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Meet Our Staff
Programs for All Ages
30+ Years of Experience
Ann Williams, Founder
Ann Williams has a BA in Dance and Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and has been dancing and performing for over 30 years and has taught for over 20 years at different studios and schools in the Twin Cities area. She has studied with many prestigious companies, institutions and individuals.
She opened Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center in 1998, and has grown the business from 75 students and 2 instructors to 300+ students, 14 instructors and two admins. Under Ann’s direction, Ballare Teatro has become known for high quality dance education in a professional, nurturing environment. The instructors at Ballare Teatro are professional dancers and dance educators. The studio serves families from all over the Twin Cities area.
She has formed a partnership with the University of Minnesota Dance Program. She is a guest speaker in their teaching dance class each year, and as part of that class BFA dance majors come to the studio for their dance pedagogy practicum.
Ann has served on the board of Keane Sense of Rhythm, a local tap dance company and school, the Longfellow Business Association (co-chair), The Longfellow Community Council (business representative); Art Works in Eagan; and currently is on the board of Off-Leash Area: Contemporary Performance Works.
Ann is thankful to have Ballare Teatro, and thankful to all of you for helping her make her passion a reality.
Timothy Herian, Owner and Director
Level IIA/IIB Ballet, Jazz
Level III Ballet, Modern
PBT Level IIB, IV/V, Rep Director
Timothy Herian became the director of Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center in South Minneapolis in 2025 after his decade-long tenure at Ballare as a dance teacher and choreographer.
While making his home at Ballare Teatro, Timothy guided hundreds of dancers throughout his career there and at other institutions such as Pim Arts High School, the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA), and various dance studios in the Twin Cities Metro. He specializes in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz dance techniques and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique.
Timothy’s teaching is rooted in extensive experience as a dance performer. After earning a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 2013, he spent time in New York dancing with companies such as Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, Project 44, and Roschman Dance. Performing at the Apollo Theatre in the "Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration" performance was a highlight of his time in NYC.
After returning home to plant roots in South Minneapolis, Timothy continued his dance career with several Minneapolis-based dance companies, including Ananya Dance Theatre, Arena Dances, Black Label Movement, Concerto Dance, Contempo Physical Dance, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Moves & Co., and Threads Dance Project.
Timothy thrives on working with dancers of all levels and abilities. Building on his decades-long love of dancing and teaching, Timothy approaches his directorship at Ballare with a simple philosophy: provide high-quality dance training to all students in a welcoming environment. He believes that everyone who wishes to dance is a dancer and that each dancer has a unique perspective to share.
When he’s not teaching, Timothy enjoys collaborating with artist Bill Mack on site-specific performances for private events—a partnership he began as a performer in 2010. He has served as director of these events since 2023.
Timothy is also an avid gardener and loves spending his free time cultivating his garden and creating landscapes that will last for generations. He takes particular pleasure in collecting unique and rare hostas.
Rachel Burnett, Instructor,
Social Activities Director
Creative Dance, Fundamental A, Fundamental B, Level IA, Level IIA Tap, Level IIB Tap
Rachel Johnson-Burnett has been teaching at Ballare Teatro since 2015. Originally from Minneapolis, she started dancing at the age of 3 and never stopped! She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies and Dance. In college, she studied extensively with Melissa Rolnick, Stephan Koplowitz, Jeffrey Peterson, and Sarah Hauss. She has performed in Italy and New Zealand as well as locally (local highlights include RENOVATE at the Ritz Theatre and co-directing, choreographing, & performing in the MN Fringe Festival). She continues her training through taking dance classes as much as possible, but has found that being a dance educator is her passion. Her goal as a teacher is to share her knowledge and love of dance with her students. When not at the studio, Rachel can be found reading, baking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family -- especially husband Dan, daughter Mara, and dog Stella.
Sarah Beck-Esmay, Instructor
Level IV Jazz
Sarah Beck-Esmay is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, her MN teaching license and her Masters in Education. In addition to teaching Jazz IV, she is an 8th grade classroom teacher in District 196 and a mother of three Ballare dancers. Having rehearsed in the studio as a member of Eclectic Edge Ensemble with Karis Sloss since before, during and after her pregnancies, Sarah’s children have truly grown up in the studio.
