Tammi - Tammi has been an instructor at Woodbury Dance Center since 1996. Her focus at the studio is ballet instruction with our competitive lines ranging in ages 5 through teens.  A regional and national award winning choreographer, Tammi strives for a balance between traditional and innovative ballet choreography. " I strongly believe that ballet technique is the true foundation of all dance and I project that onto my students." Aside from teaching ballet, she also teaches dancers at the recreational level in various other styles, including: tap , jazz, lyrical, adult tap/jazz and hip hop. Tammi's two daughters, Audra and Margaux equally enjoy participating in dance at Woodbury Dance Center. " Woodbury Dance Center is a supportive, creative environment that has been home to my heart and career for more than a decade. I feel truly blessed to have been able to share my gift of dance with so many families over the years." Tammi started dancing at the age of 3 and attended an Arts High School for dance. She began teaching classes in 1988 at local Twin City studios, and has continued to instruct on a full time basis for more than 15 years. Outside of dance she enjoys being a Mom, and spending time with close friends and family.

Lea - Lea has been a student of dance for the last 32 years, and has been teaching for 19 years.  She started at WDC in 1997, and currently spends most of her time with competition dancers.  Lea has performed with professional ballet, contemporary dance, and musical theater companies, and has received numerous awards for her dancing, teaching, and choreography.  Lea attended the University of Minnesota with a dance scholarship, and graduated with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts Degree in Dance.  While attending U of M, she was a part of the University Dance Theater, performed at the American College Dance Festival several times, and was a member of the University of Minnesota Sprit Squad.  Lea has taught students of all ages and levels for studios, workshops, and high schools, as well as at both the University of North Dakota and Moorhead State University.  She has also spent a great deal of time teaching and choreographing for musical theater productions and competitive gymnastics.

Shelley - I've been teaching for WDC for the last 10 years. Im fortunate to be able to work for, and with some of the most wonderful people I know. I have 3 children, 2 of whom danced at WDC in competition for many years. That experience for them, enhanced their lives in many ways. It gave them confidence performing, they learned how important it is to work together in a group, and they made many special friends. Now I have the opportunity to bring that and more to all the kids I teach. I continue to take dance classes every week and really enjoy being "on the other side" for the time I am there.  "The soul is healed by being with children" Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Mikki - This is Mikki's 10th Dance Season teaching and choreographing at Woodbury Dance Center. She mainly teaches and choreographs for our competition students here at WDC, and teaches a few of our recreational classes. Her groups have won many regional and national titles such as Petite National Champions three years in a row, and she has received many choreography and performance awards for her work. Mikki started dancing herself when she was nine years old at Stage Door of Performing Arts in Coon Rapids, MN where she took class and performed choreography from some of the top chorographers and teachers in the nation. She continues her dance training at local studios, local workshops, as well as studios in Los Angeles to bring her students the most up to date choreography and technique. She was an Executive Director for The United Performing Associations for 10 years and continues to be their lead chorographer for their workshops and All Star Shows. Mikki has directed shows for UPA at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, on Carnival Cruise Lines, and in Mexico. She was also chosen as an UPA judge for their national cheer and dance competition in 2007. Mikki worked as a guest choreographer and judge for Kelle Company’s Dance Costume Catalogue in 2001,2003 and 2006. She also has been asked to do choreography and technique sessions for local high schools and college dance teams such as Egan High School, South Saint Paul High School, Winona State University, University of Minnesota-Duluth, and The University of Minnesota’s Premiere Team. Mikki graduated from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls in 2001 and has a B.S. Degree in business. Dance Continues to be her passion, and she comes to work each day hoping to inspire each student she works with. She strives to help each of her students reach their full potential in dance and in life.

