Ms. Gina Hibbard: Instructor
A
very popular teacher with her students and their parents alike, Gina Hibbard returns for her fourth
year of teaching classes at Ankeny Dance. Gina started taking dance lessons when she was just three years
old, and dance has been a big part of her life ever since!
Growing
up in Waverly, Iowa, Gina worked hard on dance and technique and eventually became an assistant to her own instructor. Her
ability to convey the nuances of all styles of dance and to relate in the studio setting to students of all ages didn't go
unnoticed; It wasn't long before she was promoted to a full instructor, teaching young people in her home town for several
years.
Gina's dance skills
also earned her spots on dance teams in high school and at Wartburg College, where she became dance team captain.
With that experience under her belt, she was hired as the Waverly Shell Rock High School Dance Team coach from 1998 to 2000.
Ms. Gina has several years of experience judging in dance
team competitions at both the high school and college level, and she has taught and mentored students of all ages at local
Des Moines dance studios since moving here in 2000. She continues to train in dance and improve her skills, and just attended
a week-long intensive teacher-training session in all styles of dance at Disneyworld in Florida.
Gina brings that wealth of knowledge and experience to her classes here at Ankeny
Dance in a way that appeals to students from toddlers to teens. She is one of our most requested teachers, and she knows how
to make learning dance fun as well as productive for young people. In her job as a Business Analyst at Principal
Global Investors in their Commercial Real Estate division, Gina also leads and mentors a training group and understands how
to get positive results with her students in a professional atmosphere. We are as excited to have Gina as one of our instructors
again this year as she is to help shape the students in her classes into becoming better dancers!
Ms. Shelley Blok: Young Children's Program Co-Artistic Director;
Instructor Shelley Blok brings her
great experience, enthusiasm for dance, and a passion for helping children achieve beyond their goals in ability and
character. Shelley earned a degree in Recreational Education from the University of Iowa where she studied both dance classes
and pursued course work in Child Development.
Her
passion for dance began at an early age, and Shelley first began taking formal dance instruction at age three. By the
time she was in high school, Shelley had already become an assistant teacher in the dance studio where she grew up. She
also taught dance and aerobic dance to students in her high school's physical education program. While
attending college at the University of Iowa, Shelley taught aerobic dance and tumbling classes in a gymnastics studio.
After graduation, Shelley went on to become Corporate Fitness Director
for Universal Gym Equipment in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As the Corporate Fitness Director, she not only managed the employee fitness
facility and administered wellness testing and counseling, she also designed and developed personal fitness programs. At the
Universal Fitness Institute she also instucted internationally, teaching certification courses in fitness and weight training
to health club owners and their employees.
Here in Ankeny,
Shelley is active in the Ankeny Community Theater and enjoys volunteering in her church and community. Shelley says
her love for children and watching them smile and shine on stage makes this a dream come true for her. We are thrilled
to have such a talented, vibrant, and solidly-credentialed instuctor on our staff and we know your student will enjoy learning
from Ms. Shelley too!
Miss Theresa Jean Sherwood: Instructor Theresa Sherwood joins
Ankeny Dance this year with excellent credentials and unbridled enthusiam for dance and young people. Her love of all
styles of dance began at an early age, and she has trained extensively in tap, jazz, ballet and pointe, modern, hip hop, lyrical
dance and exercise and aerobic training.
Theresa studied dance for 15 years, competed at all levels, and trained for several
years in college as well. She has completed a 300-hour teacher-training program and worked as a lead instructor
in Mankato Minnesota at Dance Express Dance Studio. She also has been a camp counselor and dance instructor
for three years at the Lake Okabojji Dance Camp. Theresa also has trained with Diane Gudat on how to employ the methods
of Gudat's complete course on acrobatics for the dance studio; MS. Gudat is certified by Dance Masters of America
and is a faculty member of the Florida Dance Master's Intensive Teacher's Training Seminar and she has produced numerous
local, state, and national dance and acrobatic champions. Ms. Theresa is excited to be using that training to teach Diane
Gudat's methods in her courses here at Ankeny Dance!
Theresa is a 2009 graduate and honor student at the University of Iowa with a
major in Journalism and Mass Communication, but she managed to work in plenty of time in college to promote her
love of dance and dance training. In her junior and senior years, she planned and attended University of Iowa Dance
Marathon community events in addition to working as Director of Operations and planning all events for Greek Week on
campus. We welcome Theresa to Ankeny Dance and know she'll be a wonderful addition to our staff of teaching professionals!
Miss Leah Kline: Instructor Leah Kline has a long history with Ankeny Dance; she started dancing
here when she was only three years old. Leah studied diligently and became a member of our Star Dancers for several
years, where she learned the rigors of competitions and precision dancing with a group of skilled performers.
While still in high school, Leah student taught in the studio and went
on to become a substitute dance instructor in our 2007-2008 program. After graduating from Ankeny High School in 2005, Leah
went on to take dance classes at Iowa State while working toward her major of English Education and English as a second language.
She enjoys the thrill of performing on stage and has danced in the Nutcracker Ballet in Ames.
Leah loves to dance and to teach others to dance. She says that dance is much more than
just a performance art. It teaches a person discipline, respect for one's self and for others, and self-control, patience,
determination, and confidence. We're confident that Leah will bring a great combination of teaching and performance experience
to help your student make the most of their opportunity and abilities!
Ms.
Ashley Stephenson: Instructor Ashley
Stephenson has been studying dance since she was a little girl, and enjoys teaching dance as much as she likes
to perform. Ms. Ashley studied dance for 14 years and performed and competed in all styles of dance. She worked
first as an assistant teacher and then an instructor at Robert Thomas dance studio in Ames for three years, and
performed twice in the Nutcracker Ballet at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Back in high school, she used her knowledge of dance
to start a dance team at her school, not only performing but also choreographing their routines. She has studied under the
renouned urban hip hop instructor and choreographer, Gino, and looks forward to sharing that expertise with her students at
Ankeny Dance.
As a mother of two young children, Ms. Ashley enjoys working with young people and knows how
to motivate them. Of course, it helps that her degree is in psychology and social work, which just might give her a little
better understanding into the working of young minds than most! She continues to train in dance and spent a week of intensive
training for all styles of dance instruction at Disneyworld in Florida.
Ms. Ashley is returning for her second year of teaching at Ankeny Dance and we're happy she's
part of our team of professional instructors. We know your student will
enjoy Ashley's enthusiasm and level of expertise and we're thrilled she's back here at Ankeny Dance to teach for us again
this year!
Miss Tiffany N. Rudd: Instructor
Tiffany Rudd graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from
the University of Northern Iowa, and with minors in both dance and theater arts she understands the importance of becoming
a well-rounded, triple-threat performer. As a student, her achievements placed her on the Dean's list for seven semesters
and she graduated with a 4.0 GPA at UNI. As a dancer and member of the Orchesis Dance Company she performed, choreographed,
designed costumes and lighting, and worked as a stage manager.
Miss
Tiffany also instructs students in dance at Simpson College as a member of the Liberal Arts College Theater Department. She
works as the staff costume designer and costume studio supervisor at Simpson College, in addition to her duties as a dance
instructor and choreographer.
Miss Tiffany brings a bright and
enthusiastic attitude to her classes and she's looking forward to working with her students at Ankeny Dance. She describes
herself not just as an instructor, but as a dedicated student of dance for more than two decades. We're happy to have Miss.
Tiffany here and we know you'll enjoy her fresh insight and spirit!
