Mona Störling-Enna
Artistic Director

As Co-founder of The Culture House and Artistic Director for Störling Dance Theater, Mona Enna has choreographed such productions as "Between Earth & Sky", "Sower", "Parables & Prayers", and, "The Prodigal Daughter". "The Prodigal Daughter" was chosen by the Kansas City Star as one of the top 15 performances for 2003. Of Mona the K.C.Star wrote,"Mona Störling-Enna's choreographic invention seems to have no limit." Mona has gone on to choreograph and design new work including "butterfly", "Suspended Grace", and the latest, "Underground" a powerful telling of the history and heroics of the Underground Railroad. "Underground" was Mona's first major collaboration together with choreographer, Tobin James.

Mona Enna began her classical dance training at the Ostrobotningen Dance Academy in Kokkola, Finland and went on to train under Jill Miller at Dansivintti in Helsinki. She supplemented her training under the Paris Opera and Finnish National Ballet as she formed her first dance company in Helsinki, "Kadosh" together with Titta Tunkkari.

Mona received the Finnish Young Choreographers award in Helsinki for her work "In The Storm". Mrs. Enna toured with Kadosh throughout Europe until she joined Eternia Dance Theater in 1992 as a soloist.  She became ballet mistress as well as costume designer for Eternia's production "Sacrifice". Mona's choreography for "A Prayer For Bosnia" was requested for the vigil concert in the Blue Hall in Stockholm (where the Nobel Peace Prize is given), to perform together with the top upcoming conductors and orchestra musicians in honor of the needs in Bosnia at the time.

The Culture House has grown into a thriving organization including an Academy of the Performing Arts with over 700 students, an At-Risk youth program, a professional recording studio, and an annual lecture series.

Mona is married to American, Jeremiah Enna, and together they have three children, Niko, Iris, Noelle, and Richard Ellis.

 

Tobin James
Assistant Artistic Director

Tobin James graduated from the Philadelphia University of the Arts with a BFA in Modern dance. While in Philadelphia, she was also a member of the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO). After college she attended the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance where she received a full scholarship and completed their training program. She danced with The Martha Graham Ensemble before launching a freelance career in the Christian music industry.

As a solo dance artist she accompanied musical artists such as Steve Green, and Bill and Gloria Gaither. She performed and choreographed on video projects for Ron Kenoly, and Cece Winans. She toured for five seasons with The Young Messiah Tour featuring Sandi Patti, Larnell Harris, and Carmen, to name a few, and staged the dance for the Emmanuel tour. For four years Tobin was the Dance Coordinator for the Christian Artists' Music Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado.

Tobin was a full scholarship recipient for the Craft of Choreography conference in Geneva, New York. She has choreographed for Philadanco, Ballet Magnificat, Sight and Sound Theatres, The Continental Singers, Störling Dance Theater, Dramatic Truth School of the Arts, and The Culture House Theater School.

This wife and mother of four, in her spare time, teaches Graham based modern dance for Dramatic Truth School of the Arts, The Culture House Artists Development program, The University of Missouri Kansas City, and The Kansas City Ballet School.

 

Courtney Kierl-Bourman

Ms. Bourman's formal dance training began in Kansas City with Kathy and Dennis Landsman followed by two years of scholarship study at the San Francisco Ballet School. 

Prior to joining Störling Dance Theater, Ms. Bourman was a member of the Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Omaha, Kansas Regional Ballet (formerly American Youth Ballet), and was a premiere soloist with the Tulsa Ballet Theatre. 

With a performing career that has spanned more than two decades, Ms. Bourman has an extremely varied repertoire, performing principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Anthony Tudor, Leonide Massine, Frederic Franklin, Lew Christensen, John Butler, Andre Prokovsky, Arthur Mitchell, Todd Bolender, and others. 

Some of her memorable roles with Störling Dance Theater include "the woman with the red scarf" in Suspended Grace, the prostitute in Prodigal Daughter, Yearning, and High Heel Shoe Blues. 

Ms. Bourman has been the recipient of three national awards for choreography including the Monticello College Foundation Award for Best Female Emerging Choreographer in 2000 and the 2002 Regional Dance America Choreographic Recognition Plan Award. In April 2007, she was honored with the Choreographic Plan Award for a second time at RDA's national festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for her piece entitled Tribute which was created in memory of the victims of September eleventh. Originally choreographed for the Kansas Regional Ballet in 2003, this work entered the repertory of Störling Dance Theater during the 2006-2007 season.

 In addition to her work onstage, Ms. Bourman is an instructor at the American Dance Center, the Culture House School of Dance and the Artist Development Program. She is also the very proud mother of her two children, Aiden and Isabella. 

