The Dancer’s EDGE Instructors & Staff

 

The Instructors:

(Hover over any picture to see
a short bio)

Lauren has been dancing at The Dancer’s EDGE since the age of six. Throughout the years, she has been a member of Company for eight years and an EDGE Assistant for the past four years. She is a student at Kirkwood Community College, currently studying Dental Hygiene. She is excited to continue her journey in dance and begin a new journey in teaching!

Emily Jasper is from Woodridge, Illinois and currently resides in Marion, Iowa. She grew up dancing at Dance Dimensions, Xtreme Dance Force, and on her high school dance team where she focused on ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. After high school she attended the University of Iowa where she studied Sociology and Dance. She was also a part of the University of Iowa’s Dance Team for 4 years. She was a Chicago Bulls Luvabulls dancer for five seasons where she was honored to be chosen as a Squad Captain during her 2021-2022 season and Dance Captain during her 2022-2023 season. During her time with the Chicago Bulls Luvabulls, Emily was able to perform with several big-name artists, at the All-Star Games, and at Lollapalooza! Emily is the owner of The Dancer's Vision, LLC and continues her love for dance by training and choreographing for various studios, high school dance teams, and college dance teams across the country. She is excited to be back on the TDE staff!

Matthew is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania. He received his early training from Sharon Filone at the Lake Erie Ballet School and Sandra Little at Little's Dance Studio. Matthew went on to study on full scholarship at North Carolina School of the Arts, Miami City Ballet School, and the Chautauqua Festival Dancers. He danced professionally for 24 years with companies such as Ohio Ballet, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Lake Erie Ballet, Ballet Vero Beach, Omaha Theatre Ballet, and American Midwest Ballet. Matthew has appeared as a guest artist with Hawaii Ballet Theatre, Neglia Ballet, and Ballet Tucson. His 30 years of teaching experience have included being on the faculties of schools such as the Lake Erie Ballet School, Walnut Hill School, and Omaha Theatre Ballet School. Matthew was co-owner/director of Motion41 Dance in Nebraska for 10 years, was a guest lecturer on Dance History at Gannon University and was a frequent guest ballet instructor at Mercyhurst University. He has performed in more than 10 countries, including numerous tour dates in Japan, the Peacock Theater in London, the Teatro Carreno in Venezuela, and the International Ballet Festival in Nervi, Italy. Matthew premiered his own original version of "Swan Lake" with Ballet Nebraska in 2016, was awarded an O.A.E. for his performance as Albrecht in "Giselle," and was selected by the late Ann Reinking to dance the role of Bob Fosse in her tribute piece, "In the Style of Bob Fosse."

Leandro is a dancer, choreographer, and hip-hop/street dance instructor with over 8 years of experience, hailing from Argentina. He has been recognized as a national and international champion in prestigious choreographic competitions including "Hip Hop International," "World of Dance," "Danza tu Danza," and "Universal Dance." His dance journey commenced in 2013, and since then, he has mastered various styles such as hip hop, commercial, house, popping, locking, Afro, contemporary, jazz, among others.

Megan began dancing at The Dancer’s EDGE when she was 3. Since then, she has been part of the Entourage, Company, and ProCo programs and is currently in ProCo Senior. Megan has been an EDGE Assistant for the past 4 years and is looking forward co-teaching classes. She is a junior at Kennedy High School and is also on the Kennedy Dance Team. Outside of dance, Megan enjoys taking Pilates classes and working as a lifeguard. She is so excited to join the EDGY team and start this new chapter!

Nichole began dancing at the age of 5 and started teaching her own classes when she was in high school. She attended the University of Iowa where she earned a B.A. in Dance and was a member and captain of the nationally ranked Iowa Dance Team. Upon …

Nichole began dancing at the age of 5 and started teaching her own classes when she was in high school. She attended the University of Iowa where she earned a B.A. in Dance and was a member and captain of the nationally ranked Iowa Dance Team. Upon graduating from Iowa Nichole moved to Los Angeles where she taught at several studios throughout the area and also coached a nationally competitive high school dance team. While living in L.A. she also had the opportunity to train with some of the countries most sought after instructors at studios such as Millennium Dance Complex and the Edge Performing Arts Center. After a couple of years in L.A., she returned to Cedar Rapids and began teaching at the EDGE as well as continued working as a dance team coach and choreographer. Over the years Nichole has performed with several Eastern Iowa companies including Theater Cedar Rapids, The Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, and has been a Spanish Dancer in the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Her choreography has won numerous awards at both dance team and dance studio competitions throughout the midwest.

