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Meet Our Instructors! ~
Jocelyn Braudt ~ Owner and
Instructor Jocelyn Braudt received her dance training in both NY and
NJ. A student of Neva McCrimmon, of New Zealand, Jocelyn trained for
14 years under London’s Royal Academy of Dancing’s International
Ballet Syllabus. Selected to travel with an International Ballet Examiner
from London’s Royal Ballet School, Jocelyn helped present the
Dance Education Syllabus to the Academy’s United States Teachers.
Additional studies in ballet include coursework w/David Howard, the
American Ballet Theatre, and the 2010 IBC Teachers’ Workshop in
Jackson, MS. ~
Gena Buckley ~ River Valley
Dance Academy owner, Jocelyn, had the privilege of working with Gena
as a youth growing into her dance career. Now Gena has gone on to become
a professional dancer, and we are so pleased to have her joining our
staff for a 10th year in 2011-2012. ~
Rachel Svihel ~ Rachel began
dancing at the age of three and has been dancing ever since. She graduated
with a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota and went on to
perform with a number of local companies before beginning to work as
an instructor and choreographer. Her work has included Assistant Choreographer
for Prairie Dance Alliance’s bi-annual production of “Nutcracker”
and adjunct dance faculty at Southwest Minnesota State University. ~
Monica Kleen ~ Monica comes
to us with a long history of studio and performance dance training.
She has studied tap, jazz and ballet with Victoria’s Dance Productions
and Andahazy School of Classical Ballet. She has attended workshops
with Savion Glover, Dave Carter, and other industry professionals. Monica
has a third place National title in Tap to her credit. In addition to
studio training, Monica has danced in theatrical productions such as
Guys ‘n Dolls, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
She was a member of the State Champion Eastview Lightning Dance Team
for two years.
Amy Jo enjoys
all disciplines of dance. While studying at the University of Wisconsin
- Eau Claire, she earned a minor in dance which covered ballet, jazz,
tap, and modern. She was also a member of UWEC's Concert Dance Company
in which she both choreographed and performed dances from hip hop to
lyrical. Several of her pieces of choreography were chosen to be presented
at American College Dance Festivals during her college years. During
her high school years, Amy Jo was a part of the Eastview Lightning Dance
Team which was awarded 1st in Jazz Funk and 2nd in High Kick at State
her junior year. ~ Instructor Kirsten Iiams ~
Kirsten Iiams comes to us after performing for 12 years in 21 shows at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. She has danced with Ballet of the Dolls, Red River Dance & Performance Company, Riverside Ballet Arts, Radio City Music Hall, Art Park, Cost Tours in the theatres of Russia and on the seas in between. She was founder and co-artistic director of Bismarck Dance Theatre, taught and choreographed for BDT, RRD & PC, Lundstrum Center, Youth Dance Ensemble, RBA, Trollwood Performing Arts School, and Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre. She has assisted the choreographer for productions of Evita (Theatre Latte Da), Cats, Camelot, The Sound of Music, Annie, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Chanhassen), Annie (Children’s Theatre), Anything Goes (Minnetonka Community Theatre), Oklahoma (BCT). Ballet training includes The Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Hartford Ballet, Ballet Folk, Riverside Ballet Arts, David Howard, and Nanette Charisse. She is very excited to now be here at River Valley.
Musical Theatre Instructor ~Cindy
Larson~
Guest Instructors ~
Colleen McClellan Ueland ~ We are very
excited to welcome Colleen to River Valley Dance Academy. Colleen served
as a guest instructor at RVDA last year, and her talents will be a wonderful
addition to our staff. Colleen has worked as a Director, Producer, Choreographer,
Dance Educator, and as a Commercial Actress. She has performed with
"Prince" and the NPG, The Guthrie Theatre's "Much Ado
About Nothing", Minnesota Opera's "The Pearl Fischers",
Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's "Oklahoma" and "Swing".
Additional dance credits include performing with Joe Chavala and the
Flying Foot Forum. As a Dance Educator Colleen has worked with numerous
organizations including: St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts,
The Children's Theatre Company, University of MN Dance Program, Zenon
Dance, East Side Arts Council, The Boys and Girls Club, Stepping Stone
Theatre, The Lundstrum Center, Circus Juventas, and City of Lakes Waldorf
School.
"To touch, to move, to inspire - This is the true gift of dance." -A. Lynch |
