Staff
Aimee Ahnemann
Aimee has studied dance for over 25 years and has instructed ballet, modern, African, and liturgical dance classes and programs for all ages for over 10 years. She has a B.A. degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD and has taught in middle school and junior high classrooms for 10 years. She received her ballet training from Christine Kirk of K’Dance Studio in Sioux Falls, SD; Ballet Arts in Minneapolis, MN; and the Houston Ballet in Houston, TX. Aimee is continuing her dance education by pursuing her teacher’s certification in the Cecchetti Method and has recently passed her first teacher’s exam. She has also studied African dance with the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and the Repertory Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City, UT; and studied and performed modern dance with the Institute for Digital Performing Arts through the University of Texas and the National Dance Company in San Jose, Costa Rica. Aimee has had the opportunity to perform in several European countries and Taiwan, as a South Dakota Ambassador of Excellence; and most recently, she performed with the ELCA TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod’s Creative Expressions Liturgical Dance Ensemble.
Ashley Grantin
A native of Prairie du Sac, WI, Ashley has been dancing since she could walk. She trained at the Kehl school of dance in Madison, WI and danced with the Wisconsin Dance Ensemble, performing in various productions such as The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and La Fille Mal Gardee. Ashley received a scholarship to study dance at the University of Arizona. While there, she performed in numerous Dance Department Showcases and was a Student Choreographer. She also danced with the U of A Pomline, performing at Football and Basketball games and serving as team Captain. Her team competed at the USA Collegiate Dance Nationals, winning the National title in 2001. Ashley completed her studies at the University of Minnesota, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance in 2004. While there, she also was a Student Choreographer. Ashley currently dances with the Continental Ballet Company in Bloomington. Ashley has also danced professionally with Kanopy Dance Company, Jazzworks Dance Company, Milwaukee Brewers Diamond Dancers, and Madison Contemporary Vision Dance Company. While Ashley loves to perform, her true passion for dance is teaching. She has over 10 years of teaching experience at various studios in Arizona, Chicago, and the Madison area. In addition to teaching, Ashley also coached the University of Wisconsin Dance Team for two years. She spent the past six years teaching for her “Dance Family,” Kehl School of Dance in Madison, WI. She is excited to start a new adventure in the Twin Cities and to become a part of the “family” here at NDA.
Kristin Lauenstein
Kristin has instructed dance since 1993 in studios and dance companies throughout Minnesota & Wisconsin. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a B.B.A. Degree in Business Management & Entrepreneurship with a Minor in Dance, she has held many leadership positions within dance organizations throughout the Midwest, including President of the University of Wisconsin Concert Dance Company, Director of a non-profit dance company in Northfield, Minnesota, and now Owner/Director of Northfield Dance Academy (NDA), LLC. Her students have competed both locally and nationally and her works have won numerous “Overall High Point” awards in addition to awards for her choreography over the years. Kristin grew up dancing competitively and is trained in all styles of dance in addition to gymnastics and baton twirling. She continues her education by attending local dance classes and national workshops & conferences, such as the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, West Coast Dance Explosion, and teacher training conferences. Kristin believes in more than teaching dance. Through dance it is Kristin’s goal to instill self-confidence, time management skills, responsibility and the importance of physical activity in her students.
Erin Purcell
Erin has been studying dance for 23 years and has been teaching for nine. She studied at Kutztown University (Kutztown, PA) where she held the position of President of Performing Dance Portmanteau, the college dance company. Erin has been performing professionally for eight years; these include theme parks, industrial, regional theatre, national and international tours, including Curious George and Sesame Street Live. Erin has choreographed for competition teams, high schools college musicals, and Mrs. Pennsylvania contests. As a teacher she hopes to pass on her knowledge, but most importantly her love and passion for dance.
Dance has played such an integral role in molding me into who I am today. I have taken many life lessons and values learned from dance and have applied them in my daily life. I am not sure where I'd be today without the bundle of self- confidence, time management skills, responsibility, importance of physical activity gained from growing up with dance.
