meet our team

LAURA

Instructor

Laura has danced for over 35 years and has been a coach and choreographer in the competitive dance industry for over 20 years. She grew up dancing competitively in the Twin Cities at the former Butterfield Gallery of Dance in Maple Grove, MN. She trained primarily in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap and musical theater; and has traveled throughout the United States learning from the greats of the industry. In college, she spent her first two years as a dance major at the University of Minnesota, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Child Psychology. From there, Laura served as a coach, choreographer, and leader helping to design and administer a variety of programs with Fusion Dance (a nationally recognized program out of Red Wing, MN) for over 10 years. Her dances have won top awards in the competition circuit.

Laura’s basic philosophy is that technique never goes out of style! Beyond technique, Laura's class asks students to pull from their life experiences to heighten their level of performance. As each student learns the same choreography, they are presented with many ways to perform it. Laura keys on the individuality of each student and asks them to bring that uniqueness

to their routines. This is truly a valuable skill for any dancer, young or old, to realize. Further, being a child psychology graduate, Laura has found many interesting ways to help her students gain this skill.

Although most of Laura's time with dance has been choreographing and teaching, she has performed with Colleen McClelland’s dance troupe for a Red Wing Shoe Company industrial, as well as having featured roles in Judi Olson's dance companies, Ignite and Synergy, and with the American Heritage Dance Company under the direction of Maria Boscaino. Loving dance with all her heart, Laura has found a noble profession in teaching dance. She loves to perform but her true calling has been teaching and all the rewards that watching dancers grow has to offer.

MC

Instructor

Miss M.C. (Mary Cecile Smith), began dancing at Fusion Dance in Red Wing, MN and started competitively dancing at age 11. She trained in numerous styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, tap, hip hop, and heels. While training, she attended many dance conventions and workshops in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago and Kansas City, and received multiple scholarships from West Coast Dance Explosion and LADF.

After high school, Miss M.C. attended Minnesota State University Mankato, where she was a member of the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 dance team. Additionally, Miss M.C. received her Bachelors and Masters degree in Special Education from MSU-Mankato, and works currently as a licensed special education teacher in Pine Island, MN. Miss M.C. has taught at various studios within Minnesota and helped start/create the adaptive dance program at Fusion Dance.

jaden

Instructor

Jaden Kramer is an accomplished dancer with accolades such as Dancer of the Year, Winning numerous National Championships as Soloist and Company group competitor. He has trained and worked with many world renown choreographers. Jaden has had a very extensive dance career for more than 16 years and he is an amazing asset to team at Paradigm Dance Project.

KYLIE

Instructor

Kylie grew up dancing and training in a broad range of styles as a competitive dancer in the Minneapolis area, winning many top awards both regionally and nationally--including a national choreography award. As a young dancer, Kylie also guest performed with Cities Classical Ballet Ensemble at Fringe Festival, the Kenny Kiser Show, and ARENA DANCES. Graduating with honors from the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA), Kylie had the privilege to work with some of Minnesota’s finest dance artists and companies, such as BRKFST Dance Company, Threads Dance Project, TU Dance, and Shapiro & Smith Dance.

Kylie attended St. Olaf College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2023 with a double degree in Dance and Kinesiology with minors in Neuroscience and Media Studies. In her time at St. Olaf, she choreographed for and danced in Grammy artist Caliph’s live performance of Dummy, Synergy’s Concerto in D. Major, the Ole Tap Collective, St. Olaf’s production of Noye’s Fludde, and the 2022 and 2023 Company Dance Spring Concert, as well as guest performed with Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theatre. In addition to her studies at St. