Our Legacy

The original Hill-Top Dance Studio was founded by "Miss Nelda" Hill in Kansas City Kansas in 1951. In 1986 she entered into a partnership with her youngest daughter, Tauna Hill Keltner, and together they managed studios in Lenexa, North Kansas City and Kansas City Kansas. In 1996, with the passing of Mrs. Hill, the studio became a sole-proprietorship and became Hill-Top Dance and Theatre Arts Center and closed all but the Lenexa location. The focus of the studio became Kansas City Dance Theatre Company, a not-for-profit children’s dance company. The company provides an opportunity for dancers in the Greater Kansas City area to showcase their talents and gain experience on stage and in rehearsal that is as close as possible to a professional level. KCDTC has a scholarship fund awarding scholarships to company members to allow them to travel to improve their dance studies.

 

In September of 2013 the studio was renamed Hill-Top Studio and continues to be located at  8345 Monticello. KCDTC continues to be the focus for the Studio and Miss Tauna serves as Senior Artistic Director. 

Miss Nelda's granddaughter carries on the Hill family tradition with her mother and plans to major in Dance in college.