Kim Duranti is the owner and director of KD Dance Studio, Inc. and has been dancing and teaching for most of her life. She began her dance training locally and continued studying throughout her childhood and teen years, taking classes both locally and in Pittsburgh. As a young adult, Kim continued her dance training at Penn State University, where she earned a degree in Nutrition and Interdisciplinary Dance.

​

Before opening KD Dance Studio in 2015, Kim taught at Shirley Tater Dean School of Dance from 2004 to 2015. Today, she teaches the majority of classes at KD Dance Studio, including Creative Movement, Levels 1 & 2, Hip Hop, and Modern. She is certified in Acro Dance and is a member of several professional dance teacher associations, including organizations specializing in preschool dance, hip hop & tap dance education.

​

Kim continues her own dance training each year and is passionate about providing students with a strong foundation, positive encouragement, and a love of dance that can last a lifetime

​Kacie Pleva teaches Musical Theater Jazz, as well as Intermediate and Advanced Jazz and Lyrical classes, at KD Dance Studio. She has trained in dance for more than 20 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in education from California University of Pennsylvania, where she also earned a minor in dance.

​

Kacie is a full-time English Language Arts teacher at Frazier High School, where she also serves as assistant marching band director and musical choreographer/assistant director. Between the Belle Vernon Area and Frazier school districts, she has choreographed middle and high school musicals for more than a decade.

 

She has also performed as an ensemble member in multiple community theater productions with Main Street Theater Company in Uniontown, PA.

​

Kacie is passionate about creating a safe, welcoming environment where dancers can build confidence, grow in their skills, express their love of dance, and thrive.

Kaeli Verbrugge has been dancing since the age of 2 and trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical throughout her childhood in Iowa. She competed in dance for more than 12 years and discovered her passion for teaching young dancers while in high school.

​

Kaeli continued dancing as a member of the University of Iowa Dance Team while earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She competed at UDA Nationals all four years in Pom, Jazz, and Game Day, earning third place in the country twice. She later moved to Pittsburgh and earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh.

​

Kaeli began teaching at KD Dance Studio in 2024 and enjoys sharing her love of dance with young dancers. She is passionate about helping students build confidence, develop technique, and find joy in dance in a fun and positive environment.