About – Kenosha

SOFIA PUTERBAUGH

HR & PR Coordinator

SARAH NICHOLS BIO

SARAH NICHOLS

Dance Instructor

A Kenosha native, Sarah Nichols has studied dance since 1987 at Guy Singer Dance Studio with her primary focus being Tap. Sarah has competed in group and solo Jazz and Tap categories at the regional and national levels in Showstopper and I Love Dance competitions. Sarah has been sharing her love of dance, teaching children through adults, since 1998. Along with teaching dance, Sarah is a Director, Psychotherapist and Family Court Mediator at InterConnections, S.C., an out-patient mental health clinic in Kenosha, and a board member for Wisconsin InterProfessional Committee on Divorce (WIPCOD), a nonprofit organization in Wisconsin.

ANNA LEWIS BROWN

Dance Instructor

Formally dancing since the age of 4, Anna received the majority of her dance training from Dancenter-North in Libertyville Illinois. There she performed in their annual Nutcracker, Spring, and Summer shows from 1st-12th grade, and into college. She was a member of their Junior and Senior Ballet Performance Company, Sole-2-Souls Tap Company, Upstairs Jazz Company, and Pre-Professional Track Programs. In 2009 she began running their summer dance camps for 3 years. During her time training and dance, she also studied martial arts and received her black belt from Northshore Academy of Martial arts at the age of 14.

After graduating high-school Anna went on to perform with, and work for Chicago Christian Youth Theater, CYT. As of 2020 Anna has been coaching CYT Kenosha’s Project Dance Teams for 6 years, as well as choreographing her 12th musical with the company. In 2010 Anna first started working for Avenue Dancewear, which she has since taken over management of, and currently runs and operates. Anna still actively pursues any and all opportunities to continue strengthening her dance education and developing her strengths as a dancer, teacher, and performer.

APRIL SORENSON

April Sorenson

Music Instructor

April Sorenson, soprano, is a recent University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Summa Cum Laude) graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Voice. Most recently, she premiered three operas at UWM in the roles of Juliette in Juliette et Roméo (Piirainen), Galileo in The Choice (Rebers), and Robin in Echo Ascension: Her Voice is Heard (Xai). She has performed partial roles as Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann, Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Mademoiselle Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor, and the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte, among others. She also covered the role of La Comtesse Adèle in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory with Chicago Summer Opera in 2019. Her other accomplishments include second place in the Third Year College Women division of the Wisconsin NATS Student Auditions, third place in the Fourth/Fifth Year College Treble division of WI NATS Student Auditions, a featured soloist with the UWM Wind Ensemble, and a featured soloist with the Racine Symphony Orchestra. She currently serves as a soprano choral scholar at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay in Milwaukee.

PAMELA HERBERT BIO

PAMELA HERBERT

Music Instructor

My name is Pamela Herbert and I am honored and excited to introduce myself to you as a new private voice and piano instructor at Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts! Music has been a part of my life since I was a very young child, as I began singing with my family at the age of 5. I earned my degree in music, specifically Voice and Vocal Pedagogy from North Park College in Chicago, where I had many wonderful opportunities to perform. Some of my performance experience includes several seasons with Light Opera Works of Evanston, roles in several operas such as Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohéme and Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and many others! I also had the opportunity to perform in Master classes as well as coach with Dr. Elizabeth Buccheri, the senior accompanist at both the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera. Since then, I have worked in Music, both in the classroom for 21 years and my private voice and piano studio at home and at Loyola Academy, Steps Performing Arts Center in Lindenhurst and Standing Ovation Theatre in Gurnee, totaling 32 years. I have also been blessed to be the Assistant Music Director at St. Martha Parish in Morton Grove, and as the full Director of Music at St. Emily Parish in Mt. Prospect. I had the joy of working not only as a parish accompanist, but directing a Filipino/American Choir as well as the Children’s Choir, several adult choirs and a handbell choir. I now look forward to being able to provide an outlet through music for you and your children at KAPA! Thank you for your welcome and support! I look forward to meeting all of you!

