Miss. Courtney grew up in the Quad Cities and graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 2015. In December of 2020, she will receive her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University. Courtney has been dancing since the age of two and competing since she was eight. During her time as a competitive dancer, Courtney performed at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on the Tomorrowland stage and Downtown Disney. Courtney is grateful to have won multiple scholarships throughout her competitive years, as well as to have received top awards with her solos, duets/trios, and group numbers. In 2007, Courtney won Iowa’s Got Talent as a part of a small group lyrical dance. Aspire Dance competition & Scholarship Convention selected Courtney as an Aspire Dancers and Company dancer in 2009, and she performed with the dance company in 2010 at a regional Aspire competition. Courtney traveled to New York City in 2009 with Aspire Dancers in Company and took professional level classes from world-renowned faculty at Steps on Broadway, and a master class at Ripley-Grier studios. Courtney was selected and attended the Joffrey Ballet School Jazz/Contemporary Summer Intensive in New York City in 2013 for three weeks under the direction of Michael Blake, where she was fortunate to receive professional-level instruction from world-renowned faculty. Courtney also auditioned and received a merit scholarship and attended the Joffrey Ballet School Jazz/Contemporary Summer Intensive at their elite level in 2014 for three weeks in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to competitive dance, Courtney was a member of the Pleasant Valley Dance Team and the Iowa State University Dance Team. She was a captain of both dance teams and helped to lead both teams to their outstanding state and national accomplishments.
At Iowa State University, Courtney performed at all ISU football and basketball home games. She also got to travel with the Men’s Basketball team and help cheer them on during their Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. Courtney also attended NDA summer college dance camps and received the NDA All-American award 3 years in a row. In 2019, Courtney was the one person chosen from the Iowa State Dance Team to travel to Arlington, Texas where she got to represent Iowa State University at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Courtney is excited to share all that she has learned throughout her many experiences revolving around dance, and to help her students learn and grow in their own dance careers. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her passion and love for dance with all of the students at Above the Barre Dance Academy.
“I have been dancing since the age of two and my love and passion for dance has only kept growing. I have danced at the recreational, competitive, and collegiate levels and I am so excited to have the opportunity to be able to share my knowledge with the students at Above the Barre Dance Academy, and to be able to help each student learn and grow in their own dance careers. I am thrilled to share my love and passion for dance with each student and to create new and exciting memories in the dance studio.”