Your 2009 Show Directors

Kim McKimmie
International Director
Miss McKimmie began her dance career in Portland, Oregon, at the age of three and Dance has taken her all over the world ever since! She taught Dance at the university level as well as opened her first Dance Studio in 1979. She has either danced professionally, taught dance, or produced dance events in most Major Cities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Australia. She has enjoyed producing "I LOVE DANCE" for thirty years, and every year creates a schedule that is a spectacular showcase for performers of all ages and ability levels.

Although Championship Conventions, Sweetheart & HeartThrob Floorshows, Dance Intensive Master Classes and the "Sweetheart Of The Year" Pageants have been thrilling events for her to produce all these years, this Season has those Finalé productions "On Hold" as Miss Kim pursues her own unique personal and professional goals. Kim is very proud of the many working Dancers who attribute their success to "I LOVE DANCE" and the Sweetheart and HeartThrob programs.

Christine Brandt
 Christine owns and operates “Dance Inc.” in Virginia and has teaching Dance for over 25 years. As a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Christine has Built a program that includes Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Ballroom and Irish Step Dancing. Her students have been the recipients of many “I LOVE DANCE” honors and awards. Several students have begun promising careers in Dance. Known for her award-winning choreography and dynamic teaching style, Christine is in constant demand by theatre groups, pageant contestants, schools and service organizations. Christine has earned the “Excellence Award” for several years at “I LOVE DANCE” and is joining the Show Director Staff for Competitions held in States other than the Virginias this Season. Her background experience of many years on our Judging panels and first-hand knowledge as a Participating Studio compliment her friendly as most helpful spirit as an Announcer at our events.

Ronda Copeland
Miss Ronda was part of the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Sweetheart Of The Year Master Faculty and joins us this Season as Show Director once again. Ms. Copeland’s dance training in Canada began at the age of three - which no doubt helped her become Miss Toronto in 1998 -- and she placed in the Top 5 in the Miss Canada Pageant! (She’s judged Local and National Pageants in the USA and Canada.) Ronda has been teaching the art of dance for over 20 years now - and her studio, The Ronda Copeland School of Dance, offers classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Acrobatics, Lyrical, Hip-Hop and Vocal. She has been involved in Pro Cheerleading in the CFL (Canadian Football League) and was a former Dance Captain with the NFL Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders. Her students (when not competing at “I LOVE DANCE”) have appeared in a pilot episode of the Warner Bros. TV show The Gilmore Girls and in the Disney movie Santa Who? Ms. Ronda has trained many Dancers that have become members of the ILD Junior and Senior Sweetheart and HeartThrob groups.


Cheryl Lee
Cheryl began her Dance training at age three in Chicago and made it her life-long love. She has performed in many musicals and has made appearances on-stage, on TV and on national tours. While attending Barat College, Cheryl continued to study Ballet and performed with the repertory company. She then went to Europe and studied and performed with the Paris Opera Ballet. Her current performing credits include "The Nutcracker" in the Bay Ballet Theatre production in Tampa, Florida. Her international show team "The Showstoppers" recently enjoyed a performing stint aboard the S.S. Seabreeze while cruising the waters off Mexico and Jamaica. Cheryl owns and operates her own studio in Florida. Cheryl has trained dancers currently performing in National tours of "Fosse", "42nd Street" and "Radio City Music Hall" productions. Last year, as Director of "Friends of Dance" a non-profit arts organization, Cheryl produced "Celebrate St. Petersburg" starring Mikhail Baryshnikov. She is known Nationally as a Master Teacher and Show Director for I LOVE DANCE.

Karen Lundy
Karen was Dancing at age four--and teaching at age fifteen. Her great success at educating others in the Art of Dance made the decision to devote her life to it very easy. Her students excel at Ballet, Jazz, Acrobatics and Baton--but her greatest love is Tap! Her ongoing studies have been at the "feet" of the masters. She has performed on Television, in USO shows and at Theme Parks. She has choreographed numbers and entire musicals for Universities and theaters and Beauty Pageants. Karen has taught non-stop in Florida since 1984 and has been part of the I LOVE DANCE Directing Staff for over ten years.



Katie Ray
Katie knew at the age of four that dancing was to be her life. She's been Performing and teaching ever since. In 1979, she opened "Katie Ray's School of Dance," where she and her staff taught Ballet, Tap, Jazz and acrobatics right up until she closed the studio in 2003. She is busier than ever now, teaching Dance Workshops at the Elementary, High School and College Levels in both Mississippi and Arkansas. She is also in great demand as a Choreographer in Community Theaters. She has choreographed the Miss Mississippi Pageant as well as number Ballets and Stage Productions. She has learned the judging side of Competitions and Beauty Pageants as a long-time guest judge and has been part of the I LOVE DANCE Directing Staff for over fifteen years.

Tina Skenes
Since 1975, Tina has been sharing her expertise and knowledge of Dance with students throughout the Carolinas. in addition to teaching, she has been responsible for Choreography and for Directing many successful shows including "High Steppin' Country," "The Nashville Opry," and "The Ferlin Husky Jubilee" where she was responsible for all the Dancers, Singers and Musicians. She specialized in competitive dance with a goal of producing Dancers ready for the world of Show Business. For many years she was co-owner and operator of "Elite Dance Centre" in South Carolina. She is now employed as the guest talent coordinator for Disney Florida. Tina was a popular member of the I LOVE DANCE Master Teaching Faculty and Staff member for many years of Sweetheart programs and continues to be a popular Show Director.


Show Directors: Kim McKimmie, Karen Lundy, Katie Ray, Ronda Copeland, Tina Skenes

I LOVE DANCE 7507 SE Main St. Portland, OR 97215 USA (503) 253-2020