SARAH MILLER BIO

SARAH MILLER

Music Instructor

Sarah Miller, a native of Waukegan, IL, has taught throughout Chicagoland for over twelve years. She began her study of the violin at age five, at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Violin with an outside field of Mathematics from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, as well as a Music Education Certificate from DePaul University. Her past instructors include Alison Dalton of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Henryk Kowalski of Indiana University. She has played in orchestras under the direction of Cliff Colnot, David Effron, Uriel Segal and Leonard Slatkin. She has performed in master classes for Gerardo Ribeiro, John Sharp, and David Taylor. Mrs. Miller was the orchestra director at Culver Elementary School in Niles, IL for four years. She currently teaches privately as well as performs in local orchestras. She lives in Kenosha with her husband and three children.

LAURA WILLIAMS BIO

LAURA WILLIAMS

Dance Instructor

Laura was born and raised in Muncie, IN where she started dancing at the age of 11. Laura studied Exercise Science at Ball State University in Muncie, IN and continued to work with her high school dance team by choreographing hip hop routines. In 2014 she began working for Inspire @ D.D.S (Dixie’s Dance Studio) where she taught hip hop and jazz classes. She worked closely with Inspire’s competition team by choreographing and cleaning/critiquing solos, hand picking and choreographing for a competitive Hip Hop Crew, working with the studio director on the studio production including 60+ dancers, and traveling to competitions throughout the U.S. In her last semester of school, Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she completed an internship with Overcoming U: A Mindful Corporate Wellness, where she helped develop exercise and nutrition courses to be given to clients. She uses this knowledge while teaching her classes to make her dancers stronger and healthier. She continued to teach dance at Bricks Studio in Phoenix while completing her work with Overcoming U. At Bricks Studio, Laura took on the position of Recital Director for their 2018 Spring Recital. She spent her last year at Bricks Studio teaching beginning Ballet and Tap combo classes, recreational hip hop, a competitive Hip Hop Crew, ran the Mini Company rehearsals (ages 5-8), choreographed and cleaned solo routines, worked closely with the Company Director traveling to all competitions, all while ordering 800+ costumes and planning/directing the recital for the Spring. After the recital at Bricks Studio, Laura moved back to the midwest to be closer to family, but is excited to continue her journey in dance and inspiring children to find their love for dance!

CHARLES BROWN (BUZZY)

Dance Instructor

Buzzy created/coached/ choreographed for college hip hop team, “Iluzion.” Capable of choreographing hip hop routines and combinations for all ages; he has provide workshops for multiple Studios, Camps, Schools and Teams that gives them a fun but still challenging style of hip hop to learn. Along with teaching dance, Buzzy is a physical education teacher in the Milwaukee Public School District and a current USATF athlete training to make the USA team for the next world and Olympic Games.

TALIA LARSEN BIO

TALIA LARSEN

Dance Instructor/Desk Host

Talia Larsen was a former student at Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts. Through her 14 years of technique classes, participation in the STAR-Leadership program, and National Honor Society for Dance, she attained the necessary skills needed to now help others develop through the arts. With these programs, she found her passion of sharing and educating dance among younger kids. With a broad education in multiple styles including ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary she is able to instill the fundamentals essential for the students proper development. She is furthering her education currently at Carthage College majoring in Exercise and Sport Science with a Dance minor. She plans to stay involved in the dance community through a career in Physical Therapy helping injured dancers. Talia wants to give her students a better understanding of dance not only as an art form, but also as a strong character builder. She looks forward to her second chapter here at KAPA, now as the instructor, educating kids just as she was when first beginning her journey.

MAI CLAYPOOL BIO

MIA CLAYPOOL

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Mai Claypool was born in Saitama, Japan. She trained at Kishi Ballet studio, The Matsuyama Ballet School in Tokyo, Japan, The Joffrey Ballet School and Steps on Broadway in NYC under the direction of Yoko Kishi, Yoko Morishita, David Howard, Finis Jhung, Michael O’Brian, Francesca Corkle and Eleanor D’Antuono. She has received awards from ballet competitions, such as the Hope Award and Achievement of Excellence. Mai danced with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florida Dance Theatre and Metropolitan Ballet. She has turned her passion for dance towards teaching and spreading the joy of dance. She has been teaching ballet, pointe, variations, modern and contemporary at several schools in New York, Illinois, Florida and Japan. She is currently teaching at Hubbard Street Youth Program and The Joffrey Academy of Dance. Mai is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher in levels Primary through Level 7 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

Our Story

Hi! Our names are Annie Hackett and Adam Theisen and we are the owners of the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts. As fine arts professionals, we have performed, directed, produced or choreographed over 100 pieces, and have over twenty-five years teaching experience. While professionally living and working in Chicago, IL, we found that we really wanted to relocate to a smaller community where we could make a bigger difference in the lives of students interested in the performing arts.