 

Tawny Gentry

Tawny Gentry is originally from Los Angeles, where she trained at Santa Clarita Ballet Academy for 10 years under Corinne Glover and Carol Guidry. While there, she obtained her full membership to the Royal Academy of Dance after taking several performance-based exams. She was a soloist with Santa Clarita Ballet Company for 7 years, performing roles such as Snow Queen and Dew Drop in "The Nutcracker," Swanhilda in "Coppelia," and The Fairy Godmother in "Cinderella."

From 2002-2005 she danced in Houston as a company member with Ad Deum Dance Company. She credits director, Randall Flinn, for imparting passion and excellent training in modern dance. While with Ad Deum, she had opportunities to dance several solo roles and work with such choreographers as Randall Flinn, Steve Rooks, Laura Morton, and Loreen Faigel, as well as tour nationally and internationally.

In 2005, she moved to Kansas City to dance with Störling Dance Theater, under the direction of the amazing choreographer and storyteller, Mona Störling Enna. In 2006, Tawny joined Maxxas Dance Theater and is honored to be the assistant director to the multi-talented, Marc Wayne. Since then, she has loved the opportunity to perform several leading roles in many diverse dance styles with both companies. Tawny obtained her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in 2002 and had been teaching dance for 10 years. Currently, she enjoys teaching a wide variety of classes for The Culture House's School of Dance as well as its Artist Development Program. She is overwhelmed with thankfulness to her Lord and Savior, supportive family, and great friends.

 

Alexandra Wilson

Alexandra studied since the age of 11 at DanceWorks Conservatory, under the direction of Loren Whittaker, Sharon and Nicole Romine. Later, she received her BFA in Ballet and Modern from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Alexandra has performed in works such as: Balanchine's Serenade, Paul Taylor's Aureole, Fokine's Les Sylphide, and many works by Paula Weber, Jennifer Medina, Loren Whittaker, and Rodni Williams. She has toured Europe twice with Young Tanzsommer, and has taught many workshops for studios and camps over the years. Alexandra is joined Störling Dance Theater in 2006 and became a company member in 2007.

 

Marc Wayne

For twenty-five years, Marc has made his living as a professional entertainer. As dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, director, educator, and speaker, this seasoned professional has traveled coast to coast performing for audiences of over 71,000 people.

Marc began his training with Jeri Pinnell in a small one-room studio in Gahanna, Ohio. His first ballet teacher was Gail Levan. He received his collegiate education at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where he majored in dance. He then continued his career and studies in Chicago where he studied at various studios including Gus Giordano Dance Center, Conservatory Of American Dance, and Joel Hall Dance Center.

His experience includes screen, television, and stage in music videos, video series, commercials, industrials, movies, musicals, amusement parks, and five US tours. Titles include Carman's Raising The Standard and R.I.O.T. tours, Fiddler On The Roof (director,choreographer), Barnum, Guys & Dolls, The King & I (playing the King), Bibleman, Dramatic Truth's Mystery of Christmas (playing the principal role of "God" for 8 of 11 seasons), Störling Dance Theater's Prodigal Daughter, Butterfly, Suspended Grace, and Underground, and Maxxas Dance Theatre's Genesis, "R", and 3DAYS (choreographer/director/producer/writer).

He has worked with and shared the stage with such artists as Carman, Willie Aames, Amy Grant, Ron Kenoly, Ben Vereen, and organizations and companies that include Dr. Pepper, KFC, Kings Island, Pamplin Entertainment, Nexxus, MGM, and Eastman Films.

Marc's company work includes Chicago based modern companies, CHICAGO MOVING COMPANY and CHICAGO DANCE MEDIUM and jazz and tap company, CHI-TOWN JAZZ DANCE (w/ Meribeth Kisner). Also included is Kansas City based companies; DRAMATIC TRUTH BALLET THEATRE (founding member) and STÖRLING DANCE THEATER and guest appearances with Jackson, Mississippi based ballet company, BALLET MAGNIFICAT.
He is at present displaying his eclectic style of movement through his own highly acclaimed contemporary jazz/modern company, MAXXAS DANCE THEATRE.

Marc's joy is working with young people of all ages. Affirming their purpose and transforming that confidence, into their performance of art and life. His infectious zest for life and performing, has taken him as choreographer, director, speaker, educator, and judge to countless studios, churches, camps, workshops, master classes, and competitions across the United States, Bahamas, and Jamaica, sponsored by such organizations as Ad Deum, Ballet Magnificat, the Continental Singers, Dramatic Truth School of the Arts, the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, The Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, and (at present) The Culture House Academy of the Performing Arts

Marc and his incredible wife Anne (of Störling Dance Theater), have six children, Caleb, Mikayla, Noah, Madeline, Zion, and Elisabeth.

