Leslie McGregor Berndt
Kem's Gym Dancer & Gymnast
After being a part of the Kem's family until she graduated high school, Leslie went on to join the Oklahoma State Pom Squad in 1983-1986 and was promoted to choreographer from 1985-1986. In 1995, Leslie was also selected to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader!
SUCCESS STORIES
Heidi started her dance career with Suzanne Kem and continued with her until she left her senior year for North Carolina School of the Arts. From there, she was accepted into Julliard Dance in New York City, graduating top of her class. After graduation, Heidi was invited to join the nationally renowned Martha Grahm Dance Company, earning herself a principle dancer and spot on the front of their calendar. Heidi later followed her heart to Bali, Indonesia where she created her own dance company for three years. After managing the choreography and modern dance department at a university in Singapore, Heidi moved back to America where she opened her own Art Gallery in Alabama and continues to cultivate art and train new dancers.
Heidi Stoeckley
Eric Chambray
Eric earned all of his early training with Kem's Gym from when he started at 10 until he left for college. Suzanne and Bill took Eric under their wing and encouraged him in every way they could. In high school, Eric used his tumbling skills to join the diving team and cheerleaders at Po-Hi, a move that helped to find a path way to a career. He attended the University of Central Oklahoma on scholarships for cheer, pom, and dance! Eric went on to perform on cruise ships, international theme parks, and eventually landed in the Las Vegas show "Le Reve" where he was one of the only performers who could dance both ballroom and hiphop, tumble on water, perform ariel silks, and dive 80 feet into the stage pool.
Kem's Gym Dancer
Kem's Gym Dancer & Gymnast
Kevin Kem
Kem's Gym Dancer & Gymnast
At age 13, he won the Oklahoma Tap Challenge and went on to become a national champion in New York City and helped open the movie "Tap" with Gregory Hines. Kevin worked professionally in theater for many years before making a career change to stunts in television and movies. From LA to Atlanta, Kevin has worked as a stunt man and stunt coordinator. He has been seen in "CSI", "Ozark:, "Macgyver", "Stranger Things", DC "Suicide Squad" and "Doom Patrol", "Black Panther, Wakanda Forever", just to name a few. Kevin often comes back to work with Kem's Gym students.
Kim Manning
Kem's Gym Dancer
Kim grew up as a roller skating competitor and added ballet and jazz classes as she got older. While a Kem's Gym student, she won the National title with American Kids Talent competition with her lyrical jazz. Kim, also having a singing career, joined the George Clinton and Parliment/Funkadelic as a featured singer and has performed on the Emmys and Grammys, and now enjoys a solo career. She has been in shows such as "Flavor of Love", "Boston Public" and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend". She was most recently in the "Barbie Movie". Kim often comes back to Ponca to partner with Kem's Gym students to pass on her skills and include them in her music videos, along side Cara and Kevin.
Cara Kem Cassens
Kem's Gym Dancer & Gymnast
Cara started working professionally at the Music Theatre of Wichita at age 13. Besides winning multiple awards, dance scholarships from LA to New York, and working in many regional theaters across the country, Cara also trained with some of the "Best of the Best", including being invited to the prestigious Broadway Theater Project, where she has been invited back to mentor the next generation of young artists. Cara spent 10 years in New York City where she performed in several off-Broadway shows and two 1st National Broadway Tours, including "Shrek, the musical" and "High School Musical" where she was an original cast member, even creating one of the roles. Cara has moved home carry on her family legacy. She also teaches for the OK-LA Dance Convention and judges dance competitions in OK and KS.
Nikki Terry Dogen
Kem's Gym Dancer
After receiving a strong foundation in dance with Suzanne Kem, Nikki started competing with Applause Dance Studio in Oklahoma City under the direction of Pat Oplotnik, a long time collaborative friend of the Kems. Nikki won Miss Teen Dance in 1994 and Junior Miss Dance in 1995 at Dance Master's of America. She also went on to join the Oklahoma State Pom Team from 1998-2002.
16 Kems dance students auditioned and were accepted into dance programs at OSU, OU, UCO, OCU, Cincinnati Conservatory, and Juliard.
8 Kem’s Dance students went on to Dance Teams at UCO, OSU, OBU and Cowley College.
5 Kem's Dance students went on to become Dance Captains and Choreographers for the Roustabouts at NOC.
The Kem’s have produced roughly 500 cheerleaders with 12 going on to cheer at UA, NES, NOC, OSU, OU, and SCU.
The Kem's have produced NUMEROUS Hi-Steppers where many becoming Offices, earned the title “Miss High Kick” and 10 named Captain.
Stefani Kline and Kelsey Hayes, Kem's dancers, were both given scholarships to dance at the Edge in Los Angeles, the largest school in the area with professional choreographers as faculty.
Amy Dilman, Kem's gymnast, competitive gymnast for the University of Nebraska.
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