We founded the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts in 2006 to address the need for a full academic dance school in the Kenosha area. Our original location on 75th street was 1600 square feet, had one studio and only 30 students.

In 2008 our enrollment had increased to 180 students and we had 5 dance teachers on faculty. We had outgrown our space and our parking lot! We decided to look for a new location and expand.

In 2009 we opened our current location on Highway 50 in Kenosha. We expanded our programs to add private music. Our location has 4 dance studios and 3 private music studios. Our faculty has grown too! We bring in highly qualified teachers with university degrees and decades of experience. We have currently 15 faculty members. We also employ 6 Professional Desk Hosts to address parents and students needs during class times.

Although many of our students have gone on to pursue both collegiate and professional careers in dance and the arts, the Academy’s philosophy is to enrich the lives of our students by providing a comprehensive fine arts education. Our students range from 2 to 94 years old and welcome the warm, professional environment we have strived to create and maintain. Each year we expand our programs and continually improve facilities.

We love being part of the Kenosha Community and it has become our home. Our favorite part of the school though is watching a new generation experience the joy that the arts can bring for a lifetime!

AIMEE RUSSON BIO

AIMEE RUSSON

Aimee began her dance training in Cary, IL and continued her training at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, receiving a BFA in modern dance. While attending the University of Utah she had the opportunity to perform works by Sidra Bell, Pamela Geber Handman, and works set by the Martha Graham dance company. While in Chicago, Aimee has participated in the Thodos summer intensive, dance instructor trainings with CNADM and Bellamoxi, and performed with the Modern Marvels dance company. With an immense passion for teaching, Aimee continues to teach ballet, moden, jazz, tap and creative movement to students around northern Illinois and Wisconsin.

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ANNIE HACKETT
Owner & KAPA Director

Our names are Annie Hackett and Adam Theisen and we are the owners of the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts. As fine arts professionals, we have performed, directed, produced or choreographed over 100 pieces, and have over twenty-five years teaching experience. While professionally living and working in Chicago, IL, we found that we really wanted to relocate to a smaller community where we could make a bigger difference in the lives of students interested in the performing arts.

See Bio

New20

ANNIE HACKETT
Owner & KAPA Director

Our names are Annie Hackett and Adam Theisen and we are the owners of the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts. As fine arts professionals, we have performed, directed, produced or choreographed over 100 pieces, and have over twenty-five years teaching experience. While professionally living and working in Chicago, IL, we found that we really wanted to relocate to a smaller community where we could make a bigger difference in the lives of students interested in the performing arts.

See Bio

New19

ANNIE HACKETT
Owner & KAPA Director

Our names are Annie Hackett and Adam Theisen and we are the owners of the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts. As fine arts professionals, we have performed, directed, produced or choreographed over 100 pieces, and have over twenty-five years teaching experience. While professionally living and working in Chicago, IL, we found that we really wanted to relocate to a smaller community where we could make a bigger difference in the lives of students interested in the performing arts.

See Bio

New18

ANNIE HACKETT
Owner & KAPA Director

Our names are Annie Hackett and Adam Theisen and we are the owners of the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts. As fine arts professionals, we have performed, directed, produced or choreographed over 100 pieces, and have over twenty-five years teaching experience. While professionally living and working in Chicago, IL, we found that we really wanted to relocate to a smaller community where we could make a bigger difference in the lives of students interested in the performing arts.

See Bio

ALLISON BISCHOFF BIO

ALLISON BISCHOFF
Marketing Director & Desk Host

Bio coming soon!

