stlrc faculty 2025-2026
STL Rhythm Collaborative's faculty is composed of some of the most accomplished tap dancers, performers, and educators in the St. Louis area. What sets our programs apart is a combination of deep experience, rich mentorship, and a passion for preserving and advancing the art of tap dance.
Our custom-tailored curriculum goes beyond technique and performance—it immerses students in the history, culture, and contemporary voices of tap. We’re committed to fostering a deep appreciation for the art form and building a community of artists who truly respect the dance.
Maria Majors: Director
Maria has been teaching dance throughout the St. Louis area for over 25 years. Maria began her professional career in New York with the touring performance ensemble, Manhattan Tap, under the direction of world renowned tap dancer and musician, Heather Cornell. Maria joined the ensemble for their European and North American tours and had the extreme honor of touring with late tap dance great, Dr. Buster Brown. Maria was an original cast member in Manhattan Tap’s “Excursion Fare,” featuring the musicians of Keith Terry and Crosspulse and premiered at the Joyce Theater in New York. Since returning to St. Louis in 1999, Maria has been on faculty with many area dance programs and has served as a consultant for dance education programs throughout the region. She worked alongside the late Professor Robert L Reed for the production of the St. Louis Tap Festival, which she attended annually for 20 years and served on the Board of Directors. Maria founded STL Rhythm Collaborative in 2019 and serves as the organization's executive director. The unending passion, support, and expertise of the organization's artists, volunteers, and staff are the driving forces behind the Collaborative. In addition to the many hats she wears with STL Rhythm Collaborative, Maria is honored to be an adjunct professor of dance, teaching tap dance at Missouri Baptist University and Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.​
Maggie Dultz:
Maggie is a professional performer with STLRC's moSTly TAP Ensemble and a teacher in the St. Charles area. She began her dance training at the age of 5 at Performing Arts Centre, under the direction of Tracy and Debbie Davenport. She is a recent 2025 graduate of Lindenwood University, majoring in Oboe Performance and minoring in Creative Writing. She has attended tap festivals across the country including Motor City Tap Fest, RIFF Dallas, and the Woodshed Experience in Black Mountain, NC. She has also worked closely with notable tap dancers including Tommy Wasuita, Anthony Russo, Sarah Reich, and Nicholas Van Young. She has been playing music for almost 12 years, cultivating her love for tap and rhythm alongside her love for music. She is currently a member of the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, where she also works as a Youth Orchestra Librarian. Maggie was a part of STL Rhythm Collaborative's inaugural Pre-Professional Program, and has served in a variety of roles, including moSTLy TAP Ensemble Apprentice for 2.5 years. Maggie will serve as lead faculty at STLRC's new satellite location, Fluid Motion Dance Academy in O'Fallon, MO for the 2025-2026 dance season.
Sam Gaitsch:
Sam Gaitsch is a St. Louis-based freelance choreographer, educator, and visual artist. She received her MFA in Dance and BAs in both Psychology and Dance, with a minor in Visual Art, from Washington University in St. Louis. Sam brings her jubilant spirit to both the stage and her teaching practice. She’s been teaching various forms of dance in the St. Louis Area for ten years; from K-12 classrooms to university programs. She’s also performed as a professional contemporary/modern dancer, worn many administrative hats, and choreographed for local professional and pre-professional dance and theatre companies around town. Choreography credits include St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, COCA, Washington University, Saint Louis University, New Jewish Theatre, Stray Dog Theatre, the Big Muddy Dance Company (now St. Louis Dance Theatre) and CKDC (now Pack Dance). For more info visit her website at www.samgaitsch.com. She took a long pause from tap dancing while working professionally, but tap has always held a special place in her heart. She’s had the absolute pleasure of diving back into tap with instructors Kelly Ging and Gina Bon-Perez over the past few years, has been teaching tap more recently at local studios, and could not be more thrilled to be joining the STLRC team this season! ​
​
​
Kelly Ging:
Kelly Ging is a teacher, arts administrator and performer in St. Louis. She began her dance training in Washington, MO studying tap, jazz, ballet, and pointe with Jo Nolting Phinney. To further develop her tap training, she commuted into St. Louis for weekly classes and attended the annual St. Louis Tap Festival, LA Tap Festival, and Tradition in Tap (NY). Kelly received a double major in Arts Management and Dance at Lindenwood University in 2011 where she received the Lindy Award from the Dance Department and graduated magma cum laude. With over 15 years experience as a teaching artist, Kelly has that knack of creating a high-energy, fun environment that challenges every level of student. Her passion for teaching and developing artists keeps her busy at COCA - Center of Creative Arts, Gateway Center of Performing Arts, STL Rhythm Collaborative as well as guest teaching for workshops, intensives and setting choreography throughout Missouri and Illinois. Formerly, the Pre-Professional Division and Dance Program Manager at COCA, Kelly led the accreditation efforts of the organization, developed curriculum, and helped students carve their path in their arts education. Now, Kelly works administratively for the Performing Arts Department at Washington University in St. Louis. Kelly is honored to be a part of moSTLy TAP and be a small part of the growth of the tap community here in St. Louis.
​
Greta Johnson:
Greta is a performer and teacher based in St. Louis, Missouri. She began her training in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, taking dance classes of various styles, participating in show choir, and performing in community theatre musicals. Her love for performing grew after moving to St. Louis in 2012. Greta continued her dance training at COCA in University City where she honed her tap technique in classes, intensives, and the teaching assistant program. From there, she began participating in STL Rhythm Collaborative’s Education and outreach programs. Greta earned a double major in theatre and educational studies from Principia College where she was nominated to compete for the Irene Ryan Acting scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Currently, Greta teaches dance with STLRC and performs with local theatre companies. Recent credits include SATE’s 2023 Aphra Behn Festival and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom with Stray Dog Theatre. Greta loves sharing her passion for the arts with others and is so grateful to be a part of the powerhouse organization that is STLRC!
Sophia Klobe:
We're thrilled to have Sophia joining the STLRC faculty team for our 2025-2026 season!
Sophia is entering her senior year at Saint Louis University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Dance. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in 2022 with the high honor of being Valedictorian of her class. Sophia has been dancing since she was four, starting her dance journey at the Professional Dance Center where she was a part of the competitive ensemble team for eleven years and performed at the Fabulous Fox Theatre as a Fox Tellerette. She has trained in many styles of dance including tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and contemporary - tap being her favorite. Sophia is currently an apprentice for moSTLy TAP. She has participated in many musical theatre productions around the St. Louis area. Sophia is currently a part of Xquizit, SLU’s hip-hop dance team. She was an STLRC Pre-Professional Program Student for 2 seasons and has participated in STLRC and moSTLy TAP programs since 2017. Sophia is grateful to her parents for supporting her through everything and enrolling her in her first dance class many years ago so she could find her true passion.
Madi Majors:
We're thrilled to have Madi joining the STLRC faculty team for our 2025-2026 season!
Madi Majors grew up in St. Charles, MO and began her dance training at the Performing Arts Centre at 4 years old, studying tap, jazz, ballet, & lyrical. Throughout her journey, she was a 2nd Company Member with The Dance Company of St. Charles and a performer on the PAC Dance Competition Team. In addition, Madi served as team captain of the JV Golden Girls of Francis Howell High School. Madi was a faculty member and assistant for Dance Time LLC, an assistant for Performing Arts Centre, and most recently joined the family of faculty at St. Louis Academy of Dance. She is a recent graduate of St. Charles Community College, where she earned an Associates Degree in Arts and Sciences. Madi is so excited to be joining the STL Rhythm Collaborative faculty team for the 2025-2026 season.