Miss Lexi started dancing 9 years ago and joined The Dancer’s EDGE the following year. She has been in Company since 2014 and has been in Pro-Co since 2017. Miss Lexi has also been a teachers assistant for the past 4 years and loves to work with kid…

Miss Lexi started as a student at the EDGE in 2012 and was a member of Company and ProCo until she graduated in 2022. Miss Lexi was an EDGE Assistant for 5 years before she started teaching her own classes in 2019. She has been heavily involved in the studio, from working birthday parties and camps to performing in The Nutcracker as a mouse, Clara, Snow Queen, and more! Miss Lexi graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in neuroscience in May. Miss Lexi is so excited to teach again this year!

I began dancing at The Dancer’s EDGE in 2011 at the age of 3. Throughout my time, I was been part of Company, ProCo, and was an EDGE Assistant. I am a student at Mount Mercy University, studying elementary education and am a part of their dance team.  I am so excited to begin this new chapter and can’t wait to begin teaching!

Carol received her early dance training in Cedar Rapids from Dieman-Bennett dancer Linda Earley. She earned her BFA with honors in dance performance from The University of Iowa and MFA in dance directing from The Ohio State University. She is a cert…

Carol received her early dance training in Cedar Rapids from Dieman-Bennett dancer Linda Earley. She earned her BFA with honors in dance performance from The University of Iowa and MFA in dance directing from The Ohio State University. She is a certified teacher of Labanotation (dance notation) and director from Labanotation scores, and is a member of the Dance Notation Bureau and the International Council of Kinetography Laban. Carol is the dance instructor in the theatre department at Coe College and has choreographed extensively for theatre productions in the Cedar Rapids area. Carol’s ballet students have attended such programs as the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive and Joffrey Ballet Chicago's International Summer Dance Intensive, competed at the Youth America Grand Prix and the Universal Ballet Competition, and performed as apprentices/trainees with companies such as Charleston Ballet Theatre, North Carolina Dance Theatre/Charlotte Ballet and BalletMet Columbus, and as members of Milwaukee Ballet II and Portland Festival Ballet. Carol teaches ballet at The Dancer's EDGE as an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 & Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

Carol Maxwell Rezabek
carol@dancersedgeonline.com

Matt Shea is a Cedar Rapids native. He began dancing at the age of 3. He continued his training from many various studios in the Cedar Rapids area. He attended the University of Iowa under the direction of Linda Crist, Jeffrey Bullock, David Berkley…

Matt Shea is a Cedar Rapids native. He began dancing at the age of 3. He continued his training from many various studios in the Cedar Rapids area. He attended the University of Iowa under the direction of Linda Crist, Jeffrey Bullock, David Berkley, & Alan Sener. He found his love of teaching through local theater & dance studios. He has over 20 years of experience teaching. Many of his students have gone on to collegiate dance programs/teams, danced for the NBA/NFL, & many have gone on to become dance instructors themselves. Matt enjoys pushing his students to help reach their full potential.

Charlie is Cedar Rapids native and co-founded The Dancer's EDGE with his wife Stephanie in 2008. He has been dancing for over 30 years and instructs Tap, Hip Hop and Tinies classes at the studio in addition to directing the studio's competition team, The Dancer's EDGE Company. He graduated from the University of Iowa after having studied Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management and also holds a Minor in Vocal Music Performance from Cornell College. Charlie’s choreography has won numerous Grand Championship, Most Entertaining, and Best Choreography honors throughout the country, including a 2016 Industry Dance Award. He has an infectious passion for teaching and feels most at home when he's in the classroom acting like a big kid amongst his students. When Charlie isn’t dancing, he enjoys detailing his car to an insanely nerdy level, playing with his adorable puppies, traveling, and spending time with his wife and family.

Rebecca Weger grew up training in North Carolina, South Carolina, and many areas of Virginia. Her dance and scholastic studies carried her to Point Park University, in Pittsburgh, PA, where she studied on both dance and academic scholarships, gradua…

Rebecca Weger grew up training in North Carolina, South Carolina, and many areas of Virginia. Her dance and scholastic studies carried her to Point Park University, in Pittsburgh, PA, where she studied on both dance and academic scholarships, graduating Magna Cum Laude, with a B.A. in Dance Performance and then to Virginia Commonwealth University where she graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration. During her career she has had the opportunity to study many dance styles and techniques. These studies have allowed her to work with many esteemed teachers and choreographers such as Alan Hineline, Mark Diamond, Gabriel Otevril and Elie Lazar. She has completed The Royal Ballet School’s Teacher’s Seminar and holds her Pilates Mat certification. Rebecca has taught at the Myles Reif Performing Arts Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota; for the School of Richmond Ballet in Richmond, Virginia; and as the Ballet Mistress for the Southwest Virginia Ballet, Virginia’s pre-professional dance company.