Other professional performance credits include Ananya Dance Theater, Aniccha Arts, Rhythmically Speaking and in works by Danny Buraczeski, Zoey Sealy, Karla Grotting, Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner, Jolene Konkel and Jeffrey Peterson. Sarah choreographs for adult choirs, school musical theater productions and various pageantry arts programs throughout the state. Past dance instruction experiences include St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts, Apple Valley High School, Rosemount High School, Irondale High School, Tonka Dance Works and River City Rhythm. Since she has been a regular at Ballare either rehearsing or parenting for the past 20+ years and has benefited greatly from the Ballare community, Sarah is honored and thrilled to be on staff and give back to a place that has meant so much.
Brenna Brelie, Instructor
Adult Intermediate Tap,
Adult Fast Intermediate Tap
Brenna Brelie has been a tap instructor at Ballare Teatro since 2008! Brenna has been dancing since the age of 4. She has training in jazz, ballet, modern, and ballroom, but tap and percussive dance have been her passion for as long as she can remember. Locally, she has danced with Kaleena Miller, Keane Sense of Rhythm, and Joe Chvala and Karla Grotting of the Flying Foot Forum. She has studied with Dianne Walker, Jumaane Taylor, Sam Weber, and Jason Samuels-Smith, among many others. Along with Kaleena Miller, Brenna is proud to have co-founded Twin Cities Tap in 2015. Additionally, she is the Head of Operations at Pillsbury United Communities, a large multi-service nonprofit in Minneapolis. Brenna is a proud mom, advocate, traveler, yoga practitioner, gardener, music-lover, nature-enthusiast, and life-long learner.
Jessica Fiala, Instructor
Adult Beginning Tap,
Adult Advanced Beginning Tap
Jessica is excited to return to teach tap at Ballare Teatro after nearly 15 years!
Jessica’s dance training began in rhythm tap and modern/postmodern dance. Since 2006, she has studied Bharatanatyam with Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy, and has toured with Ragamala Dance Company throughout the U.S. and to India, the U.K., the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Performance highlights with the company include Lincoln Center Out of Doors, the Kennedy Center, Krishna Gana Sabha (Chennai, India), Jacob’s Pillow, and The Joyce Theater. Jessica is a teacher at the Ragamala Training Center and leads outreach activities for participants ranging from K-12 students to senior citizens. Outside of Ragamala, she has performed in projects by Joe Chvala, Sandy Silva, Ashwini Ramaswamy, Kaleena Miller, Vanessa Voskuil, Jeremy Bensussan, Gadu Doushin, Anasooya Abraham, Keane Sense of Rhythm, Colette Illarde and Margo Abdo O’Dell, and Chris Schlichting.
Jessica holds an interdisciplinary master's degree from the University of Minnesota focused in Museum Studies & Cultural Studies. A few topics explored in her presentations and publications over the past decade include transcultural Bharatanatyam practice, site-based dance, digital public art, and embodiment in virtual reality. Jessica also works with clients in the arts and culture sector, philanthropy, and public media as a research associate at the consulting firm 8 Bridges Workshop.
Siri Hammond, Instructor
Creative Dance, Fundamental A, Fundamental B, Level IA, Level IB, Adult Fundamental Ballet, Adult Beginning/ Advanced Beginning
Siri Hammond grew up studying ballet and other genres at Festival Dance Academy in Pullman, WA, through which she had the opportunity to perform in ballet productions such as The Nutcracker with the Eugene Ballet, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty. She also gained a passion for musical theatre, performing in local theatre productions from the age of eight. Siri studied theatre and dance at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where she was a member of Companydance, the college’s modern dance company. Since graduating, Siri moved to the Twin Cities where she has performed with local and regional theatre companies including Artistry, Old Log, Lyric Arts, Zephyr Theatre, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Nimbus Theatre, and Walking Shadow Company. In addition to dance and theatre, Siri loves singing and making music, figure skating, and spending time in the great outdoors. She is so happy to be on staff at Ballare!
Lindsey King, Instructor
Level IV Tap
Originally from the Twin Cities, Lindsey's penchant for travel has taken her on far-flung adventures, all with tap shoes in tow. She landed in New York City for over a decade and studied with some of the greats. Lindsey is eager to share her love of tap dance and the steps she's learned along the way! She has performed with Sandy Silva in collaboration with Twin Cities Tap, Out on a Limb Dance Theater & School, Keane Sense of Rhythm, and Kaleena Miller, among others.