BROOKE BLOEDORN BIO

BROOKE BLOEDORN
Program Director & Desk Host

HALEY MOORE BIO

HALEY MOORE
Desk Host/Dance Instructor

Haley Moore was born and raised in Kenosha, WI, she began her dance education at the age of 7. Haley studied dance at our very own Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts from age 12 until graduating high school. Following graduation, Haley attended the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee where she earned her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts (BFA) through UWM Dance Department’s contemporary dance/choreography track. Throughout her time at UWM, she performed in several works and productions choreographed by fellow BAF students, resident MFA students, and UWM professors. Haley has recently moved back to the Kenosha area to return the gift of dance to students of her own. She is very excited to take over both STAR Leadership and NHSDA programs this year at KAPA.

JERI GRAY BIO

JERI GRAY
Special Events Coordinator

Bio coming soon!

ADAM SPECK BIO

ADAM SPECK

Adam Speck has been performing and teaching professionally since the age of 18. Adam holds a Master’s degree in Music Performance, with an emphasis on guitar performance from Northern Illinois University and Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Ball State University. At Northern Illinois University, Adam was a member of the Classical Guitar Ensemble and jazz combo. While at Ball State University he was consistently in the University’s top Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, and Classical Guitar ensembles. Adam has studied primarily with Paul Reilly (classical guitar), Frank Puzzullo (jazz improvisation, and arranging), David Foley (composition), Les Anderson (Arranging) and guitar icon Fareed Haque (classical and jazz guitar). He has participated in master classes with such names as Rolf Sturm, Celso Machado, Steve Brown, and jazz guitar legend Pat Martino, amongst many others.

As a guitarist Adam has worked as a studio musician, theater musician, and performer in a wide variety of styles and genres. He is also a composer, song writer, and arranger. Some of his works for guitar ensemble, jazz band, and jazz combo have been performed by a variety of groups from the high school, college, and professional levels. Adam’s previous teaching positions included Ivy Tech Community College, Community School for the Arts, along with several other posts in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Currently Adam holds teaching positions with The Kenosha Academy of Dance, Music, and Drama, and The Academy of Performing Arts in Franklin Wisconsin. He is also a regular performer in South Eastern Wisconsin, appearing multiple times a month at Caroline’s Jazz Club in Milwaukee, and also plays lead guitar, arranges, and writes original music for Vocalist Steve Beguhn of American Idol fame. Adam is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society, BMI, and The Guitar Federation of America.

BECKY MIKOS BIO

BECKY MIKOS

Becky Mikos (Chicago, IL) received her early training from the Judith Svalander School of Ballet in the Chicagoland area. She furthered her pre-professional training at intensives hosted by River North Dance Chicago, The Washington Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company before going on to receive her BFA degree in Ballet and Modern dance from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. Professionally, Becky has performed with Spectrum Dance Theater in Seattle, WA under the direction of Donald Byrd as well as with Chicago-based companies Chicago Repertory Ballet (Wade Schaaf), LEVELdance (Eddy Ocampo) and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater (Wilfredo Rivera). In 2012, she took her dance film, Collectors to the Reykjavik International Film Festival in Iceland. Currently, Becky continues to teach and choreograph while working full time in Marketing. This is her first time choreographing the Nutcracker on the Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts.

ANNETTE THOMANN BIO

ANNETTE THOMANN

Annette Thomann received her BFA in dance performance, graduating magna cum laude, from Northern Illinois University. After graduation, she performed with several independent choreographers and became one of the founding members and Co-Artistic Director of Fox River Dance Company. In 2001, Annette began producing and directing her own annual dance performance, Freespace, a program in which pre-professional and professional students and choreographers collaborate and raise money for charity. Annette has been teaching and choreographing in the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin for over 20 years and formerly served as Ballet Mistress for RASA Dance Chicago, Executive Director and Director of Ballet for State Street Dance Studio, and Ballet Mistress and Company Administrator for NoMi Dance Chicago. In addition to teaching at Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts, she is the Ballet Mistress for Petite Pas Ballet School in Delafield, Wisconsin. Her choreography has been performed at the critically-acclaimed Dance Chicago Festival, Esencia Dance Festival
and Chicago Freelance Dance.

