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April Okken: Co-Studio Director
April has been dancing since she was in preschool. She received a BS in Math and a minor in Dance from Missouri State University. While attending Missouri State, she was a member of the Sugar Bears Dance Team. As a Sugar Bear, she danced in Spain, at the Macy' 2001 Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the National Dance Competition at Walt Disney World which aired on ESPN. April has also performed in Las Vegas, 1996 Olympics, and Theater in the Park. She choreographs for high school musicals and dance teams. April choreographed Seven Brides for Seven Brothers ‘09 and Seussical, the Musical ‘11 at TTIP, and won the Demi Award for Best Choreography 2009. April has been teaching and choreographing for CYT for the past 8 years.
Lydia Sackett: Co-Studio Director
Lydia is originally from small-town Oxford, Ohio where she received her early years of dance training at the Oxford Ballet Studio. During those years she had the opportunity to perform with the Hamilton Ballet Theater, appearing as a soloist in the Nutcracker, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty . In 2005, Lydia relocated to Kansas City to train with Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre, directed by Liz Dimmel. Since graduating from DTBT's trainee program in 2007, Lydia has danced as a company member and lead soloist with them appearing in Paquita , The Mystery of Christmas, Dethroning the Prince and The Book of Esther along with many other individual works. She was also privileged to dance two seasons with Maxxas Dance Theater, directed by Marc Wayne. Lydia gave birth to her first child, Suzanna, in March 2011.
Laura Marion: Studio Manager
Laura is thrilled to be in a position that fits her background in dance. She studied tap, jazz & ballet for 11 years at the Dorothy Thomas School of Dance in Topeka, KS. Laura was also an original company member with Topeka Ballet when it was founded in 1975, where she remained a company member for 5 years. She has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 11 years, who volunteers all of her free time in various activities and committees. She has been involved with Logos for 2 years. Her professional experience includes working for EDS Corporation for 17 years as a Software Test Engineer / Systems Analyst.
Amy Hover
Amy started dancing at the age of 4 at a local KCK studio, where she trained in tap and jazz. After graduation, she attended Kansas State University, where she earned a BS in dance and theatre, and spent 2 summers studying at Ailey School in NYC. Since then, she has performed in town with Eubank Productions, Theatre in the Park, OCTA, Bottoms Up Sketch Comedy, The Smith Project and a Variety KC, and taught or choreographed for several local studios and high schools.
Crystalyn Sokolaski
Crystalyn received her early dance training at Paula's School of Dance, where she competed and won in numerous competitions. At almost 11, she started ballet and pointe lessons at Barbara's Conservatory of Dance. While at Barbara's, she formed a performing liturgical group which later became God's Glory Dancers. She cultivated and directed the group for 2 years, until leaving for Ballet Magnificat!. Crystalyn danced as a corps member and principle dancer with Ballet Midwest from 1996 until graduating in 2002, when she was co-captain of her dance team. She has had instruction from the directors of Word in Motion, Ad Deum, Hosanna Sacred Arts, and Inlet Dance Theater. As well as from instructors in the Martha Graham, Marcel Marceau, Royal Ballet in London, ABT, Alvin Ailey, and New York City Ballet companies. She trained and performed with Ballet Magnificat! of Jackson, MS, for 2 1/2 years. She was led back to Kansas City to train and dance with Storling Dance Theater for 3 years. She then was an initial member of Kansas City Movement, with whom she spent one season. Crystalyn continues to be a guest artist and featured soloist for numerous ballet companies, productions, worship services, and conferences- most recently touring with Exall. She has been hired to start many liturgical dance companies and programs throughout the south and midwest. Her award-winning choreography continues to be sought by both civic and professional companies. Crystalyn is embarking on her fourteenth year of instructing, currently teaching at Diamond Gymnastics and Dance Academy and CYT.
Holly Stewart
Holly started her dance training in MN at the age of 5 and has over 20 years experience. She danced competitively for 10 years and began teaching dance at the age of 15. She received a BA in Psychology from the University of Kansas, where she was a member of the Crimson Girls Dance Team. She was also a KC Chiefs Cheerleader, and had the honor of performing at the American Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. Holly is inspired by the use of dance as a form of worship and is passionate about encouraging young dancers to do the same. She is excited to be a part of Logos Dance Theatre!
