About Us

We look forward to building on Courtney and Brian Williams's amazing legacy with Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice. You will see many familiar faces from the loving and supportive environment they created as we become Baldwin City Creative Arts.

We refreshed the space, added new classes, and reimagined performance opportunities to provide the best learning experiences for the Baldwin community.

You can read more about the new leadership team and instructors below.

Meet the Leadership Team

Angela Murray

Owner & Studio Director

Instructor for Levels 1-4 & Adult Open Tap

I have been a dance instructor in Baldwin for 23 years, so many of you probably already know me. I started teaching at Stacy's Dance Studio when my now adult daughter Amelia was 2 1/2 and we moved to Baldwin. I continued teaching through the move to the new studio building and the creation of Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice. My daughter's childhood revolved around the studio, and I treasure those years. I'm so excited that she will be working with me as the studio becomes Baldwin City Creative Arts.

My background is quite diverse. I am currently an associate research professor at the University of Kansas where I direct the Center for Learner Agency Research and Action (CLARA). I hold a PhD in educational psychology and research and even edit an academic journal. Before transitioning into education research, I spent a number of years in corporate marketing research leveraging my MBA.

I've been fortunate to continue to pursue my passion for teaching dance while pursuing my career as a researcher and university faculty member. While in college in Texas, I was president of and danced with the University of Texas at Arlington Dance Ensemble. And, I owned a dance studio with almost 200 students in the Dallas area before my high school sweetheart husband and I married and relocated to Kansas.

After my children were born, I created classes for them. I taught my now adult son Duncan in tap and tumbling classes at Blue Valley Recreation when he was a preschooler. Then, as soon as our family moved to Baldwin, I contacted Stacy to create a ballet and tap combination class for little ones so that Amelia could begin taking dance.

All of these experiences inspired my decision to create Baldwin City Creative Arts and provide the foundation for the learning environment I hope to create. I firmly believe in the unique gifts and potential of all kids and families and intend build a positive, supportive, and enriching community through the arts in Baldwin City.

Amelia Murray

Assistant Studio Director & Ballet Program Director

Instructor for Levels 1-4 Ballet, Variations, Pre-Pointe & Levels 1-3 Contemporary

I grew up dancing in Baldwin-- I remember first falling in love with ballet watching the big girls do Wizard of Oz en pointe. My first dance classes were with my mom and I branched out from there to other teachers at BADV and later to other studios and through college.

I started teaching at BADV in High School and went on to teach at other studios as well including Classical Ballet Academy, Norman, OK and Blue Valley Recreation. I have experience choreographing for my students, my peers, and myself as early as my first year teaching and as recently as for my senior capstone in college.

I have trained in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, contemporary, liturgical, character, and taken classes in pedagogy, dance history, and understanding music. During my time at BADV I performed roles such as: Aurora, Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen and leads in various other themed recitals. I danced with the Kansas City Ballet School and Kansas City Youth Ballet (Angel in Devon Carney's Nutcracker and Tinkerbell's Fairies in Carney's Peter Pan) and Ballet Midwest (Snow Queen. Diamond Fairy, Big Swan in Swan Lake). I attended summer intensives at the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco, and the Kansas City Ballet.

I obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance with distinction at University of Oklahoma along with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with high honors. I am currently working in education research at KU in the Center for Educational Opportunity Programs and completing a Master of Science in Applied Statistics, Analytics and Data Science.

Cindy Trowbridge

Director of Studio Operations

I have been with the studio since 2016 and I have learned so much about dance in those years. I have enjoyed helping with stage design, costuming and the learning about the behind the scenes of the dance world.

Maddy Evenson

All Star Competition Team, Level 4 Contemporary & Hip Hop, Level 2 Jazz

This is my seventh year teaching dance and my second year teaching in Baldwin! I grew up dancing competitively in Minnesota, training in all styles ranging from pointe to tap to contemporary. Outside of the studio, I am a junior at the University of Kansas, where I’m double-majoring in astronomy and physics, along with minoring in dance. In my free time, I love listening to music, watching movies with my friends, practicing my coding skills, and thrifting clothes. I am both CPR and first aid certified. I’m so excited to continue my time with dancers in Baldwin!