BROOKE BLOEDORN BIO

BROOKE BLOEDORN

Brooke Bloedorn is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. She graduated from the Peck School of the Art’s in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Minor in Somatics. Brooke grew up dancing various styles in the Kenosha area starting at the age of 4 years old. Brooke was a member of the Tremper Trojanette Dance Team and was a captain of the team for two years. During college, Brooke instructed movement in dance studios, fitness facilities, nursing homes, and children centers. Brooke is a licensed ZIN member and certified Zumba® ,Zumba Kids®, and Zumba Kids Junior® instructor. Brooke is focused on promoting health, wellness, and creativity for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds through the art of dance and movement in community settings. She is driven to inspire others to lead healthy lifestyles and embrace the positive aspects of movement.

KRISTIN STUCKMYER BIO

KRISTIN STUCKMYER

Kristin Stuckmyer, MT-BC, has played piano since the age of 10 and began teaching music in 1990. She is a board certified music therapist with a B.A. in music therapy earned at Western Illinois University upon the completion of her internship at the Center for Neurodevelopmental Studies in Glendale, Arizona. Kristin is professionally trained in sensory integration techniques under the supervision of Lorena Jean King, OTR, and Sheryl Kelly, MT-BC. She has lived in Kenosha since 2004 with her husband and two daughters.

CARLEY KLEBBA BIO

CARLEY KLEBBA

Carley began her training in Howell, MI where her primary focus was the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. She went on to earn her B.A. in dance from Grand Valley State University where she graduated with honors, and was the recipient of the Marlene Kenneway Love of Dance Scholarship. She has had the honor of working with notable choreographers such as Lauren Edson, Julie Blume, Autumn Eckman, Rebecca Lemme, Anna Liceica, Erica Fischbach, Eddy Ocampo, and Charles Askegard, to name a few. In addition to performing with the Grand Valley Dance Company throughout college she also performed with the The Grand Rapids Opera, and The Plymouth-Canton Metro Shores Ballet Company. After graduating Carley moved to Chicago to start working with LEVELdance, and she continued her training on a scholarship with Aerial Dance Chicago. She is currently dancing with Chicago Repertory Ballet and has enjoyed touring and performing with them the past two seasons. Carley loves teaching and sharing her love of ballet with her students throughout the Chicagoland area, and is excited to teach in Kenosha this year.

ELIZABETH DEWEY BIO

ELIZABETH DEWEY

Elizabeth grew up in Cadillac, Michigan, where she started dancing at age 3. She studied ballet, contemporary, and other popular forms of dance at Ballet Etc. Dance Academy and The School of the Grand Rapids Ballet. While at The School of the Grand Rapids Ballet she studied under Director Patricia Barker, Michael Auer, and Maria Kowroski. While there, she also performed in several Nutcracker productions and concerts. Elizabeth also studied and competed in Irish dance with the Ardan Academy of Irish Dance. Throughout her teenage years she attended several summer intensives including Ballet Magnificat’s! Summer Dance Intensive, and The Academy of Russian Classical Ballet’s Summer intensive.
After High School, Elizabeth moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to study and train as a Trainee with Ballet Magnificat!. America’s Premier Christian Ballet Company. She spent two years there performing, training, and acting as Head Costume Mistress of her department. In 2014 she moved to Florence, Italy, where she dancing and worked for Gallery 4 Italia, an art gallery that incorporated art, music, and dance. During the year in Italy she taught children’s ballet classes, studied the Italian language, and studied under Ballet Master Victor Litvinov.
In 2015 she moved back to northern Michigan and taught dance for the Landing Dance Academy, and the Northern Lights Irish Dance Academy. In the spring of 2017 she returned to Florence, Italy to work for the Florence Academy of Russian Art. There she helped to start a Classical Russian Ballet program to add to their already existing fine arts academy.

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HEATHER CHENAULT

Heather Chenault was born in Bowling Green, KY, where she studied dance at Dance Arts of Bowling Green from the age of 3 until she graduated high school in 2009. She then attended Western Kentucky University where she received a BA in Dance. At WKU she studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Choreography, Pedagogy, Improvisation, and joined the University’s dance company. Heather toured Civitavecchia and Tolfa, Italy with the WKU dance company. She studied at The Ailey School in NYC where she was able to perform at their Summer Sizzler Event. After graduating WKU in 2013, Heather joined Sideways Contemporary Dance Company in Atlanta, GA where she performed with the company for the 2013-2014 season. Heather is currently dancing with Jayson Tisa Dance Company in Chicago.