Hollie Edlund, Instructor
Creative, Fundamental B, Level IA, Level IB
Hollie Edlund is thrilled to be joining Ballare for her 6th year and entering her 10th year of teaching! She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. in Dance in 2013. In her senior year, Hollie received the Distinguished Dance Student Award (alongside fellow friend and colleague, Rachel Johnson Burnett!) and was honored to have her jazz piece, “Movement for Movementsake”, selected to be performed in the Spring Dance Concert. She has performed in pieces by Stuart Pimsler Dance, Heather Klopchin, Jeffrey Peterson, and Eclectic Edge Ensemble. Hollie lives in the west metro with her husband Isaac and three daughters (Svea 9, Solvi 7, and Liv 3 years)! She enjoys cooking and baking.
Fun Fact: Miss Hollie has a Culinary Arts degree from Le Cordon Bleu.
Jake Nehrbass, Instructor
Tap III, Tap V, Adult Advanced Tap
Jake grew up in Minneapolis and started his dance journey when he was three years old. Over the years, he has had the privilege of studying and performing various styles, including tap, modern, jazz, hip hop, international styles, and ballroom. Jake earned his BFA in Dance and Kinesiology from St. Olaf College, which has allowed him to explore the physical and anatomical aspects of movement.
His work as a performing artist, choreographer, and teacher in the Twin Cities is deeply rooted in a love for the art form and a desire to share it with others. Currently, Jake dances with ARENA Dances, Black Label Movement, Ruby Josephine Dance Theatre, and Rhythmically Speaking and has had or continues to collaborate with several wonderful local companies, including Contempo Physical Dance, Concerto Dance, Mixtape, Threads Dance Project, Flying Foot Forum, Hatch Dance/Honey Works, Katha Dance Theatre, Cheng “Technica” Xiong, Buckets and Taps, Eau Claire Dance, STRONGmovement, and in Stephan Koplowitz’s Northfield Experience. He is grateful for each of these experiences, which have allowed him to grow as an artist and connect with talented individuals in the community. In addition to performing and choreographing, Jake enjoys teaching at Prairie School of Dance and Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center.
Madeleine Hall, Instructor
Level III Modern, Level V Modern,
Level IV/V Ballet, Beginning Pointe, Pointe
Madeleine Hall is a queer movement artist, choreographer, and filmmaker with a BFA in Dance Performance and Psychology from Butler University. They have performed works by Jennifer Archibald, Susan McGuire, Ashley Green, Alysia Johnson, Kameron Saunders, James Gregg, and Adam Nicholas. During her time at Butler, Madeleine was awarded the JCA Collaboration Grant three years in a row to create an immersive theatre show and new works with original, live music. She is also a two-time recipient of the Director’s Award for Excellence in Choreography with Butler Ballet. Most recently, their choreography has been performed through Minnesota Ballet, Corpus Dance Works, and Ballet Co. Laboratory. In addition to their stage work, Madeleine has produced 31 short dance films over the past four years, several of which have been featured in local and international film festivals. This season, they are excited to be continuing to choreograph throughout the Twin Cities and performing with TU Dance as an Apprentice.
Shannon Mulcahy, Instructor
Creative Dance, Jazz III,
Progressing Ballet III, Modern IV
Adult Beginning/Intermediate Jazz
Born and raised in Chicagoland, Shannon Mulcahy graduated from the U of Minnesota- Twin Cities with a BFA of Dance in 2017. Having trained under Minneapolis-St. Paul greats such as Toni Pierce Sands, Erin Thompson, Joanie Smith, Ananya Chatterjea, Karla Grotting and Carl Flink while at the U- she gained a sound technical base in Modern, Jazz Dance and contemporary driven dramaturgy. During her undergrad, she performed in pieces by Martha Graham and Brian Brooks on the Carlson Family Stage at the Northop. Other undergrad credits include Shapiro and Smith Dance, Luke Olson-Elm, Rosy Simas and Brooks Moving Company.
After college, Shannon joined Contempo Physical Dance as an apprentice and guest artist, danced in countless MN Fringe Shows as well as productions by Rhythmically Speaking and Rebecca Tanner Dance. As of today, she is a core company member of Concerto Dance by Jolene Konkel focusing on traditional jazz and modern works as well as a freelance dance artist throughout the Twin Cities.
