Celebrating Over 42 Years of Dance Excellence in Stillwater, Oklahoma

Founded in 1984, Showstoppers Dance Studio has been a cornerstone of the Stillwater dance community for over four decades. Known for our passionate instruction, competitive success, and strong community ties, we’ve helped thousands of dancers develop confidence, grace, and technique in a fun, supportive environment.

The Next Generation: Meet Katy Gilliland

Today, Katy Gilliland leads Showstoppers Dance Studio as owner and head instructor. A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Business and Marketing, Katy has over 20 years of teaching experience at Showstoppers. She specializes in all styles of dance—ballet, lyrical, pointe, tap, and jazz/hip hop—and directs the Mini, Junior, and Senior Dance Companies, which have earned numerous first-place awards at regional competitions for over a decade.

Katy is known for her energetic teaching style, hands-on leadership, and commitment to continuing the legacy of excellence at Showstoppers. She and her husband John are proud parents of four children—Charley, Reed, Klark, and Wylie—and remain deeply rooted in the Stillwater community.

Liza grew up dancing at Showstoppers and began teaching in 2019. She teaches ballet, lyrical, jazz, broadway jazz, and hip hop. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Dietetics. In her free time she enjoys cooking and spending time with her two Italian Greyhounds - Beans and Sprout.

Ali has been dancing at Showstoppers for 20 years and has been a teacher for 6 of those. She teaches all styles of dance including Pom. She is currently a senior at Oklahoma State University pursuing a bachelors degree in nutritional sciences-dietetics. In high school she was on the state winning pom squad and is currently the assistant coach for SJHS Pom.

Ella has been dancing for 12 years at Showstoppers and taught for the last 2 years. She teaches all styles of dance, including our Technique classes. She love Jesus, her dogs, coffee, the mountains, and friends. She is currently a Freshman at OSU majoring in Human Development and Family Science. She is so thankful for Showstoppers and all that it has brought to her.

Jocelynn has been teaching for the past 2 years and has danced at Showstoppers for 13 years. She has experience in all types of dance, but really enjoys Tap. She is currently attending OSU, majoring in Civil Engineering with a minor Military Science. In addition to dancing, Jocelynn loves to run, bake, and be outside.

Peyton has been dancing at Showstoppers for 18 years and has taught for the last 5 years. She really enjoys working with younger dancers, specifically pre k age. She is a student at OSU studying psychology, and hoping to become a therapist in the future.

Madi is from Lubbock, Texas, and has been dancing pretty much her whole life. She spent seven years as a competitive dancer and was on her high school’s varsity pom squad all four years, serving as captain her senior year. Along the way, she’s had the chance to work with amazing choreographers like Blake McGrath and Jojo Gomez, and has been teaching dance for about six years now. She is currently at Oklahoma State studying Sociology and plans to graduate in May 2026. Following that she will be starting her master’s in Behavioral Analysis in the fall.

Jayden has been dancing at Showstoppers for 12 years, and is in her 2nd year of teaching. She is currently a Junior at Stillwater High School and participates in many activities. These include the SHS drumline, pom squad, student exec team for SMAC, and beta club. She enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, and trying out new recipes.

Lara is a SCW-certified group fitness instructor and has been teaching barre in Stillwater for over five years. She believes fitness is one of the best investments you can make in your health, and the key to maintaining it is finding workouts you enjoy and commit to consistently. Her classes are designed to be accessible and fun for both beginners and experienced participants, so everyone feels successful and energized. She is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, and has called Stillwater home for more than 25 years. When she's not teaching fitness classes, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, or being outdoors walking our yellow lab.

A Legacy of Leadership

Tracy Frazier, founder of Showstoppers, brought over 50 years of dance experience to the studio, including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, and lyrical ballet. As a dedicated instructor, she taught 20–30 classes per week for more than 40 years, shaping generations of dancers with discipline, creativity, and care. Tracy retired in 2024 but continues to teach adult classes and serve as a beloved mentor within the studio. Her contributions to local dance, community service, and youth programming—including leadership roles with the OSU Dance Company and The Saville Center—cement her legacy as a Stillwater icon.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your technique, Showstoppers Dance Studio is the place to grow, perform, and thrive. Come be part of our story—where tradition meets momentum, and every dancer shines.

📍 Located in Stillwater, OK
💃 Now Enrolling for Fall & Summer Sessions