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JENNA JOZEFOWSKI

Jenna Jozefowski graduated from The University of Akron with a BA in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. During college, she performed with The University of Akron Dance Company where she was known for choreographing tap pieces for student performances. She is a member of the Midwest Committee of the Cecchetti Council of America and currently holds a Grade IV Teacher’s Certificate. Professionally, she has performed with Joel Hall Dancers II, RASA Dance Chicago and Chicago Dance Crash. She is currently working as an independent performance artist and choreographer; performing and presenting her work in Rebound Dance Festival, Dance Chicago, and Chicago Freelance Dance, and Inaside Chicago Dance’s Choreographic Sponsorship Event to name a few. She finds that getting herself to dance classes regularly inspires her own teaching, and can often be found taking class in Chicago during her free time. In addition to dance, Jenna is a NASM certified personal trainer and an RYT-200 certified yoga instructor through White Lotus Foundation and CorePower Yoga. She loves using her knowledge of anatomy, fitness, and wellness to enhance her students’ dance experience. Jenna looks forward to her 5th year teaching at Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts!

KYRRI SCHOBER BIO

KYRRI SCHOBER

Growing up in a musical family, Kyrri has been surrounded by the arts since birth. Her earliest music studies were at the piano, eventually going on to include flute, guitar, bass guitar, voice, and handbells. Graduating from the Trinity International University honors program summa cum laude with her B.A. in Vocal Performance and Arts Administration, Kyrri’s university work included applied voice with John Hacker; applied piano with Debbie Gillette; handbell choir; concert choir; chamber music; and extensive coursework in music history, theory, and aural skills. During this time, she also studied piano pedagogy and vocal pedagogy with Debbie Gillette and Beth Ann Swinson, respectively. She served as the the Trinity College Concert Choir librarian and alto section leader, and secured several solos during her time with the choir. Having sung in tessituras from alto to soprano, she is flexible in her abilities and understanding. As a performer, she is equally comfortable in both recital and fully staged settings, having performed in She Loves Me , Sense and Sensibility , and The Pirates of Penzance , as well as a wide range of art song, chamber, and choral works. Kyrri is passionate about continued development in music, especially in the area of new art music. As a teacher, Kyrri maintains growing studios in Kenosha, WI and Gurnee, IL, and is passionate about meeting each student where they are and seeing each reach his or her individual potential. Kyrri is currently continuing her vocal studies with Teresa Reynolds.

ELIZABETH ANDERSON BIO

ELIZABETH ANDERSON

Liz began her ballet training at Jacqueline’s School of Ballet in Lindon, UT. There, she trained classicallyfor ten years until she was invited at age 16 to be an apprentice dancer with Utah Regional Ballet. Whilein high school, she was the recipient of full tuition scholarships to both Sacramento Ballet’s summerprogram as well as the Craft of Choreography Conference. Upon graduation, she continued to work withUtah Regional ballet and performed professionally for three seasons. During her performing career shehad the privilege to study under and perform works by Alan Hineline, Jacqueline Colledge, Heather Gray,Shayla Bott, and many others. In addition to performing she had the opportunity to choreograph acontemporary piece on the company that received honors at “Choreography Design Project” and waslater performed at the Regional Dance America Festival in Long Beach, CA. Liz is a graduate of UtahValley University where she studied ballet and community health concurrently on both balletperformance and academic scholarships. She has been teaching for the past ten years and loveswatching her students develop into talented artists!

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LYNN SCHULTZ

Lynn Schultz holds a BA in Music (Voice) from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. With more than 20 years of experience teaching individual voice and piano lessons, she particularly enjoys the variety of ages and levels of the students at KAPA. Lynn has sung with the Choral Arts Society of Southeast Wisconsin, which has afforded her the opportunity to sing many of the greatest works in the sacred choral tradition. Lynn has also served variously as music director/accompanist for several churches throughout Colorado, Wyoming and SE Wisconsin. She is currently active in music ministry at the Benedictine Abbey in Benet Lake, WI.

