Stephanie Hickman enters her second year as the Head Coach of the NCMC Dance Wave in the 2025-26 school year. A seasoned dance professional, Stephanie brings years of experience as the owner and director of a successful dance studio in Bethany, Missouri. She has led a competitive program with dancers earning top honors at national competitions across the Midwest, including events in Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha, Branson, and St. Louis. Her training spans all styles of dance, and her teams have been recognized for excellence in multiple disciplines.

Stephanie’s studio has also served as an official training location for the Junior Chiefs Cheerleaders, with her Jr. CC teams performing annually at Kansas City Chiefs games. Through that program, she has built valuable connections with other studio owners and members of the Chiefs Cheerleaders, relationships she leverages to bring guest instructors and industry professionals to work with the NCMC Dance Wave.

A native of Gilman City, Missouri, Stephanie trained locally under Meri Thompson and Gayla Teel in Trenton. She currently resides in Princeton, Missouri, with her husband, Mace Hickman, and their three children: Zane, Maggie, and Molley.