Maddy Roger

Level 1-3 Hip Hop, Level 3 Jazz

I grew up dancing, it has been a passion of mine since I was three years old. I started at The London School of Dance in Dallas, TX, and enrolled at Stacy's Dance Studio when my family moved to Kansas, where I danced until I graduated high school.

I have spent the better part of my adult life performing, choreographing, directing, and producing live theater performance. Through that time, I found that teaching is by far the most rewarding. Every class, every student, is different, and they all need different guidance to grow into their strengths. I want everyone to be able to enjoy the experience of dancing and learning the way that I was able to!

Jaiden Marsh

Creative Movement, Happy Hip Hop & Tiny Tumbling

I started teaching my first class at 16--creative movement here at this studio. My inspiration for working with kids comes from my two youngest sisters that were born when I was 12 and were some of my first students. I also taught at Lawrence Park and Recreation. I am so excited to be back to teaching at the studio I was at for about 13 years. I also performed on my schools cheer and dance teams.

Courtney Williams

Level 4 Jazz

I have taught dance and tumbling in the Baldwin City and Lawrence area for over 20 years ages 2 through the collegiate level. I love to continue to take classes in the area to continue my growth in dance and provide the best classroom experience possible.

Kelley Bethell-Smith

Private Voice Lessons & Vocal Program Consultant

I have taught music and worked as a freelance choreographer for various area musical productions for the past 20 years. I served as Director of Vocal Studies and conductor for the Academy Choir for the former Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice for eleven years, and five years prior to that, was the creator/instructor of “Music And Greatness In Children” (MAGIC), a parent/child music enrichment class for children from birth through early elementary.

Jessica Newman

Level 3/4 & Adult Open Ballet

Jessica has been teaching ballet in Baldwin since before Stacy's Dance Studio became Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice more than 16 years ago. In fact, she taught many current BCCA teachers over the years. She is a beloved fixture at the studio who remains as lovely and amazing as when she started teaching. Jessica is on maternity leave this fall with her fourth child, and BCCA is fortunate to have her two oldest children involved in our classes. We look forward to welcoming Jessica back in late December or early January when we will update her profile.

Mara Waltz

Level 3/4 Ballet & Pointe

I have been a part of the Baldwin City dance community for over 20 years now. From starting my first ballet class at Stacy's Dance Studio when I was 6, to joining the Dance Troupe under Courtney Williams and Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice at age 12, to now being 28 and getting to watch my own students grow and come to love dance as much as I do. Despite living almost an hour away in Kansas City and being in the midst of a rigorous PhD program at KU, I somehow always make time to come back to my home studio!

Emily Hansen

All Level Cheer & Levels 1-4 Tumbling

I am currently a cheerleader at Baker University. I’ve been cheering for 14 years, and I enjoy getting to teach kids something that has played a huge part in my entire life.

Alexia Wyatt

Levels 1-4 Tumbling

I'm a cheerleader at Baker University, and I'm from Texas.

Kerrigan Baker

All Level Cheer

I have been teaching tumbling and cheer for over 3 years, and I absolutely love helping students reach their full potential. My experience includes coaching my own tumbling class for ages 2-12 and working with athletes of all skill levels. I focus on creating a supportive and encouraging environment where students feel confident to try new skills and improve their techniques. My goal is to inspire a passion for cheer and tumbling, while also emphasizing safety and proper form. I am dedicated to helping each student achieve their personal best and enjoy their journey in this exciting sport.

Jake Lemons

Choir Director

I am a Junior at Baker University majoring in Music Education. I love to sing and teach, but my hobbies include anything outdoors, baseball, and golf. I am very excited about the opportunity to bring back the BCCA choir! All students ages 7-18 are welcome and I encourage everyone to show up and have fun singing!