Our Staff

Ann Williams, Director, has a BA degree in Dance and Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota. She has been dancing and performing for over 20 years and has taught for over 15 years at several different studios in the Twin Cities area. She studied jazz with Zoe Sealy, Billy Siegenfeld, and Danny Buraczeski, the latter being regarded as the most prominent jazz choreographer in the world at this time. Ann studied tap with Zoe Sealy, Char Weiss, LaVaughn Robinson and Brenda Buffalino. She attended and performed at the Jacob's Pillow dance festival in Becket, MA, the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago and other commercially-based conventions and work-shops and continues to do so. She has performed in Zenon Dance School's summer scholarship program in a piece choreographed by Matt Jenson, as well as with the Just Can't Stop Dance Group. Prior to opening BALLAREteatro, Ann was the Jazz Program Director at Dance Works Performing Arts Center in Lakeville, where she was artistic director of the annual Jazz Festival in honor of Black History Month. Ann is involved in the community as a member and former co-chair of the Longfellow Business Association and board member of the Longfellow Community Council as the business representative. BALLAREteatro owner, she teaches Music and Movement, Creative Dance, Tap and Jazz.

Karis Sloss, graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Dance and Theatre Arts. She has been studying dance for over 20 years in the styles of jazz, ballet, pointe, tap, hip-hop and modern. Zoe Sealy, Lewis Whitlock, Cathy Young, Maria Slutiak and Danny Buraczeski are some of the very talented artists that Karis has been fortunate enough to work with. Aside from teaching she choreographs for different companies or shows around the city and works with her performance company Eclectic Edge Ensemble who just finished wonderful runs as part of Second Sight at the Illusion Theatre and their own production Ella Suena at Intermedia Arts. This fall Karis is choreographing Young Lindy at Stepping Stone Theatre, and pursuing future productions for her company. She is very excited to be starting her fifth year teaching at BALLAREteatro. This year she will be teaching ballet, jazz, tap, and creative movement.

Jason Noer  Originally from St. Paul, Jason has been dancing for 14 years, teaching and competing for 10. He has studied dance with some of the originators of Hip-Hop including Ken Swift, Mr. Wiggles, and Skeeter Rabbit. He started learning in the BAy Area (NorCal) and became a member of RockForce. He then moved to Minnesota and was one of the founders of the Battlecats breaking crew. He began teaching at Roseville High School at that time. Battlecats soon joined with Rhymesayers (a local Hip-Hop label) and started touring, competing and doing exhibitions. In 1997 Jason moved to Southern California (Orange County) and joined West Coast Rockers, winners of the largest competition yet in the art form, and continued teaching. While there, Jason studied ballet, tap and modern and became interested in choreography for the theatre. Now, back in the Twin Cities, Jason is one of the most well-known and respected instructors of Hip-Hop dance. He teaches all ages and skill levels in studios and public schols, and also choreographes for the stage. His most recent awards are the Walker's Momentum: New Works grant and First Place (alongside Daylight and B-Girl Seoul) at the 3rd Annual Twin Cities Hip-Hop Breaking Competition. This is Jason's fourth year at BALLAREteatro, teaching Hip-Hop and Breaking.

Kaleena Miller   Kaleena's dance training began at the age of  2 under the instruction of Karla Grotting, and since then she has focused mainly on tap, studying extensively with Char Weiss.  She is a 2006 graduate the U of M - Twin Cities, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Kaleena has studied on scholarhip in NYC with Heather Cornell, and was seen in "Naari: The Woman" with Roxane Butterfly at the O'Shaughnessy.  She also directed, choreographed and performed in the sold out "Scuff Marks" at Old Arizona.  She has worked with local tap artists Keane Sense of Rhythm and Flying Foot Forum, and currently performs and tours with Ten Foot Five's "Buckets and Tap Shoes". This is Kaleena's third year at BALLAREteatro.

Sarah LaRose-Holland   Sarah LaRose-Holland is in her 11th season dancing with the Christopher Watson Dance Company.  In 2006, she formed her own company called Kinetic Evolutions.  Sarah has also performed with Jeffrey Peterson Dance, 45 Chartreuse, 10,000 Dances, Zenon Dance Company, Klein Dance, Dance Alive!, and with several independent choreographers from the Twin Cities, New York, California and Florida.  Sarah is Assistant Director of the Christopher Watson Dance Company and the Presenter of the Kinetic Kitchen and Kinetic Playground dance series.  In addition to dancing, Sarah enjoys studying yoga and training in the martial arts. This is Sarah's second year at BALLAREteatro.

Ellen Keane has danced professionally since 1981. She has appeared on the nationally syndicated show Dance Fever and toured nationally as the lead in The Muppet Babies Live. She hs taught tap for universities and at dance schools around the Midwest. She is sought after as an instructor at music and dance festivals in the region. Ellen Keane is also listed on the MN roster of artists. Her choreography credits include over a dozen musicals for high schools, community and professional theatres and she has created award winning choreography for her students. Ellen is also co-artistic director of Keane Sense of Rhytm tap company. KSR has performed at the Chicago and Minneapolis Human Rhythm Projects and was featured at the Mpls and Thunder Bay Fringe Festivals. The Company  has performed in the Midwest, Canada and Ireland. Ellen choreographed and performed in three seasons with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. The Keane Sense of Rhythm reccently started the Keane Sense of Rhythm Youth Tap Ensemble to giv egifted rhythm-tap students a chance to explore different aspects of the art form. Ellen will be teaching all levels of adult tap. This is her second year at BALLAREteatro.