This is Shannon's 6th year of teaching dance, starting at Prairie School of Dance in 2018 and joining Ballare Teatro in 2019. Her teaching experience ranges from Creative dance to jazz technique and groove to contemporary and modern styles all the way to adult jazz and tap. This is Shannon's 5th year at Ballare Teatro, and it's going to be the best one yet!
Katie Anderson, Instructor
Creative, Fundamental A, Level IA
Katie Anderson grew up studying tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet, and lyrical at a local dance studio in West St. Paul, MN, starting at the age of 3. Throughout high school, Katie also choreographed dozens of numbers for her high school's winter dance show, where she developed her love for choreography and teaching. After high school, Katie attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and took classes in the dance program and participated in CompanyDance, performing in Anthony Roberts' contemporary "After the Fall" piece at the American College Dance Association Conference in Madison, WI, in Spring 2018. Since graduating from St. Olaf, Katie has choreographed with Children's Performing Arts in White Bear Lake, MN, taught a musical theater summer camp at Artistry in Bloomington, MN, and continued to participate in recreational adult dance classes. Katie also continues to perform in musicals at community theaters across the Twin Cities and is frequently named Dance Captain for various productions.
Cierra Dailey, Administrator
Cierra Dailey is currently in her fourth year at the University of Minnesota pursuing a BFA in dance. Growing up, Cierra danced at White Bear Dance Center and Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. She has performed works by many Twin Cities artists, including Arena Dances, Ananya Chatterjea, Black Label Movement, Elayna Waxse, and Shapiro and Smith Dance. Most recently, Cierra performed ‘Swan Song’ by Elayna Waxse at the American College Dance Association’s national festival in Long Beach, California. Cierra also enjoys production management and recently co-produced ‘A Fool’s Errand’, a student capstone performance, at the Red Eye Experimental Theater.
Adrienne Guenther, Administrator
Adrienne Guenther (She/Her) is a movement artist, teacher, and arts administrator based in Minnesota. Adrienne approaches art-making through exciting and generous movement that values the longevity of the artists embodying it. Through her work, she questions how people are interconnected to each other and the environment in which they inhabit. She is excited to continue her work as an Arts Administrator with Ballare Teatro, where she loves supporting the dance education of Ballare’s students.
Holly Trenbath, Administrator
Holly Trenbath (they/she) is an interdisciplinary movement artist and performing arts facilitator from Richmond, VA, who recently relocated to Minneapolis, MN, after graduating with a BFA in Dance + Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. They have trained, worked, and performed along the East Coast in the fields of dance performance, choreography, arts administration, and production at organizations/institutions such as Bates Dance Festival, Richmond Ballet, and Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth, among others. Holly is interested in movements - be they political or embodied - that connect self to body, body to peoples, peoples to their communities, and communities to conversations…and she thinks that dancing is possibly the most fun a person can have. Currently, Holly works administratively with Ballare Teatro and Off-Leash Area: Contemporary Performance Works. She recently apprenticed with ARENA DANCES and freelances as a performer/dance maker across the Twin Cities.
Allison Wheeler, Administrator
Allison Wheeler is a dance choreographer, performer, arts educator, and arts administrator based in Minneapolis, MN. Allison graduated with a BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Throughout her time in university, she trained in a wide variety of dance genres and worked with artists such as HIJACK, Dr. Ananya Chatterjea, Souleymane Badalo, BRKFST Dance, Shapiro & Smith Dance, Erin Thompson, Carl Flink, Taja Will, and Limón Dance. Emerging into her professional career, Allison worked with artists such as Mathew Janczewski’s ARENA Dances, Novel Dance Company, Flyover Contemporary Dance, Heidee Lynn Alsdorf, Arcelia Rivera, and 8:20 Dance Company. Allison’s choreographic works have been presented at The Momentary and The Medium in Northwest Arkansas and Mixed Blood Theater and Elision Playhouse in Minnesota. Allison is currently an apprentice with Concerto Dance and works as a freelance performer and choreographer. In addition to dance work, Allison teaches elementary art at Ramalynn Academy. Allison is excited to join the admin staff at Ballare this year!
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