INSTRUCTORS

KARA Cavel-YOGA

Kara Cavelcompleted her yoga teacher training at Lotus House of Yoga. In March of 2024, she became certified in Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCSTY) after completing a 300-hour yoga teacher training through The Center for Trauma and Embodiment. Kara is also certified in I AM Yoga Nidra by the Amrit Yoga Institute.

YOGA w/ KARA

In this class I will provide the opportunity to explore and choose what works best for your body. You can expect a beginner to moderate level flow with opportunities to find balance, strength, ease, and most importantly fun!

THERESA Cassaday-YOGA

Theresa Cassaday

In 1986, Theresa was introduced to sun-salutations by her dear friend and yoga trailblazer, Judy Vann. Several years later, Theresa stepped up her game becoming a dedicated practitioner and a certified yoga instructor. She’s been offering classes in the Omaha community since 2002 and brings a distinctive sense of whimsy and sincerity to her teaching. If you always do yoga, or never do yoga, you will enjoy Theresa’s class experience.

Yoga w/ Theresa

This unique yoga class is led by Theresa Cassaday, who will guide you through sequenced movement and classic postures designed to build strength and improve flexibility. Everyone is welcome in this joyful, hour-long class. Please bring your yoga mat and favorite props.

WILL Mallett-CONTEMPORARY MODERN

Will Mallett is a distinguished dancer, performer, and choreographer from Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up supported by competitions and conventions and traveled often to open professional doors. In 2017, Will moved to LA to attend California Institute of the Arts. He graduated with his BFA in dance in 2021, after studying abroad in Paris and Seoul. He has most recently performed his own choreographic work at galleries in New York City, and appeared in ads and projects by Calvin Klein, Nowness, and Vogue Italy. Will is an experienced teacher, artist, and dance educator who is driven to share his expertise in contemporary, ballet, and jazz dance, specifically informed by concepts from gaga and countertechnique. Will is a committed student and teacher, believing that both roles inform and support a beautiful and everlasting symbiosis.

Contemporary

Will’s class includes a holistic but athletic warm up, exercises to build coordination and understanding of the body and its habits, and some sustained movement exploration in a judgement-free, lab-like environment. The class empowers and dignifies the dancer to enjoy dialogue with theirself, the space, and other participants, within a generous and research-based practice. Will is constantly offering injury-prevention tools he has acquired through his research within countertechnique.

NICOLE Kropatsch -CONTEMPORARY MODERN & GYROTONIC

Nicole has a BFA in Dance Performance from Missouri State University and brings over 20 years of experience as a professional dancer and dance educator to her students. She has enhanced her knowledge of anatomy and movement through the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® completing both Level 1 & 2 certifications, and has continued to expand her knowledge through continuing education and development. Because of her passion for sharing the joy and understanding of movement with everyone she works with, and because of her experiences as a dancer, rehearsal director, artistic director, and university adjunct professor, Nicole has the ability to meet her students where they are in order to help them gain

Contemporary Modern For Dancers Classes are designed to make dance accessible and joyful. Our diverse instructors, drawing from backgrounds rich in modern dance traditions like Graham, Horton, Cunningham, and Limon, will guide you through a fun warm up and dance combinations. "For Dancers" Is taught at the Intermediate level, designed for experienced dancers.

The GYROTONIC® method is an original and unique movement method that addresses the entire body, opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion and creating functional strength.

PHOEBE Perry-BALLET & PILATES

PHOEBE Perry-Ballet & Pilates

Phoebe Perry, an Omaha native, grew up dancing at Omaha Academy of Ballet. She then went on to University of Missouri, Kansas City where she graduated with a BFA in ballet and modern. Phoebe then went on to dance professionally with San Diego Ballet for 5 years, and has recently returned to Nebraska to focus on sharing her experiences and knowledge of dance with the community she grew up in. Phoebe currently teaches at Omaha Academy of Ballet, has her own massage practice and recently completed Stott Mat and Reformer Pilates training.

Intermediate Ballet This class is designed for adults that have a ballet background. This class will follow the flow of a typical intermediate class. The steps taught in this class may be challenging if you have little to no ballet experience. Of course everyone is welcome though!

Beginning Ballet is a structured, introductory program designed to help students learn the fundamentals of ballet in a fun and encouraging environment. It’s perfect for beginners who are eager to explore ballet and develop their strength, flexibility, and coordination.

Private Reformer Pilates & Mat Class Sub Pilate Reformer One on One sessions with Phoebe are now available. Email the studio to schedule. Stott Pilates is a mind-body exercise method that incorporates modern exercise principles. It's designed to be easy on the joints and can be customized for different body types and abilities. Each session is personalized to address your specific needs and goals, and in-depth instruction to optimize your form and technique, making it suitable for all fitness levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners seeking targeted improvements. STOTT PILATES places a strong emphasis on scapular stabilization, lumbo-pelvic placement and postural alignment, and optimal muscle activation.