 

Anne Wayne

Anne received her formal training in Chicago at studios including Northbrook Dance Center, Hubbard Street, Ruth Page, and The Conservatory of American Dance. Prior to officially joining Störling Dance Theater in 2002, Anne danced with Chi-Town Jazz Dance in Chicago, danced the principal role of the "Princess" in Lynda Martha's touring production "The Young Hunter", and performed with the Chicago Orchestra in Sondheim's "Into The Woods". She appeared in Carman's "R.I.O.T." music video, and she received rave reviews for her performance in Störling Dance Theater's "Butterfly". Mixed in with all of these years of performing, Anne married Marc Wayne and together they raise 6 beautiful children, which has been the most rewarding role she has played in her career.

 

Andrea Goldstein

Andrea is excited to be dancing her second year with Störling Dance Theatre. Her dance training at Danceworks Conservatory allowed her to perform and tour with the Stars of Tomorrow in Austria, Paris, and other areas in Europe. Upon attending college she spent most summers at dance intensives such as American Ballet Theatre and the Glenda Brown Choreography Project. She graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in Ballet Performance and Teaching. She had several opportunities to perform and choreograph while in Utah. She was a member of Utah Contemporary Ballet and Spirit and Truth Christian Dance Troupe. Andrea is grateful for the numerous opportunities she had to perform in different churches in Salt Lake City. She was also a dancer in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Processional which was most thrilling. She always enjoys performing at her church home, Church of the Resurrection in Overland Park. Andrea has discovered her more recent gift of teaching in the last couple years. She continues to reach out to students and help them grow in their dance careers. Andrea would not be where she is today without her loving and encouraging parents, Rob and Kathy Goldstein.

 

Laura Holladay

Laura Holladay is originally from New Harbor, Maine. She started dancing at a young age under the instruction of Faye Cain at Midcoast Dance Studios and Maine State School for the Performing Arts under the direction of Linda Miele. During her years at Midcoast Dance Studios and MSSPA, Laura was corps and leading roles for ballets such as Peter and the Wolf, The Nutcracker, Alice and Wonderland, and Swan Lake. After high school graduation Laura moved to Hartford, CT and enrolled into the Hartt School of the University of Hartford as a Dance Pedagogy major. Here she was instructed by Peggy Lyman in the Martha Graham technique, Katie Stevinson-Nollet in Contemporary Dance forms, Hilda Morales, Susan Brooker, and Adam Miller in Contemporary and Classical Ballet. She danced in many pieces at Hartt including: Katie Stevinson-Nollet's World Premier of "Burbon Street", Alla Nikitina's "America Dancing", and also "Romeo and Juliet" directed by Denis Price. After graduating Laura was accepted as an apprentice with  Störling Dance Theater and is thrilled to be dancing her second season with them!

Apprentices

Jillian Daco

Jillian began her classical ballet and modern training with Andrea Bedford at Northeast Missouri Bible College.  Upon graduation she helped develop the Worship Arts Dance program at Heartland Christian College.  In 2006 she relocated to Kansas City to be a part of Störling Dance Theater's Artist Development Program.  While in Kansas City, Jillian has performed the lead role in Imago "Dei's Wellspring of Life", choreographed by Mona Störling-Enna. As a student she had the opportunity to perform with Störling Dance Theater's "Suspended Grace", "Prodigal Daughter", and "Underground".  Jillian also enjoys being a member of Marc Wayne's Maxxas Dance Theatre and teaching dance at The Culture House.  This is Ms. Daco's first season with Störling Dance Theater.

 

Mary Marshall

Mary began her dance training at the age of 9 at Nallia's School of Dance. She then studied at Graves Talent Company under the direction of Brenda Graves, and later The Culture House Academy of the Performing Arts with Mona Störling-Enna and Judy Davidson. She has attended intensives at the American Academy of Ballet, the Kansas City Ballet, Project Dance NYC, STEPS, Dance Ad Deum, Montgomery Ballet, and was a full scholarship student at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre intensive. Mary just graduated this year from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance cum laude with a B.F.A. in Ballet and Modern dance.  During her years at UMKC she performed ballet and contemporary works by Paula Weber, Rodni Williams, Jennifer Medina, James Jordan and danced the principle Russian role in George Balanchine's full length ballet, "Serenade." She has performed with the Kansas City Ballet for the past three years in "The Nutcracker," worked with "Quixotic Performance Fusion" under Keelan Whitmore and has worked with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey under Tyrone Aiken in his production of "Setting the Stage." Mary also danced with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company where she performed works by Mary Pat Henry, Leni Wylliams, Milton Myers, and Shapiro & Smith. She recently performed with The Montgomery Ballet under the direction of Eli Lazar in their annual "Performance on the Green." Aside from dancing, Mary also enjoys teaching dance and is currently teaching at Valley View Dance Studio in Overland Park. Mary is more than honored to be performing with Störling Dance Theatre and feels so blessed to work with such gifted, creative artists. She thanks her amazing family for all of their continual love and support and gives thanks to God for the many blessings in her life.