Krystle Branham
Founder/Director
2022 Showcase America's Director of The Year
Krystle began dancing at the early age of seven and knew right away this was going to be a life long journey. Krystle is trained in
jazz, lyrical, ballet and hip-hop. Throughout her many years of competitive dance, she has won numerous team and solo titles. In 2004 Krystle was crowned Miss NTDA, placed 2nd runner-up at Miss
Dance Drill Team Ohio and was a member of the court for Miss Creative Dance Productions pageant. She was a three time winner of Miss Festival of Dance during her Freshman, Sophomore and
Junior year.
Krystle started cheerleading in the 6th grade and continued through high school, serving as Varsity Captain her senior year. At the UCA cheer camp her senior year she was one of two girls picked amongst all the students to be invited to join the UCA cheer camp staff after graduation. Along with cheerleading she start taking tumbling classes and was one of the advanced tumblers on her squad which has helped her with teaching tumbling classes to her students today. Following her senior year in high school she coached 7th grade cheerleading in 2005 and 2011. Krystle continues to choreograph the competition dance routines for her former middle school and high school cheer squads. She choreographed the dance routine for the 2017 Ashland University Cheerleaders competition squad.
Sophistication Dance Company was founded in 2002 by Krystle's mother, Denny Branham, when Krystle was a Junior in high school. Krystle served as Captain her senior year and lead the team to many state and national titles. After graduating she was an instructor for another local dance company for two years. In 2006 she opened Sophistication Dance Company up again under her direction. She began this adventure with only 6 girls the first year and practicing at local schools. In May 2010 she opened the doors to her first dance studio. As the company continued to expand looking for a bigger studio was a must. In January 2013 Krystle found her way back to the studio where her dance career all started.
Krystle is the coach/choreographer for the Little Attitude Minis, Little Attitudes Elementary, New Attitude Jrs. and Srs. and is a solo instructor. She also is the head instructor for our beginner technique classes and she helps assist in our tumbling classes.
Her teams have earned numerous awards including 16 National Titles. Best Of The Best Titles and every team has been National Gold, Silver and Bronze medal recipients. All her teams have received many choreography and technique awards and recogintions.
Ashley Scott
Juniors and Minis Team Instructor
Lindsey Hoffman
Technique and Senior Team instructor
Rilee Kershner
Tiny, Teeny Tiny Teams and Recreational Class Instructor
Rilee began dancing at 5 years old with Sophistication Dance Company. She started out on our Tiny Team and served as Captain (we no longer have captains) of our Mini Team when she was in 3rd grade. When Rilee was a member of our Mini, Elementary, Junior and Seniors Teams, she helped lead every team to win National Grand Champs. She was a member of our first Junior and Senior team to win National Champs.
Rilee was not only known for her amazing dance skills and talent but for her facial expressions on the floor. She lit up the dance floor when she performed. She absolutely loves dance and it showed. She was born a star from day one with us.
Rilee graduated in 2022 from Madison High School where she also cheered from 7th-12th grade. After Graduating, she attended Ohio Universtiy and is now back and going to college here in Mansfield.
Before Rilee graduated, she was a coach for out Mini Team for 4 years. She was a huge asset to this team and she loved her students. She took a lot of pride in coaching them and was a great mentor to them. When we heard she was moving back to Mansfield, we decided to ask her to take over our Recreational (non-competitive) program. We know this is going to be a great fit for her. Rilee is amazing with students of all ages and her patience with them is a joy to watch. We know that she is going to take the big role we are giving her and do an amazing job with growing our program.
Rilee is excited to be back, and she is happy to be taking on a new roll with SDC. Rilee, along with Krystle, hope to finally bring a new look and feel to our non-competitive students. Our plan is to completely revamp how we run our classes this season and make it more enjoyable and beneficial for our students. We can't wait to see this part of our studio come to life with Rilee leading the way!
Kelley Groscost
Minis, Tiny and Teeny Tiny Team Instructor
Kelley has been a coach for Sophistication Dance Company for many years. She is currently a coach for the Teeny Tiny Attitudes, Tiny Attitudes, and Little Attitude Minis.
Kelley started her dance career at 9 years old as a member of the Dancing Angels for New Traditions Dance Company. In high school, she joined the original Sophistication Dance Company as a member of the New Attitude Seniors. Kelley continued her dance career in college as a member of the Marshall University Dance Team where she danced for football and basketball games. She also performed with Marshall University’s competition team at NDA college national competition at Daytona Beach. She has experience in jazz, pom, lyrical, and hip-hop.
Kelley graduated from Marshall University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Since graduating, she has worked in social services and has worked with children in a variety of settings. She is married to Taylor and they have a 4-year-old daughter, Tahlia. Kelley was excited to finally join the Dance Mom Club in 2021 when Tahlia joined Teeny Tiny Attitudes.
Kelley loves being an instructor for SDC and loves to watch the dancers grow each year with their ability and confidence. She is excited to see what the next year holds!
1361 Park Avenue East
Mansfield, OH 44905
Phone: (419)571-7923
Email: sophisticationdance@gmail.com
Or use our contact form.
Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Dancer Of The Year, Kaelin Scott!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ELEMENTARY SELECT MISS SHOWCASE OF STARS, TENLEY BLAIR AND THE JUNIOR SELECT MISS SHOWCASE OF STARS, JULIA HOFFMAN!!!
SDC GOLF OUTING
Thank you to everyone who comes out to support our organization and dancers year after year!!
Our next outing will be held on Aug. 23 2025 @ Twin Lakes Golf Course on Marion Avenue