational expertise and an unparalleled passion for dance to her dynamic brand. The signature Jellydot line is unique in the dance industry and unsurpassed for classroom organization and comprehension of dance syllabus. The fun classroom themes and flashcards are studio tested and dancer interactive. The product lines are designed with the busy studio owner in mind to supplement faculty training, offer a comprehensive streamlined studio syllabus, and bring joy and excitement to dance class.
Karen Stemen, Founder & CEO
Karen Stemen is an industry leader as a dance business entrepreneur with over 45 years experience in dance education. Karen attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and received a BS in Dance Education from Western Michigan University. She founded several prominent competition dance studios; Dance Inc. in Kalamazoo, MI for 16 years and Dance Tech in Blacksburg, VA boasting 22 years in business today. She founded several regional ballet companies during her career and has trained dancers currently performing with professional ballet companies, on cruise ships, Radio City Rockettes, broadway performers and current studio owners. Karen has been a member of Dance Master of America, Successful Studio Strategies, United Dance Merchants Association, More than Just Great Dancing and she is a lifetime member of Dance Educators of America.
Carina Stoetzer, Executive Director
Carina Stoetzer has always been involved in the dance and the performing arts community. She studied dance at Lavilla School of the Arts and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and was a competitive dancer for eleven years. She then attended Jacksonville University, where she Majored in Dance and Minored in Education graduating with her BA in Dance and Education Certificate K-12. Since graduating she has taught and choreographed at dance studios in Florida, Texas, and Virginia. While in Virginia, Carina was the director of the Debut and Spotlight programs for young dancers at Dance.tech and had the opportunity to Choreograph for the Blacksburg Ballet. Carina is also a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.
Carly Hansen, Assistant Director
A native of Southwest Virginia, Carly has been a part of the Dance.tech family since the studio opened its doors in 2000. In addition to sharing her love of dance with children in the classroom, she holds a degree in elementary education from Radford University. Carly has taught Kindergarten and First Grade for more than ten years and earned her Directors License in Early Childhood Administration. Working as a school director for a private preschool in Kansas allowed Carly to grow as an administrator and customer relations specialist. Carly currently works as a Kindergarten teacher at Gilbert Linkous elementary school in Blacksburg, VA.