Starla - Starla started her dance experience at the age of 6. She took lessons in anything that pertained to dance and often used those skills to perform at various school variety shows, confirmation projects at church as well as community plays. While attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Starla participated in a 3 month Study Abroad program where she produced an independent project comparing dance schools within the USA and ones in Germany (specifically Stuttgart, Germany). She was active in the Dance Theatre Company, drama, her sorority while attending college. Starla worked at a local dance school while attending UWRF and graduated with a Bachelor in Elementary Education and minors in Dance and Health Education. Starla taught 3-6th grade at Eisenhower Elementary School in Hopkins, MN upon graduation. While there she participated in a district wide Dance Initiative program and served as the dance instructor for that school along with her classroom assignments. She should have realized then that dance was to be forever in her future. Following her career as a classroom instructor, Starla went on to earn her Masters in Educational Administration and worked at numerous colleges and universities in their Student Activities/Leadership Development offices. She developed and supervised many leadership programs for students of all ages and backgrounds while working in Higher Education. All the while she was still serving as a guest choreographer for various community plays and dance schools as well as taking lessons herself. Starla’s passion for dance has never faltered and if anything she tries to lead by example. Currently she teaches in the mornings and coordinates the Studio’s Teacher Assistant program. She strives to encourage all of her students to do their best and reminds them weekly that they are “AMAZING!”

Maria -  Maria began dancing at the young age of four, began competing as a preteen, and began instructing as a young adult. As a student, she competed in tap, ballet, jazz, musical theater, acrobatic, pointe, and partnered styles of dance at Betty Hill Dance Studios of Des Moines, Iowa. As an adult, Maria not only instructed and choreographed dance numbers but also led a second career as a chemical engineer for 3M Company and later a product development manager for UnitedHealth Group in the Twin Cities. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a Master's in Business Administration. More recently, Maria has rededicated her life to creative arts as an instructor at Woodbury Dance Center teaching recreational dance from ages two through adult.

Erin - Erin has been dancing for over 20 years. She has assisted and taught at WDC for the past 10 years. Erin graduated with a psychology degree from the University of Minnesota where she was also a part of the dance program. She also received 6 years of ballet training from Marius Andahazy. She continues to take all types of dance classes as much as possible to keep up with the latest dance trends. Erin loves teaching all types of dance.  She teaches ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical to all different ages and levels of dance. Erin likes to incorporate ballet into all forms of dance, she feels as though it is the strong basis every dancer needs to succeed.   She currently teaches both recreational classes and competitions line students. Her competition dances have won numerous awards regionally and nationally.  She is passionate and energetic and sincerely cares about each student. She is also a developing choreographer and enjoys the challenge of thinking of new and exciting things to do in her classes. Her degree in psychology has helped her to make the classes she teaches productive and organized with an emphasis on positive behavior management. She looks forward to many more years of teaching dance to all ages and levels.

Cortney - Dancer technique, style and showmanship will excel as a student of Cortney! As a Twin Cities native, Cortney studied dance at Woodbury Dance Center and attended Perpich Center for Arts Education. Following graduation, she continued to develop her technique at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. In the Big Apple, she also danced professionally as part of industrial shows ("D.R.A.") and independent films ("Spelling Bee"). Soon thereafter, Cortney moved west studying at Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles as part of their professional dance program. While in Southern California, she was featured in The Carnival "Choreographer's Ball", a hot dance show by top professional choreographers in the video, music and film industry. She's returned to the Twin Cities to instruct competitive dancers in modern, lyrical, and jazz. Her current, hip style has earned numerous high point awards for soloists, small groups, and large groups.

Mary -  Mary has been assisting and teaching at WDC for the past three years.  She is currently pursuing a degree in communication studies at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.  Mary has an extensive background in cheerleading and pom and currently teaches and assists all of our pom competition lines.  She was a Minnesota Vikings All State High School Cheerleader and Stillwater High School Cheer Captain.  Mary has also taught several summer dance camps at WDC for dancers ages 3 to 6.  Her enthusiasm and positive personality has enhanced our summer dance program.

You'll love taking hip-hop from Amy Hoffman! Amy began studying dance at the young age of three attending 4th Street Dance Centre in White Bear Lake. There, she took tap, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop lessons for 15 years earning several awards as a competitive student. Upon graduation in June 2005, Amy moved to Illinois to instruct tap, jazz, and hip-hop at a family studio. Additionally, she choreographed award-winning small and large group productions in those styles. Now she's back and teaching hip-hop classes at local studios including Woodbury Dance Center and Lake Area Dance Center. Her hip-hop style is trendy, intricate, and most of all, fun considering she packs her classes full! Outside of dance, Amy is attending college and hopes to be a Bridal Consultant in the future. She is sure to keep your children challenged and entertained learning all the latest moves!