Marcia Steedman, Owner

Ms. Marcia began her dance education with the Alabama Ballet Academy, Birmingham Ballet and Glen Studios. When she was in the 7th grade, she was introduced to gymnastics. When her parents said she had to choose between dance and gymnastics, she chose gymnastics. She competed all over the southeast with Vestavia’s gymnastics team, where they ranked 2nd to the team coached by the current Olympic gymnastics coach. She returned to dance while at UAB, working on her degree in Early Childhood Education, when a church friend and Corky Bell owner asked her to become an assistant teacher and dance with the Corkettes.

Through the years Ms. Marcia has taught dance and gymnastics classes, worked the desk and driven for after school pick-up for other Corky Bell owners. In 1999, she became the owner of the Homewood Corky Bell Dance Studio. Since then, she has taken on many other roles around the studio. Ms. Marcia loves working with children and providing a positive atmosphere for them to learn to work with others and develop their love of dance. Corky Bell is a family, where we love each other and help each other in whatever way we can.

Catie Barron

Ms. Catie has been dancing with Corky Bell for 17 years. While attending Homewood High School, she was a member of the band and the Star Spangled Girls, where she participated in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade and Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, as well as Disney and Universal Studios Parades. As a Star Spangled Girl, she participated in the All Star Competition in Louisiana, where they received all blue ribbons. Ms. Catie’s dance education includes classes at Homewood High School and a summer intensive at Birmingham Ballet. She currently attends Birmingham Southern College, where she is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Catie has been teaching at Corky Bell for 7 years, where she teaches preschoolers through teens.

Anna Kate Bice

Ms. Anna Kate grew up in Alabaster, Alabama where she danced with Corky Bell for 13 years. She is currently a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a major in Kinesiology. She plans to pursue a career in school based Occupational Therapy after graduation. She has worked with kids from ages 2-10 for over 7 years at both her studio and after school care. Her favorite style of dance is ballet and loves working with the preschool classes. She has had the most fun being able to preform in a Walt Disney World parade and competing at the Alabama Theatre.

Melanie Davenport

Ms. Melanie teaches baton, tap, jazz and ballet. For 23 years she has trained dancers of all ages and levels. She received her dance training from Genny's School of Dance in Alexander City, AL. Ms. Melanie started teaching baton in Alexander City, while she was a majorette at Benjamin Russell High School. She attended many Allstar camps and won several twirling competitions. She continued her dancing while she attended UAB, teaching private baton lessons and preparing many for auditions. Ms. Melanie's love for dancing and children shows in every class she teaches. She believes dance is a beautiful way to make friends, learn teamwork and enjoy life.

Juliana Davis

Ms. Juliana has been dancing at Corky Bell for 16 years. She is a senior at Homewood High School. Juliana has also been on the Colorguard team for 3 years, and has recently been promoted to a co-captain. Juliana marched in the 2022 Rose Bowl Parade in California with the Colorguard. She has been a student teacher for 5 years at Corky Bell and is looking forward to teaching at Corky Bell.

Tiffany Davis

Tiffany began her dance journey with the performance group FIRE. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and under the direction of Saundra Holiday, Tiffany studied modern, contemporary, and West African dance. She performed with the company for eight years.

Tiffany then joined Barb & Company Dance. While at Barb & Company, she studied ballet and jazz technique. After graduating high school, Tiffany studied dance education at Birmingham-Southern College. She engaged in daily ballet and pointe training, as well as, jazz, modern, contemporary, and choreography courses training under Ruth Henry, Edith Monroe, Mira Popovich, Wes Chapman, Teri Weksler, and many other educators. While at BSC, Tiffany choreographed the first hip-hop piece to be performed in a dance department recital and received an award for Outstanding Choreography.

Kaitie Horton

Ms. Kaitie grew up near Huntsville, Alabama, where she danced at Soles Dance Center for 16 years, competing for 8 of those years. She was involved in the Sparkman High School Theatre Program and volunteered at the Merrimack Performing Arts Center for 4 years. Ms. Kaitie also loves working with special needs children. She currently attends the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where she is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology. After completing this degree, she plans to pursue a degree in Occupational Therapy. Ms. Kaitie has been teaching preschoolers through teens for 5 years. Her favorite styles of dance are contemporary, acro and hip-hop.

Ashley Setters

Ms. Ashley began her dance training at Corky Bell School of Dance in 1985, studying tap, ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop; she later studied ballet at Birmingham-Southern College. In 1994, Ms. Ashley began teaching as an assistant and later a lead dance instructor at Corky Bell. In 2007, she purchased the Corky Bell West location and began pursuing a career in dance. She has taught and choreographed jazz, modern, ballet, tap and hip hop for all ages. Ms. Ashley spent three seasons with The Chocolate Nutcracker as the local director, scene choreographer and principal dancer, and one season with Dancing with the Stars of the Magic City as a choreographer and performer.