Kathleen Stegall

Studio Manager and Ballroom, Swing & Country Dance Instructor

Kathleen has been surrounded by music since the day she was born. She was enrolled in ballet and piano classes as early as three. She continued to pursue piano for 12 years and, being from a small town with no proper studio, put dancing lessons aside for 40 years. She did take to music and movement adding the clarinet and baton twirling to her skills. However, dance was always close to her heart and she could not forget the freedom she felt expressing herself to music.

When the "fitness craze" hit Austin, Kathleen was completely caught up in it. She began running and competing in local races. This led her to aerobic dancing, where her love of fitness, music, and dancing were united. In 1978 she began teaching aerobic dancing for Jackie Sorensen and soon began training instructors. She pursued this career along with her regular elementary school teaching career for 16 years. She trained aerobic dance teachers all over the US and Japan and performed with them at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. Though Kathleen is not currently teaching aerobic dancing, she continues intense fitness training and is now a certified ACE personal trainer.

In 1995 Kathleen began taking country dance lessons and before long, was competing with her instructor. In 1999 she won the World Championship as a Pro Am Newcomer in country western dancing. She subsequently began competing in the couples competitions with her husband Stewart Edgington. Together they have won numerous titles, including 2ND in the world in Division III, as well as 3rd in the world in Division II. They also won the Silver Division National Championships in 2001 and 2003.

In 2004 Kathleen retired after 30 years as an elementary school teacher. With Footworks Dance Studio she began training as an instructor, under David Vance and Stacey Huston (the greatest dancers, teachers and performers around), and currently teaches two-step, swing and various other styles to students.

Kathleen continues to broaden and deepen her dance capabilities by studying Ballroom, Latin and Swing with some of the world's top instructors. Her future plans include competing in these areas and spreading her love for dance and fitness to as many people as possible.