April has been dancing since she was in preschool. She received a BS in Math and a minor in Dance from Missouri State University. While attending Missouri State, she was a member of the Sugar Bears Dance Team. As a Sugar Bear, she danced in Spain, at the Macy' 2001 Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the National Dance Competition at Walt Disney World which aired on ESPN. April has also performed in Las Vegas, 1996 Olympics, and Theater in the Park. She choreographs for high school musicals and dance teams. April choreographed Seven Brides for Seven Brothers ‘09 and Seussical, the Musical ‘11 at TTIP, and won the Demi Award for Best Choreography 2009. April has been teaching and choreographing for CYT for the past 8 years.
Lydia Sackett: Co-Studio Director
Lydia is originally from small-town Oxford, Ohio where she received her early years of dance training at the Oxford Ballet Studio. During those years she had the opportunity to perform with the Hamilton Ballet Theater, appearing as a soloist in the Nutcracker, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty . In 2005, Lydia relocated to Kansas City to train with Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre, directed by Liz Dimmel. Since graduating from DTBT's trainee program in 2007, Lydia has danced as a company member and lead soloist with them appearing in Paquita , The Mystery of Christmas, Dethroning the Prince and The Book of Esther along with many other individual works. She was also privileged to dance two seasons with Maxxas Dance Theater, directed by Marc Wayne. Lydia gave birth to her first child, Suzanna, in March 2011.
Laura Marion: Studio Manager
Laura is thrilled to be in a position that fits her background in dance. She studied tap, jazz & ballet for 11 years at the Dorothy Thomas School of Dance in Topeka, KS. Laura was also an original company member with Topeka Ballet when it was founded in 1975, where she remained a company member for 5 years. She has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 11 years, who volunteers all of her free time in various activities and committees. She has been involved with Logos for 2 years. Her professional experience includes working for EDS Corporation for 17 years as a Software Test Engineer / Systems Analyst.
Amy Hover
Amy started dancing at the age of 4 at a local KCK studio, where she trained in tap and jazz. After graduation, she attended Kansas State University, where she earned a BS in dance and theatre, and spent 2 summers studying at Ailey School in NYC. Since then, she has performed in town with Eubank Productions, Theatre in the Park, OCTA, Bottoms Up Sketch Comedy, The Smith Project and a Variety KC, and taught or choreographed for several local studios and high schools.
Crystalyn Sokolaski
Crystalyn received her early dance training at Paula's School of Dance, where she competed and won in numerous competitions. At almost 11, she started ballet and pointe lessons at Barbara's Conservatory of Dance. While at Barbara's, she formed a performing liturgical group which later became God's Glory Dancers. She cultivated and directed the group for 2 years, until leaving for Ballet Magnificat!. Crystalyn danced as a corps member and principle dancer with Ballet Midwest from 1996 until graduating in 2002, when she was co-captain of her dance team. She has had instruction from the directors of Word in Motion, Ad Deum, Hosanna Sacred Arts, and Inlet Dance Theater. As well as from instructors in the Martha Graham, Marcel Marceau, Royal Ballet in London, ABT, Alvin Ailey, and New York City Ballet companies. She trained and performed with Ballet Magnificat! of Jackson, MS, for 2 1/2 years. She was led back to Kansas City to train and dance with Storling Dance Theater for 3 years. She then was an initial member of Kansas City Movement, with whom she spent one season. Crystalyn continues to be a guest artist and featured soloist for numerous ballet companies, productions, worship services, and conferences- most recently touring with Exall. She has been hired to start many liturgical dance companies and programs throughout the south and midwest. Her award-winning choreography continues to be sought by both civic and professional companies. Crystalyn is embarking on her fourteenth year of instructing, currently teaching at Diamond Gymnastics and Dance Academy and CYT.
Holly Stewart
Holly started her dance training in MN at the age of 5 and has over 20 years experience. She danced competitively for 10 years and began teaching dance at the age of 15. She received a BA in Psychology from the University of Kansas, where she was a member of the Crimson Girls Dance Team. She was also a KC Chiefs Cheerleader, and had the honor of performing at the American Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. Holly is inspired by the use of dance as a form of worship and is passionate about encouraging young dancers to do the same. She is excited to be a part of Logos Dance Theatre!