Miss Maddie started at The Dancer’s EDGE the year we opened in 2008 as a Tiny Dancer! She joined Company in 2012 and found her love for working with students in 2015 when she began as an EDGE Assistant. Miss Maddie quickly learned her passion for teaching and began her role as an instructor in 2018. Hip Hop has always been Miss Maddie’s favorite genre! Since graduating high school in 2020, she’s started studying elementary and middle school education at the University of Iowa. Miss Maddie is so excited to begin teaching again after spending Fall 2023 living in Oslo, Norway exploring education through a study abroad program. Miss Maddie loves to travel, but she knows there is nowhere quite like TDE! 

Carsynn began dancing at The Dancer’s EDGE when she was 4, and she was a member of the Entourage, Company, and ProCo teams, as well as a Prairie Dance Team. She started as an EDGE Assistant at age 12 and is excited to start her second year teaching her own classes. She is going to be a freshman at University of Iowa where she will be majoring in Human Physiology. 

Taryn has been dancing at The Dancer’s EDGE since she was six. She is going into her tenth year of Company and her seventh year of ProCo, in addition to her junior year on the Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School Dance Team. She has been an EDGE assistant since 2022. Outside of dance, Taryn is the social media manager of Kennedy’s student-led news program “Torch”. She is so excited to start co-teaching this school year, and can’t wait to begin this new chapter! 

McKinzie grew up dancing at TDE since she was 3. She started as an EDGE Assistant at age 12 and later started teaching at 15. She was a member of Company and ProCo until she graduated in 2025. McKinzie was the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She enjoys leading birthday parties and loves working with her students! She is going to be a sophomore at the University of Iowa, studying health sciences on the pre PA track.  She is excited for another season! 

A native of Cedar Rapids, Stephanie has been dancing for over 25 years. She attended CR Washington High School and enjoyed participating in competitive dance, show choir, and theatre growing up. She was awarded the prestigious Presidential Scholarsh…

A native of Cedar Rapids, Stephanie has been dancing for over 25 years. She attended CR Washington High School and enjoyed participating in competitive dance, show choir, and theatre growing up. She was awarded the prestigious Presidential Scholarship to attend the University of Iowa and was named one of the Tippie College of Business "21 Best Students Under 21”. She graduated with honors from the University of Iowa after studying Finance, Actuarial Science, Entrepreneurship, and Dance. While at UI, she had the pleasure of taking class from some of the nation’s best dance instructors. After graduation, she began working in Corporate Finance for an insurance company, until transitioning to full-time work at The Dancer's EDGE in 2017.

Stephanie is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She teaches Ballet, Lyrical/Contemporary, and Tinies classes, in addition to co-directing the Company. Her choreography has won many top honors, including a 2016 Industry Dance Award. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and takes great pride in watching them grow into confident, professional young adults. When not dancing, Stephanie enjoys reading, puppy snuggles, and spending time with Charlie, friends, and family.

 
 
 
 
 

Admin & Support Staff:

(Hover over any picture to see
a short bio)

Andrea started dancing at the age of five and continued dancing on her high school and college dance teams. She graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Elementary Education and was a teacher for 16 years. As the Office Manager, Andrea manages many behind the scenes tasks for The Dancer’s EDGE and The Early EDGE Preschool, such as parent communication, registration, and the organization of various projects and performances. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her girls dance, and traveling.

Andrea Hutchinson
andrea@dancersedgeonline.com

Katlyn began dancing at The Dancer's EDGE in 2008; throughout her time at the EDGE, she was involved with our Company Program and an EDGE Assistant. She graduated with a Finance degree from Iowa State University. Currently, she works as a Credit Ana…

Katlyn began dancing at The Dancer's EDGE in 2008; throughout her time at the EDGE, she was involved with our Company Program and was an EDGE Assistant. She graduated with a Finance degree from Iowa State University. She also works as Credit Training and Development Coordinator at GreatAmerica Bank. As our Office Manager, Katlyn coordinates our "behind the scenes" tasks, manages projects/events and helps our wonderful EDGY families with any questions they may encounter. In her spare time, she enjoys being outside, traveling, reading sappy romantic books and eating chocolate ice cream.

Rory began dancing at The Dancer’s EDGE in 2019 and has since been a member of the studio’s Entourage, Company, and ProCo teams. She is so excited to now be a part of the EDGY team! Rory is attending the University of Iowa with plans to major in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Outside of the studio, Rory loves spending time with her friends, family, and two kitties. Be sure and stop by the front desk Monday-Thursday to ask any questions and say hello!