On a lighter note, “Miss Lynn” is an equally avid ballroom dancer and hockey fan (who lives and dies with her Colorado Avalanche!) Watch for her sporting her Avs paraphernalia whenever the team advances to the postseason.

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MITCHELL HALEY

Born and raised in Harrodsburg, Kentucky Mitchell started his dance training at the age of 19 at Morehead State University (MSU). Here he performed with the MSU Dance Ensemble for 3 years, participated in the MSU Colorguard, choreographing for the spring concerts, and earned many awards for his choreography. He also was the lead male dancer in MSU production of “Grease” dancing under renowned choreographer Ron Hutchins. In 2011 he graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and a Dance Minor. Afterwards he transferred into Western Kentucky University (WKU) to finish out his Dance degree. Here he participated in the WKU Dance Company performing events throughout the state and community, as well as choreographing for student shows. He also performed in the WKU production on “Oklahoma!” In 2013 he graduated with his B.A. in Dance from Western Kentucky University. Mitchell has also had the opportunity to train under the direction of: Carlos Dos Santos (Ailey), Richard Smith, Robert McKee, Laura Wade, Arcos Dance, MamLuft &Co, and Lexington Ballet. Since moving to Chicago Mitchell has received his 200 hour Yoga Certification and started freelance work. Mitchell is now in his 3rd season dancing with Inaside Chicago Dance as a performing apprentice and choreographer. He has also recently joined BISI Chicago Dance Company as a Company member and is a new company member with Jay-Son Tisa Dance Company.

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RAE SLAGER

Rae Slager is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with over 15 years of experience as a dancer. She specializes in all styles of tap including street, jazz, Broadway, and her favorite; rhythm. Rae has performed at Fusion Cafe and choreographed award-winning National level competitive routines. She hopes to transfer her love of dance to her students and teach them not just technique, but how to feel the music and become a part of it through their feet.

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ROBIN NASSAR

Robin Nassar started dancing at the age of three, at the Harris Dance Studio in Nevada. She completed her ballet training at the San Francisco Ballet Academy. She has also studied Contemporary, Jazz, and Tap. In 2000 she established the Ramallah School of Ballet and Jazz in Palestine, then in 2006 she opened Elite Dance Center in Amman, Jordan. Her schools have won to honors at the Italian Dance Grand Prix and the Hellas International Dance Competition in Athens, Greece. Her dancers have gone on to the Rock School of Ballet, the Philadelphia Ballet, and the Royal Ballet in Canada. Two of her past students now run their own dance schools. Robin also studied acting and has performed in various commercials and movies including Nine Months, and Jade. She was also a model with Boom Model Management in San Francisco, California. She holds a degree in Communications and recently gained membership to the United Nations Dance Council.

SUSAN MYERS BIO

SUSAN MYERS

Susan Ojala Myers began her dance training at the Academy of Movement and Music, in Oak Park, Illinois, under the direction of Stephanie Clemens. She performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as Momenta! performing arts company, dancing both new and historic works. Early on in her career, Susan realized that her true passion was teaching. She has been working with dancers of all ages and abilities for over 20 years, on the east coast, as well as in the midwest. Besides teaching in the dance studio world, she runs several outreach dance programs in local schools. Susan began her college studies at CalArts, and completed her BA in dance performance at Northern Illinois University. She is proud to have earned her level two certification in Autism Movement Therapy in 2015. She teaches AMT classes throughout the Kenosha area, including Open Wings Learning Community, where she also sits on the board of directors. Susan and her husband, Eric, live in the Kenosha area with their three children.

