Jackie Pederson-Kriens, D.F.C.C.A. (Diploma fellow member of the Cecchetti Council of America) is owner, director, and instructor for ballet, pointe, jazz, liturgical dance, & Pilates. She was trained under Carolyn Westphal at the South Dakota School of Ballet, and Christine Kirk of K'Dance Studio. Her most recent instruction was from Gus Giordano (IL), Ballet Magnificat! (MS) & the Cecchetti Council of America (CCA). 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, as well as the current examination registrar for the Northern Plains Committee of the CCA. |  |
Jackie has a B.A. degree in Elementary & Special Education from Augustana College, and taught in the South Dakota public school system for 10 years. She also instructed and choreographed different forms of dance in the Sioux Falls area for over 15 years. She has choreographed for high school dance teams, theater groups, liturgical dance groups, and color guards in SD, MN, IA, IL, MI & WA. In addition, Jackie has taught for various Cecchetti seminar workshops.
Jackie has traveled to study the Cecchetti syllabus work including the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma. Her travels have taken her to Chichester, England August 2004 for Cecchetti intensive with many reputable teachers, Royal Winnipeg Ballet to study with Diane VanSchoor of the Royal Ballet of London (White Lodge), to the London Studio Centre January 2007 for Fellowship Cecchetti Intensive with Cara Drower, Calgary, Alberta Canada with Cecchetti International with Cecchetti Scholars from all over the world, and to Montreal, Quebec to study with Kate Simmons.
Students of Jackie have been accepted into programs including Royal Winnipeg Ballet Professional Division (Canada), ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School (NY), Chautauqua School of Dance, the Rock School (PA), and the School of American Ballet (NY).
Ms. Amy Hofer 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 Rooney 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 Holcolm is in her tenth 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. Over the years, the Broadway program has grown into a full blown summer Musical Theatre Department. Under the direction of Ms. Robyn, the Dance Gallery has offered three musicals ("Godspell Jr.", "Alice in Wonderland Jr.", and "Annie Jr.") as well as mass production numbers from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Wicked", "Cats", and "Suessical the Musical". |  |
A musical theatre expert, Ms. Robyn has 20+ years
experience on professional and amateur stages as an actress, musician,
director, dancer and choreographer. 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", and Elizabeth
Proctor in "The Crucible". Ms. Robyn also appeared in the world premiere
of "Emperor, Inc". in which she assisted on the directing team with
composers and choreographers from The Kennedy Center and Broadway’s "The
Lion King".
Ms. Robyn prides herself as an educator. She holds a Bachelor of Music
in Music Education from the University of MN, Minneapolis, and a Master
of Arts in Education from Augustana College. She has taught literally
thousands of students and teachers of all ages and abilities each year
as a professional dance artist through in-services, workshops and
college lecture/demonstrations. Outside of the studio, you can now find
her teaching at Edison Middle School.
Robyn's most recent local choreography credits include “Cabaret,”
“Grease!” and “Chicago” for Sioux Empire Community Theatre.
Ms. Jessica Wiebe 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 Friez 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. Before moving to Sioux Falls in 2003, Linda taught dance ballet, jazz and tap for 3 years in Aberdeen at the ARCC dance studio. For three years, while she was a student at Northern State University, Linda coached and choreographed for Aberdeen Central High School's color guard. 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 Archer - 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 Quittem - 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 Profilet - 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! |
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Ms. Jessica Arends - Bio coming soon... |
Ms. Sami Rost - Bio coming soon... |
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Ms. Katie Martin - Katie grew up in Sioux Falls taking dance from Britza Studio. While attending Augustana College to obtain her B.A. in Elementary Education, she taught at the Dance Gallery. Upon finishing college Katie moved to Florida to teach elementary school. After three years, she moved to Iowa for three additional years of teaching. Katie is glad to be back in Sioux Falls teaching at Dance Gallery. |
Ms. Megan Pedersen - Bio coming soon... |
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| Ms. Kayla Steckelberg - Kayla graduated from USD in 2009 with a BS in psychology and BA in Spanish. She danced on U. Dance from 2007-2008. Before going to USD, she lived in Yankton where she was trained in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, tap, character, and pointe. Her instructors were Dorota Dannenbring, who was a member of the Polish Ballet Company, and Kathryn Reimler, who was trained by Dorota and at ISU. Kayla is currently working at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. |
Special guest instructors
 | Ms. Nancy Hong 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. Tara Entringer 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. |  |
 | Ms. Shannon Siemens 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. |