STEPHANIE Huettner-TGIF/CONTEMPORARY MODERN

Stephanie is an Omaha based dancer and choreographer. She has studied and performed various dance styles for over 40 years and is currently the co-director of tbd. dance collective. The creation of the group came out of an organic desire to grow dance in the Omaha community. Since the inception of the collective, Huettnerhas performed and choreographed with the group in a wide variety of styles in many disparate venues. Her favorite collaborations include work with local musicians, filmmaker Nik Fackler, and the Movement Series at the KANEKO art gallery. Huettnerspends her days saving the world as the Assistant General Curator, Curator of Birds, and sustainability coordinator at Omaha’s Henry DoorlyZoo and Aquarium.

As a choreographer, she has set works for the AMB School, Seiche Dance Collective, Ballet INitiative, the inaugural Indy Dance Festival, and Omaha's early music ensemble Cantare!. Recently, she both choreographed and performed in a touring show with pianist Mia Vassilev. As a Certified Yoga Instructor, she also enjoys sharing the joy of movement and dance throughout the Omaha Metro Area in conjunction with AMB’s Outreach programs.

TGIF DANCE/CONTEMPORARY MODERN:

Contemporary Modern for Advanced Beginners through Intermediate Dancers. Start your weekend and unwind with us each Friday at 430P, Stephanie will lead a lighthearted modern class geared toward anyone that has danced before. She creates movement that is a combination of her over 40 years of dance training in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, musical theater, and contemporary styles to generate high energy, creative phrases that will appeal to all levels of dancers. This inviting class will include a gentle warm up, contemporary modern technique, floor work, as well as choreography. You are welcome to dance in bare feet, socks, or appropriate shoes. You may also want to bring knee pads, if you have them, for the floor work. Did you grow up with Jazz or Ballet training and just crave moving to music, this is your class!

JORDAN Minnick- MAT PILATES

Jordan is a Midwest transplant that has found community in Omaha through health & wellness. She is working on Stott Pilates instructor certification and has completed training in matwork, reformer, and stability chair at the Pilates Center of Omaha. As a yogi that has circled back to pilates, she has found great purpose & motivation in her pilates education and is eager to help others find their way to feeling good through mindful exercise. She works full time in elections, something that she enjoys traveling for. You can catch her gardening, concert-going, and film-watching in her free time.

MARYANN Sherman-LYRICAL Mary Ann is a former Miss Dance of Mid-America (Dance Masters of America Organization). She has continuously trained in dance for over 30 years, has been teaching her whole adult life, and has been sharing her knowledge with students at STARS since it opened in 2003. Mary Ann's students and choreography consistently take home top awards at local and regional competitions including a "Highest Scoring Overall" trophy from Dance Olympus Regionals in Kansas City. Lyrical- This class will encourage dancers to connect deeply with the music. This free form of dance will blend ballet, jazz and modern create expressive choreography. You will come away feeling fit and inspired.

DEBBIE Massey-Schneweis - GUEST TEACHER TAP & JAZZ

DEBBIE MASSEY-SCHNEWEIS is an award winningdancer and choreographer from Omaha. As a young professional she danced and competed from coast to coast and began teaching at the age of 17. Although she started her theater career “late” in life she has more than made up for lost time choreographing countless theatre, high school and pageant productions.

She has worked on numerous award winningshows and has been nominated for many TAG and OEA Awards. Debbie was the TAG Outstanding Choreographer in 2014 for “42nd Street”, OEA Outstanding Choreographer 2021 for “Addams Family The Musical”, worked on “Something Rotten” 2022 OEA Winner for Best Musical and recently won the 2023 OEA Best Choreographer for last summers Spamalot. She been blessed to teach thousands of students and performers… some of whom went on to tv careers, theatre touring companies and the 2018 Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers originally from Papillion. As a performer she has been seen on local stages in some of her favorite shows including A Chorus Line, Chicago, Legally Blonde, Anything Goes, The Drowsy Chaperone and 42nd Street. Debbie currently is resident choreographer for 6 local high schools and most recently choreographed BLT’s back to backmusicals PROM The Musical and White Christmas.
She is married to husband Jason and they are proud parents of adorable (dancing) 4 yr old twins Jackson and Victoria.

KIRSTEN Koba-YOGA

Catherine Liu-CONTEMPORARY MODERN

Catherine Liu began her training at the Conservatory Ballet in Virginia with Julia Cziller Redick and earned a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and a minor in violin from Elon University. In the DC Area, Catherine has been a company member of Karen Reedy Dance, Sharna Fabiano Tango Company, and Sax Lounge Cabaret Dance Company, and a teacher at American Dance Institute, Center City Public Charter Schools, and Bowen McCauley Dance’s outreach program. In the San Francisco Bay Area, she danced with Mid to West Dance Collective and Garrett & Moulton Productions, and various individual choreographers. She founded her dance theater company, KWENTO, in 2015 and debuted three full length productions at PianoFight Theater in San Francisco. Currently, she teaches at Omaha Academy of Ballet and is the content creator for the YouTube channel, Ilio Dance. After her induction into the PianoFight family, she has wanted to gather the dance and theatre worlds together by fusing the two art forms in her work. Thus, KWENTO and Ilio Dance were born

This contemporary modern class is geared toward moderately to fully trained dancers who are looking to keep up with their craft, or just trying to move again. At this intermediate level, we will start on the ground and each combination will ascend until we reach standing. The class will end with some fun choreography that's release-y, funky, level-change-y, and free-spirited...y. & as with all Studio Dundee Classes we welome movement enthusiasts to try out a class in a judgement free zone.

