Dance Faculty Biographies
Allyson
I was born and raised in Rochester, MN and am currently a student at RCTC, studying child development. I began dancing at Allegro School of Dance at the age of 8. I instantly fell in love with dance, and have been inseparable from it ever since. I have participated in 9 productions of "The Nutcracker" with roles ranging from toy soldier to sugar plum fairy. I also spent 4 years performing and competing with The Company. I very much enjoyed being a part of that team! Throughout the years I also participated in five different Children's Dance Theater productions. I am very pleased to be a part of Allegro's staff for the 2011-2012 season. I'm excited to see your child's passion and knowledge of dance grow.
Autumn
Born in Sebeka, MN, Autumn's passion for dance increased at age 13, when she first choreographed for the Sebeka High School's Marching Band and Pep Band shows. After this, choreography became a passion. She choreographed dances for the 2003 and 2004 Miss Sebeka Pageants. Autumn has experience in baton, flag, cheer, hip hop, and dance team. Autumn was part of Rochester John Marshall's Hip Hop team throughout her high school career. In 2007, Autumn was the team's captain and lead choreographer. Her team went to the state high school hip hop competition in Minneapolis. Los Angeles was the location for the IMTA's annual talent competition in which Autumn also participated. Autumn teaches hip hop, dance team and dance conditioning and co-directs The Company at Allegro. Autumn is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a Minor in Dance with an emphasis on Child Development.
Brittany
Brittany was born in Ironwood, Michigan and started dancing after her Mom attempted to put her in karateJ. From conventions to competitions, she was traveling for dance at a young age. Graduating from The University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point with a degree in Dance and Communication she studied under Professor Joan Karlen, Michael Estanich (Co-Founder of REIDance) and Jeannie Hill, Artistic Director of Jump Rhythm Jazz. During college Brittany spent two years working on the Afterimage's Production Team, choreographed, performed and trained throughout the United States. She studied and/or performed at the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, Central Wisconsin School of Ballet, The Minnesota Ballet, The Edge in Los Angeles and numerous New York City locations.
Teaching Philosophy: When we are young, we first fall in love with dance because it is simply enjoyable; this aspect of movement exploration should never be lost! Brittany's class is an experience that supports exploration and risk with positivity and an open mind. Her class is technically based with a strong encouragement of personal ownership and expression.
Danielle
Danielle grew up in Rochester, Minnesota and started dancing at the young age of 3. She discovered at an early age that classical ballet was her passion. Danielle attended classes in her hometown, at the Rochester Ballet School and Allegro School of Dance. She also danced with Children's Dance Theatre where she had the opportunity to perform the part of Belle in the Beauty and the Beast. Danielle has also performed the roles of the Arabian soloist and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. Danielle also attended many summer programs including the Milwaukee Ballet six week intensive, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and the Sarasota Ballet Intensive. After graduating from Mayo High School, Danielle attended the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse and graduated with a degree in Microbiology. During college she taught and danced at Misty's Dance Unlimited in Onalaska, WI. Danielle is currently employed as the Education Specialist of the Hepatitis/HIV Molecular Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. She is pleased to join the ballet faculty at Allegro.
Devin
Devin grew up in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri with parents Ron & Kathy and older brother, Derek. There she was involved in gymnastics from a very young age until she discovered dance at the age of 10.
Devin danced for Wynn Twins Dance Studio in Raytown, MO for six years, where her training varied from ballet, modern and jazz to tap, lyrical and Irish tap. In high school she became a member of the varsity dance team for two years, and as co-captain was responsible for choreography focusing on jazz, hip-hop and kick routines.
After graduating high school, she attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and was a member of the national champion Golden Girls dance team for two years. The Golden Girls performed at all home sporting events for football and basketball season, as well as numerous collegiate and community events. While majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Business, she was also involved in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and became the Dance Chairman for the sorority for two years. As chairman, she choreographed routines for all Greek festivities and skit/dance competitions.
Devin moved to Minneapolis right after graduation and her career path has led her to Rochester, MN as a Territory Sales Representative for Land O'Lakes. She is looking forward to becoming involved as a dance teacher at Allegro!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a Rochester native that began dancing at the age of 3. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip hop. She began teaching at a local studio while still in high school. She has also taught classes for Rochester Community Education. Elizabeth was the captain and choreographer for RCTC's dance team from 2002-2003 before moving to Colorado. While out of state she continued her dance education at ORMAO Dance School in Colorado Springs. In Colorado she choreographed a number of high school musical theater productions as well. Elizabeth has a 2 year old daughter, Ayla, who keeps her extremely busy! She is also a full time student at RCTC and Winona State University in pursuit of her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. Elizabeth is happy to be home in Rochester and is excited to share her experience and love of dance with Allegro's students!
Heidi
Heidi is an instructor for Advanced Ballet and Pointe classes. With a BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah, she has also done Master's work at University of Iowa, and completed pedagogy courses in the styles of Cecchetti, Vaganova, Royal Academy of Ballet, and Virginia Tanner creative movement. Her choreography has been commissioned and performed many times with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra. During her career, Miss Heidi has choreographed and produced many "Nutcrackers" for Allegro as well as dance performances as Artistic Director of Children's Dance Theatre. Working extensively in southeast Minnesota as an Artist-in Residence in schools, she has been awarded the status of a Minnesota State Arts Board Roster Artist. As a board member of Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, she has done policy making and grant adjudication, as well as being a past president. She has also been an adjudicator for Minnesota State Arts Board, Panoply Choreography Competition in Huntsville, AL, and regional dance competitions. Recently Miss Heidi has explored an interest in costume design and costume construction for ballet and theater. Her new favorite love is private coaching with serious ballet students. Miss Heidi designed and wrote curriculum used for Allegro School of Dance and Music's Ballet and Pointe program.
