Stephanie Elter, originally from Chester, NY, moved to South Carolina to attend Converse College, where she earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in finance and a minor in dance. While at Converse, she was an active member of the Dance Ensemble, performing and choreographing works for the stage. Her collegiate performances include roles in Legally Blonde the Musical, Dido and Aeneas, and The Merry Widow. She also trained with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in the summer of 2013 and earned her Acrobatic Arts Certification in May 2024.

With over 25 years of dance experience and more than a decade of teaching in the Upstate, Stephanie is known for her expertise in ballet, pointe, and acro, as well as her versatility in lyrical, jazz, and tap. Her choreography has consistently earned Top 5 placements at both regional and national competitions and has been recognized with national choreography awards.

In 2024, she choreographed the winning talent routine for the Miss Byrnes High School Scholarship Pageant. Most recently, she brought her choreography to the Miss Tennessee Teen stage, creating the talent solo for Miss Memphis Teen 2025. The routine earned the Preliminary Talent Award and helped secure the title of Miss Tennessee’s Teen 2025.

Stephanie currently resides in Duncan, SC, and is the Director of Studio 28 Dance Academy. She has proudly directed and choreographed The Nutcracker for the past seven years and remains dedicated to inspiring the next generation of dancers through passion, creativity, and technique.

Madilynn (Maddie) Walker is an instructor at Studio 28 Dance Academy and is thrilled to share her love for dance with the next generation of dancers. She has trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical, with the majority of her training completed at The Academy of Lexington Youth Ballet in Lexington, SC. Maddie has also completed ballet instructor training through Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, furthering her foundation in classical technique and teaching methods.

Some of her favorite roles include Peter Pan, the Mechanical Doll, and leading roles in The Nutcracker. She is currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education at North Greenville University, with an expected graduation in 2028. Now in her third year of teaching, Maddie strives to create a fun, positive, and inspiring environment where every student can grow in both confidence and technique.