Jackie Pederson-Kriens, FCCA (Passed the teachers professional advanced exam certified fellow member of CCA) is owner & instructor for ballet, pointe, jazz, liturgical dance, & Pilates.  She was trained under Carolyn Westphal at the South Dakota School of Ballet.  Her most recent instruction was from Gus Giordano (IL), Ballet Magnificat! (MS) & the Cecchetti Council of America (CCA) in Michigan.  Jackie's professional teacher's certification training was under the instruction of Gail Choate-Pettit, Marjorie Randazzo, and Denise Gillman.  Jackie coaches teachers in the Cecchetti method of ballet through Advanced Professional certification, and is the past chairperson of the Northern Plains Committee for the Cecchetti Council of America.

Ms. Amy trained with Martha Peterson and Carolyn Westphal in Sioux Falls.  She continued her study of ballet at the Boston Ballet School, Terry Shields in Cambridge, MA, and studied modern with Julie Ince-Thompson.  Amy has been active for years in developing worship dance ministry in the Sioux Falls area.  Amy has also taught for the Northern Plain CCA seminar.  Amy teaches pointe, liturgical dance, ballet and Pilates.  In addition, Amy coordinates the schedule for our outreach liturgical dance group, "Faith in Motion."  Amy is a member of the CCA, and is working on the Cecchetti Grade V teacher's exam.

Ms. Jessica R.  Ms. Jessica R. teaches hip hop, modern, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and competitive dance (Dance Gallery Productions).  She currently holds a B.F.A. in Modern Dance Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and an A.A.S. in Business Management from Oklahoma State University.  Ms. Jessica was a member of the Modern Repertory Dance Theatre for three years, and performed in the annual showcases, lecture demonstrations, and the Kansas Dance Festival.  In addition, Ms. Jessica was a dancer/choreographer for the Belleforte Dance Company.   Ms. Jessica teaching credentials include placement on faculty with F.G.I School of Dance for five years instructing ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, point, Cecchetti, hip hop, and modern dance.  She has also traveled the Midwest serving as guest faculty for schools and workshops.  Along with serving on faculty with Dance Gallery, Ms. Jessica has also developed competitive dance teams at Dance Gallery.  Jessica is working on her Gr. VII exam for the Cecchetti method.

Ms. Robyn  is in her eighth year on faculty at the Dance Gallery.  In that time she has taught ballet, jazz, tap, liturgical and was the first to start two one-of-a-kind programs in SD; Broadway and Adaptive Movement.  As a musical theatre expert, Ms. Robyn has twenty years experience on professional and amateur stages as an actress, musician, director, dancer and choreographer.  She has toured throughout the Midwest playing roles with Children’s Theatre Company of Sioux Falls, Comfort Theatre Co., Riverbridge Theatre Co., to name a few.  Some of her favorite theatrical roles have included:  Mary Magdelene in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Gypsy Rose Lee in “Gypsy,” Sally in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” the Turtle, Bird, Squirrel, Mother Frog, and Mole in “A Year With Frog and Toad,” and Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible.” 

Ms. Nancy teaches Cecchetti ballet syllabus, adult ballet, and yoga class this year.  Nancy trained in Sioux Falls with Judith Szakats and Carolyn Westphal.  She also studied in Champaign, IL and Minnesota  Dance Theater.   Nancy is an ordained Lutheran pastor that loves dance and choreography.  Nancy is a member of the CCA, and has passed her Grade VI teacher's exam.  Nancy has completed the training sessions for her TT 500, at Yoga North, Duluth, MN.  This is advanced yoga "Teacher Training" with an emphasis on core strength, pure movement, classic asana, meditation, and therapeutic yoga.

Ms. Jessica W. was trained  at Dance Gallery, and has excelled quickly through the many levels of ballet.  Recently, Jessica enrolled in a month long study of ballet and liturgical dance with Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, MS.  She also continued her teaching studies in Alabama.  Jessica teaches many of our children's classes.  Jessica is currently working on her Gr. III teachers exam.

Ms. Linda teaches many of the Dance Gallery children's classes.  Ms. Linda was trained in the student Cecchetti method under Johnny Cavelle, Vicki Stuchl, and Linda Carrillo of Aberdeen, SD.  Linda will be continuing her teaching training under Jackie Pederson-Kriens of Dance Gallery, and is now working on her Gr. II teacher's exam.

Ms. Meghan - started her early dance training with Jill Kuntzle and continued her training at Dance Gallery, jumping into many different classes.  Meghan has completed her Grade VI student exam and her Grade I teacher's exam. Meghan is incredibly gifted with teaching our youngest students, and absolutely loves them! Dance Gallery is proud to have her as a teacher as she continues her education at Augustana College.

Ms. Amanda - started training at Dance Gallery in ballet, and quickly found a love of many different forms of dance.  Ms. Amanda quickly advanced through many levels of the Cecchetti method as a student and finished her Grade VI exam before graduating from High School.  Amanda also completed her Grade I teacher's exam. Amanda is currently a student of University of Sioux Falls as well as a Dance Gallery teacher for our young ballet dancers and young jazz dancers!

Ms. Katrin - is a gifted ballerina (past Sugar Plum Fairy) as well as dynamic Hip Hop teacher.  Katrin completed her Cecchetti exams through Grade VI and her Grade I teacher's exam.  As well as being enrolled at Augustana College, she also teaches our younger dancers at Dance Gallery, and our beginner adult hip hop classes!  We are happy to have Katrin back on staff during college!

Ms. Shannon is a guest instructor to the Dance Gallery.  Before her move to Colorado, she taught the home school dance classes, liturgical, tap, ballet, and other young children's classes. She began her dance training in ballet, tap, and jazz in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of thirteen, and quickly entered into the competition dance circuit, competing all around the U.S.A. She has taught ballet, tap and jazz for Diversified Dance Centre (AZ), Tempe Dance Academy (AZ), and Jeanne Wright School of Dance (AZ).  Shannon is currently studying the Cecchetti Method of ballet and has recently completed her Gr. IV teacher's exam. Outside of dance, Shannon is a wife and home schooling mother of five children.

Ms. Tara is a guest instructor for the Dance Gallery. She holds a M.S.P.E. in dance pedagogy from the University of Idaho.  Although jazz is her first love, Tara has taught ballet, modern, tap, &  ballroom.   She performed with Bill Evans in the Dance/USA Millennium Project, and has choreographed various dance and theatre productions.  Tara has taught at the University of Idaho, St Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona State University, and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts.  She recently published a paper entitled "Goal Setting in the Dance Studio" in the Idaho Journal of Physical Education, Rec., and Dance.  She was also named the National Dance Association Outstanding Graduate Student for her teaching and research endeavors while at the University of Idaho.  Tara is a memeber of the Cecchetti Council of America, and is working towards her Grade IV teacher's exam.