Janet
Janet's love of dance began at age three when her parents enrolled her in Evelyn Knight's School of Dance. Without interruption Janet's career as a dance student continued. Janet received her BFA degree in dance performance with an emphasis in ballet from the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota. After a variety of teaching experiences in the region, Janet established the Allegro School of Dance in Rochester, MN in 1989. As Allegro grew and expanded, Janet acquired the Rochester Ballet School in 1999 and merged the two organizations. Allegro's 9,600 square foot facility was built in 2003, housing 4 state of the art dance studios and 2 music rooms. Janet's mission continues as she serves as the executive director of Allegro School of Dance and Music.
Jeanette
Jeanette teaches the tap program at Allegro School of Dance. Jeanette started tapping at the age of five in St. Paul at Phil Alesso's Studio. Jeanette continued dancing until she married and started a family. In Rochester, she taught tap for 2 years before she began teaching with Janet Johnson in 1988. Jeanette has been on faculty with Allegro since its conception. Jeanette is known for her choreography and signature pieces such as Bye Bye Blues and Sing, Sing, Sing.
Jesse
A teacher, choreographer and performer, Jesse presently lives in Minneapolis. He began dancing and choreographing at the age of 14 when he joined his high school's modern dance company, MoMoCo. He then went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point with a Bachelor's degree in Dance. At UWSP, Jesse studied under Professor Joan Karlen, Re|Dance Group's co-founder, Michael Estanich and Jump Rhythm Jazz Project's associate artistic director, Jeannie Hill. During this time, Jesse was fortunate to dance featured roles in Susan Marshall & Company's Other Stories and Billy Siegenfeld's god of dirt. He also choreographed several dances, including his dance-theater work Glass Houses, in Eleven Sections, which was presented at the American College Dance Festival's regional conference's adjudication concert, where it received praise from panels and audiences.
Upon graduation, Jesse went on tour with the Chicago-based RE|Dance Group performing in the Chicago Fringe Festivals as well as the inaugural Minneapolis Fringe Festival. Currently, Jesse is an apprentice with Zenon Dance Company, a jazz and modern dance performance group in Minneapolis.
With five years of teaching experience in many techniques, Jesse's classes are high energy and fun while maintaining an emphasis on technique, bodily awareness, performance quality and a masterful mind. Jesse takes class several times a week to further his own understanding of the body and the art of dance so he can share that understanding with his students.
In his free time, Jesse enjoys science fiction television, gummy worms and bowling.
Kathy
Kathy began her dance training at the age of six as a tap student and baton twirler! She continued her dance and theatre through high school. Kathy graduated from the College of St. Teresa in 1987 with a BA in Dance and a minor in Psychology. In 1988, she joined the Continental Ballet Company in Bloomington, Minnesota where she danced in the full length ballets: The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Peter and the Wolf, as well as many short works. She has taught dance in Rochester, Winona, Wabasha, Stewartville, Kasson, and numerous locations in the Twin Cities area. Kathy has been an artist in residence in Rochester and Red Wing public schools. She has choreographed for musical productions in the Burnsville, Chatfield,Dover-Eyota, and Rochester communities. Kathy has been with Allegro and the former Rochester Ballet School since 1990 teaching creative movement, ballet, tap and jazz.
Katie
Katie, a Rochester native, holds her B.S. degree in both Dance and Communication from the University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point. She has trained both nationally and internationally with companies such as the Sydney Dance Company (Sydney, Australia), Zenon Dance Company and School (Minneapolis, MN), Mark Morris Dance Group (Brooklyn, New York) and most recently the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (Chicago, IL). In 2008, Katie danced professionally with the Ray Terrill Dance Group in Minneapolis, performing for the MN Fringe Festival, Dances at the Lakes, and Ray's 30th anniversary concert. Other performance credits include Oprah's 24th season kick-off party, and local performances with Revival Dance Group. Locally, Katie was the Artistic Director of Children's Dance Theatre from 2005-2008. She has choreographed for The Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale (A Nutcracker Party2007), Rochester Community and Technical College (the Who's Tommyand Candyfreak), and Wordsplayer's Theatre (excerpts of Hello, Dolly!). Katie currently teaches ballet and tap classes, and also directs Allegro's annual Nutcracker production.
Kennet
Kennet Oberly began his professional performance career spanning 13 years, with the Stuttgart Ballet . He has also performed with the Houston Ballet, Maurice Bejart's Ballet du XXieme Siecle, Boston Ballet, Boston Repertory Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and Tivoli Pantomime Theatre. His choreographic, teaching and artistic directorships include, but are not limited to, the following: Ballet Iowa, Finnish National Ballet, Estonian National Ballet, Wolcott Children's Ballet and Ballet Met.
Allegro is honored and humbled to have Mr. Kennet Oberly as our guest artist in residence in the ballet program at Allegro this season.
Kennet will also be a contributing choreographer and co-director for The Nutcracker.
Melanie
Melanie, daughter of Janet Johnson, began dancing gleefully when she was just a toddler. Since then, she has participated in a total of sixteen Spring Dance Concerts. Melanie also enjoyed devoting her time to performances with Allegro's Nutcracker and with Children's Dance Theatre. Involved with the studio's "Company" for three years, Melanie traveled to various competitions and conventions performing numerous group numbers, trios, and a solo. Melanie spent a summer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with the Milwaukee Ballet's six week Pre-Professional Program. She has spent countless hours assisting instructors with summer workshops and classes throughout the year. Melanie is very excited to have the opportunity to be on faculty at Allegro again. When she is not busy at the dance studio or being a full time student at Rochester Community and Technical College, she spends her free time being outdoors, and with her family and friends.