PATRICK Roddy-Guest Teacher JAZZ & TAP

PATRICK RODDY joined Creighton University’s dance faculty in 1993 and has directed the dance program since 2010. In addition to serving as a faculty member at Creighton, Patrick has a well-developed connection to the Omaha dance community, having presented annual workshops for the Omaha Dance Teachers Association, taught in local studios, and has choreographed for numerous local theatre and dance companies over the past half-century. From 1978-1992, he worked and studied professionally in New York and Los Angeles and has been a faculty member of many nationally recognized dance intensives, including Luminary Dance Project, Dance Olympus, and the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival.

Master Classes/JAZZ & TAP -See Class schedule for details.

PAULA Zabawa-TAP & JAZZ/TAP COMBO

Paula Zabawa has over 40 years’ experience teaching ballet, jazz and tap. An Omaha native, Paula, began dancing at her mom’s studio, Angie’s Dance Studio, as a toddler. Paula began assistant teaching with her mom at age 14 and continued teaching alongside her mom until 2021, when her mom retired. During her dance career, Paula kept current by attending dozens of dance workshops.

Over the years, Paula has taught dance to thousands of students with Tap being her favorite!

Intermediate Tap: class is designed for people with 5+ years tap experience. It does not matter how long it’s been sense you put on those shoes that muscle memory will return quickly! Class focuses on technique, starts with a warmup followed by intermediate level tap combinations.

Tap/Jazz Level 1 Class will focus on the basics, start with a warmup followed by fun Jazz & tap combinations. Shoes make the experience complete, but you are welcome to try a tap class or two in hard soled shoes and Jazz or Ballet shoes for Jazz.

KELLY Hanneman GUEST TEACHER

Kelly Hanneman brings an eclectic mix of modalities to the dance studio in the form of Soul-Centered Movement. She was trained in classical ballet at the Omaha Academy of Ballet, then went on to become a professional modern dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She toured internationally with MOMIX dance company and worked with Pilobolus Dance Theatre, David Parsons Dance Company, Omaha Modern Dance Collective, Creighton Dance Company, and many more.

Kelly strives to create a relaxed and nurturing environment in the studio to support the bridge between the external and internal discipline of dance and guide students towards a deeper and more intimate relationship with and appreciation for themselves and their movement. She embraces dance as both a performing art and a healing art.

She currently teaches modern dance at Creighton University, is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Health and Wellness Coach. She holds a BFA from North Carolina School of the Arts and MS from Creighton University in Integrative Health and Wellness.

SUE Lessor MAT PILATES

Sue Lessor Originally, Sue certified in Stott Pilates® in Matwork, Reformer, Total Barre™, with training in Chair and Cadillac. She taught mat, reformer, barre, and TRX regularly at the Pilates Center of Omaha. She also taught at the UNL rec center for two years and at a Lincoln YMCA.

She then spent the next ten years teaching in her own studio and training under Shari Berkowitz, owner of The Vertical Workshop out of New York state. TVW is a more classical style of Pilates.

Years of dancing and jogging had left Sue with back, neck, and shoulder injuries and three choices--surgery, painkillers, or a new life-style. She was fortunate enough to be able to choose a new life-style. Her desire as a Pilates instructor is to help others find similar freedom, healing, and core strength within their particular exercises, hobbies and/or careers.

TRICIA Lovejoy BALLET

Tricia has been teaching ballet for 35 years. She is trained in all the major systems of ballet pedagogy, including the French School, Vaganova, Bournonville & Cecchetti. Her classes are built on that rich history, musicality, understanding of anatomy and a love of art and history.Her hope is to nurure confidence and friendships for the Adult Beginning Ballet Students @ The Studio Dundee.

JENNY Yang CONTEPORARY MODERN

With over two decades steeped in the language of Modern Dance, Jenny brings both academic depth and creative passion to her teaching and choreography. Trained extensively in Modern Dance at Ewha Womans University in South Korea, Jenny holds a BFA, an MA, and has completed all but her dissertation (ABD) toward a Ph.D. in Dance Theory.

ALEX McKeone YIN YOGA

Alex is an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist and 500-hour registered yoga instructor. She holds additional certifications in yin yoga, meditation and mindfulness, breathwork, and relaxation techniques. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Susi Amendola at what was then Omaha Yoga & Bodywork Center. In 2021, she completed her 500-hour teacher certification at the Himalayan Institute, where she also worked as an ayurvedic health coach and yoga instructor. She has been offering ayurvedic workshops and teaching yoga at studios and retreat centers around the country and abroad since 2016. When she is not teaching yoga, you can find her paddleboarding, hiking, and exploring the US in her converted CR-V camper.