Brenna Brelie has a BA from the University of Minnesota and has been dancing since the age of 4.  She has training in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, and ballroom. Locally, she has studied with Ellen Keane and Cathy Keane Wind of Keane Sense of Rhythm, and Joe Chvala and Karla Grotting of the Flying Foot Forum.  She has attended and performed at the Chicago Human Rhythm Project for the last four years where she has had the opportunity to study with Lane Alexander, Sam Weber, Dianne "Lady Di" Walker, and Jason Samuels-Smith, among many others.   Currently, she is a member of the Keane Sense of Rhythm Social Club as well as serving on their Board of Directors.   In addition to her "day job" in public relations, Brenna teaches tap at various studios throughout the metro.

Molly Breen received her BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 1997.  At the U, Molly trained with Lise Houlton, Zoe Sealy, Erin Thompson, Danny Buraczeski, and other local and national choreographers.  She performed in the works of David Parsons, Mel Wong, Doug Varone, Zoe Sealy, and others.  Professionally, Molly has danced locally in industrial shows and at Chanhassen Dinner Theater in their productions of Can-Can and Oklahoma.  She was on the teaching staff of Zenon dance company and school for five years, has taught at a variety of arts camps and workshops, and has over 12 years experience teaching dance to all ages.  Molly is also a licensed and certified Musikgarten® instructor and she leads an early childhood music and movement program through Saint Paul Parks and Recreation.  She lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two young sons. This is Molly's first year at BALLAREteatro. She will be teaching jazz.

Jolene Konkel began her training at the Milwaukee High School of the Arts and went on te receive her degree in Christian Studies and Dance from North Central University, along with the University of Minnesota. She has worked with and studied under severfal acclaimed choreographers in the Twin Cities and elsewhere including Danny Buraczeski, Shapiro and Smith, Erin Thompson, Zoe Sealy, Bebe Miller, BArbara Grubel, and Cathy Young.  Jolene has performed with the Milwaukee Opera Company, the Univeristy of Minnesota Dance Theater, the University of the Nations Dance Theeater, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Dancemakers, Anointed Soles, and Garner-Gutierrez-Garner Dance. She has been teaching dance for 10 years and has choreographed for musical theater, dance workshops, and performances both at home and abroad for the University of the Nations. Jolene is the founder of the Youth With A Mission (Montana Campus) School of Dance Studies program and the Univeristy of the Nations Dance Theater where she served as ARtistic Director from 2002-2005. She is currently finishing up her MFA in dance through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jolene is also the mother of three active little boys ages 8, 4 and 1. This is her first year with BALLAREteatro. She is teaching jazz.

Lori J. Ness  Lori has been an theatre instructor,director & performer for over 22 years. She has taught at Plymouth Park & Rec, Albert Lea Park & Rec, Albert Lea School District, Duluth Playhouse, Minnesota Festival Theatre and directed for Albert Lea Community Theatre, Sommerset Theatre, Duluth Playhouse, Lex Ham Theatre, Plymouth Community Theatre,  Sunset Hill Elementary, Plymouth Creek Elementary & Chippewa Middle School. She is an independent casting director for commercials, feature films and tv.

Mathew Janczewski   Founder and Artistic Director of ARENA Dances is a Chicago native who began his early dance training at DanceCenter North. At age 19, he moved to the Twin Cities and began his training at the University of Minnesota. There he performed in the works of Doug Varone, Bill T. Jones, Mark Morris, Bebe Miller, Merce Cunningham and many more. He received his BFA in Dance in 1994. Mathew has danced with a variety of Minnesota choreographers, including Beth Corning, Shawn McConneloug, Robin Stiehm and Cathy Young. He was a company member of Shapiro & Smith Dance and JAZZDANCE! by Danny Buraczeski for five years with both companies. Since 1992, Mathew has choreographed more than 30 contemporary works. His continued studies of ballet, hip-hop, yoga, tai-chi and modern dance continue to influence his blend of movement. Most recently Mathew has choreographed an original dance theater work Bankrupt City Ballad to a live big band; with text by Kira Obolensky and directed by Peter Rothstein. Over the years Mathew has been recognized by the McKnight and Jerome Foundation, Land O’ Lakes Foundation, Target Foundation, Faegre & Benson Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the Foundation for Contemporary Performing Arts, receiving General Operating Support and Artists Fellowships to create and explore new works. Mathew received a 2005 Sage Award for “outstanding performance” for Solo Lounge. Mathew Janczewski is a recipient of a 2005 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Choreographers, administered by the Southern Theater and funded by the McKnight Foundation. Several companies in the United States have performed Mathew’s distinctive movement.  Special projects and commissions have included choreography for the Repertory Project of Cleveland, St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Macalester College, State University of New York - Potsdam, State University of New York - Brockport, Carleton College, University of Minnesota, Walker Art Center, and Zenon Dance Company and School.

Coming soon....bio for Morgan Thorson, Maggie Bergeron and Jen Bader..