TODD RICHARDS BIO

TODD RICHARDS

Todd Richards is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, keyboards) and musical artist who has been performing and educating in the Midwest for over 20 years. In addition to teaching private and ensemble lessons for both kids and adults in guitar, bass and piano, Todd has taught music and core subjects in the Milwaukee Public Schools and local Montessori schools as well as being the general manager of the School of Rock Shorewood. Todd has performed in a wide array of groups, including Brazzaville, The Tropics, Recycled Future, Dr. Science, the Afro Drum Ensemble, and his eponymous band. He has recorded and toured extensively as a musician throughout the United States and Europe, and has shared the stage with acts such as Dengue Fever, The Roots and The Greyhounds. Todd has performed at music festivals locally and throughout the country, and has appeared with Brazzaville on NPR’s World Cafe with David Dye. Todd produces and engineers for musicians, tv/film and theater, most recently for David Arthur Brown (Brazzaville, Beck), Chris Vos (The Record Company), and Lisa Gatewood. A Milwaukee native, Todd studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and holds a BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

ANNIE HACKETT BIO

ANNIE HACKETT
Owner & KAPA Director

Ms. Hackett is the owner and artistic director of the Kenosha Academy of Dance, Music & Drama, is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and is a former professor of dance at Carthage College. She has also been a guest teacher at Columbia College and Roosevelt University. She and her studio have been featured in Dance Magazine and Dance Teacher Magazine. In her 30 years as a dance educator Ms. Hackett has taught workshops, master classes and at studios in her home state of New York as well as Chicago and it’s surrounding suburbs. Her choreography has been seen at Chicago area theaters. Ms. Hackett’s performing career includes many productions at theaters such as The Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Chicago, IL), The Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre (Chicago, IL), The Drury Lane Theater (Oakbrook, IL) The Drury Lane Theater South (Evergreen Park, IL), and The Fireside Playhouse (Ft. Atkinson, WI).. She has also performed for Carnival Cruise Lines and many industrial shows for organizations like State Farm, Pepsi, Give Kids the World, and Kraftmaid. Ms. Hackett is a veteran of additional regional theatre productions in New York and Florida, and industrial shows internationally. Her company experience includes, The Zodiaque Dance Company (Buffalo, NY), Buffalo Inner City Ballet (Buffalo,NY) and The Greater Buffalo Opera Corps de Ballet (Buffalo, NY). She attended the State University of New York at Buffalo.

About Us

WHAT WE BELIEVE

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Our Staff

ANNIE HACKETT Owner & KAPA Director

TODD RICHARDS Music Instructor

SUSAN MYERS Dance Instructor

MITCHELL HALEY Dance Instructor

CARLEY KLEBBA Dance Instructor

CHARLES BROWN (BUZZY) Dance Instructor

JENNA JOZEFOWSKI Dance Instructor

HEATHER CHENAULT Dance Instructor

JERI GRAY Special Events Coordinator

KRISTIN STUCKMYER Music Instructor

BECKY MIKOS Dance Instructor

ANNETTE THOMANN Dance Instructor, Education Manager

ALLISON BISCHOFF General Manager

HALEY MOORE Dance Instructor, Special Programs Director

MAI CLAYPOOL Dance Instructor

LAURA WILLIAMS Dance Instructor

SARAH MILLER Music Instructor

PAMELA HERBERT Music Instructor

APRIL SORENSON Music Instructor

ANNA LEWIS BROWN Dance Instructor

SARAH NICHOLS Dance Instructor

SOFIA PUTERBAUGH HR & PR Coordinator

ANNIE HACKETT
Owner & KAPA Director

TODD RICHARDS
Music Instructor

SUSAN MYERS
Dance Instructor

MITCHELL HALEY
Dance Instructor

CARLEY KLEBBA
Dance Instructor

CHARLES BROWN (BUZZY)
Dance Instructor

JENNA JOZEFOWSKI
Dance Instructor

HEATHER CHENAULT
Dance Instructor

JERI GRAY
Special Events Coordinator

KRISTIN STUCKMYER
Music Instructor

BECKY MIKOS
Dance Instructor

ANNETTE THOMANN
Dance Instructor, Education Manager

ALLISON BISCHOFF
General Manager

HALEY MOORE
Dance Instructor, Special Programs Director

MAI CLAYPOOL
Dance Instructor

LAURA WILLIAMS
Dance Instructor

SARAH MILLER
Music Instructor

PAMELA HERBERT
Music Instructor

APRIL SORENSON
Music Instructor

ANNA LEWIS BROWN
Dance Instructor

SARAH NICHOLS
Dance Instructor

SOFIA PUTERBAUGH
HR & PR Coordinator