First Position Dance Company

Talyn McKinley - instructor

The dream started out as a flicker. A small vision for what I wanted to be, a beautiful ballerina. My name is Talyn McKinley. I’m 22 years old, and I have been dancing for 18 years. I was 4 years old when my parents put me in my first dance class. My teacher was a young 14 year old from California. It was just me, and one other student. This young lady taught me ballet in her basement for the first couple years. She started teaching homeschoolers (like myself) Worship Dance. That is where my passion for dance truly started. The seed was planted in my heart and ever since, when I dance, I dance for the Lord. He was inspiration, He was my audience and He still is. My favorite quote, that sums up my vision for this dance group and for myself: "Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another."

This young girl is now the owner of Diamond School of Dance, here in the Chippewa Valley. Alicia Knopps has trained, and taught me from the young age of dance. She watched me grow up, and begin new journeys in my life.

Since then I’ve taken a wide variety of dance. I have a background in ballet, tap, worship dance, jazz, lyrical, pointe, modern, contemporary, hip hop, competition and even a little African Modern. I had the privilege, under DSD to be an instructor for 6 years. 4 of those years I was a student instructor. The last two years however, I introduced ballroom dancing into my life. I joined the Bluegold’s Ballroom Competition team for a year and a half.

Okay, okay, I’m sure by now you are thinking all I do is dance….

I am the daughter of four siblings. I have two older (sister and brother) who both have children! I love being an aunt! My sister has 4 beautiful children. My brother has a little boy. I love them so very much! And also, Dylan, my 15 year old brother, who complains about my “massive” muscles and his lack of facial hair! Boys! My parents are Scott and Sherry McKinley. We have a 7 year old golden retriever that is too crazy for us to keep up!

I’m a high school home school graduate (yeah, you heard that right). Being home schooled has been the biggest blessing in my life, besides having solid Christian parents that is. The Lord’s plans for my future at this point are to pursue business. I have a business in Network Marketing, and I am also now a dance instructor to your beautiful children! My mission in life is to be a hope giver, dream builder, and world changer.

I have been a missionary for Child Evangelism Fellowship for 8 years, in March. Working with children has always been a joy in my life and I believe that I will continue to be involved in missions my whole life.

I am so excited to see where the Lord takes this worship dance company in the next season of life. I’m also excited to share my heart with the girls, and most importantly, I am looking forward to watching them change MY life. I believe wholeheartedly your daughters are going to teach me as much as I am going to teach them. I’m open for the spirit to use me any way He calls me. Thank you, for allowing me to teach your daughter(s), for giving me the task of being their instructor, and more so, a big sister. Please be praying for this group. I have so many expectations of what I want this to look like, and I know you have expectations too. Pray that my heart continues to be in the right place, and that everything we do, may it be for the glory and honor of Christ.

"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams."