Teachers
Brucie Klay Boonstoppel
Brucie Klay Boonstoppel is a native of the Tampa Bay area. She began her training in the Cecchetti Method of ballet at the Florida Academy of Ballet in Tampa. She continued her studies at Florida State University studying under Maria de Baroncelli, Richard Sias, David Roche and Lynda Davis and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. Brucie also studied summers at the American Dance Festival held at Duke University along with studies in New York with Richard Thomas, Melissa Hayden, David Howard and Phil Black. Brucie has danced professionally in Southern Ballet Theatre, State of Alabama Ballet, Omni Dance Theatre and shows at Rosie O’Gradys and Busch Gardens. She has been teaching for over 40 years, including semesters at University of South Florida and University of Tampa, and continues her education by attending different seminars and conventions. She has taught at the Florida Dance Masters conventions to children from all over the state of Florida. Brucie Klay has added Aerial Yoga to the curriculum at BKDC, a training tool for her dancers with an element of fun, Continuing the success of Brucie Klay’s Dance Center!
Jennifer Perry
Jennifer Perry is excited to be in her second decade of training and choreographing for the talented students at Brucie Klay’s Dance Center where she works with all levels of dancers from recreational to pre-professional and has also prepared dancers for school auditions, pageant talent presentations and junior Olympics training. Her credits include over 200 performances as Clara in the New York City Radio City Christmas Spectacular, over 100 performances in Neil Goldberg’s Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and in Mark Marino’s off-Broadway debut of Mixed Emotions. She has appeared on nationally aired television programs with Paula Abdul, Ben Vereen, Jenny Jones and others and in commercials for Radio City Productions, Foxwoods and in multiple Univision projects at Sony Studios. Jennifer has performed in many corporate industrials including Coca-Cola, Goodyear and Bayer and has taught around the country on the faculty of prestigious dance organizations including Dance Olympus and Dance Educators of America. Jennifer has received multiple awards for her competitive dance choreography and as a competitive dancer earned one hundred twenty scholarships or titles. She is a member of AGVA and the Zumba Instructors Network with multiple certifications. Jennifer also holds a BFA degree in Dance Performance from the University of South Florida (USF) where she was a member of the UDA National Finalist USF SunDolls Dance Team and, post-graduation, taught recreational and college credit fitness courses for twelve years as a USF employee.
AJ Martin
A.J. Martin is entering his sophore year at the University of South Florida working towards his BFA in Dance. He graduated high school with an International Baccalaureate diploma and as a part of the magna cumlaude with a 3.972 gpa. A.J. is diverse in many types of dance, acrobatics, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, ballet, gymnastics, yoga, fitness, modern, musical theatre, and a variety of fusion styles. A.J. Martin will be teaching Acrobatics and working with the Stars Competition Team for the 2023-2024 BKDC Season.
Andrew Guilfoil
Ballet Master, Dancer, Choreographer, Professional Performance Artist. Andrew Guilfoil has an impressive career in dance and education. He earned numerous dance scholarships, which allowed him to study ballet under Alexander Bennet of the Royal Ballet of London. He went on to become a principal dancer for the Scottish American Ballet from 1982 to 1989, performing in six international tours, as well as in film, theater, restaurants, clubs, and circus shows. Andrew has set many renowned ballets such as La Sylphide, Coppelia, Gisselle, and Swan Lake, but also has set his own original ballets! Along with BKDC, Andrew continues as the proud owner and director of the Guilfoil Academy of Dance and Ballet Theater Company in St. Petersburg. Each year he stages a yearly production of The Nutcracker which this year will include the talent of Brucie Klay’s!
Heather Conway
Heather Conway grew up in Connecticut studying dance in New York City at the Joffrey, Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Heather’s professional credits include Industrials for Sunkist, MGM and Citibank, Bob McGrath (Sesame Street) Live and Special Olympics as well as many charitable foundation events. Heather owned a dance studio for 20 years in Armonk NY teaching more than 700 students weekly with 10+ staff. Some of her students went on to dance on Broadway, in professional companies and teach. She was a member of Dance Educators of America and worked as backstage manager for competitions including Sheer Talent / Dance Moms.
Heather teaches Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary and special needs students. She is also a personal trainer and Reiki Master. Heather will be teaching two days weekly at BKDC bringing a nurturing, positive atmosphere and motivating her students along with the Stars Competitive Team.
Jillian Sternick
Jillian Sternick is thrilled to be joining the BKDC family this year! Dancing since she was 5, she has trained in the styles of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, and Musical Theater. Originally from Massachusetts, she moved down to Tampa in the summer of 2020 to pursue a degree in dance from the University of Tampa. Throughout her time so far at the university, Jillian has been training in the pedagogy, Brain Compatible Dance Education, which focuses on the connection between the mind and the body. She was awarded the honor of Dance Student of the Year in 2022. This past summer, she began performing professionally at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and got to dance in her first commercial for Nectar Mattress Company. Upon her graduation this upcoming May, she looks forward to continuing to pursue teaching and performance in the Tampa Bay Area. Believing that dance is for everybody, Jillian looks forward to fostering a creative, fun, and positive environment for her students!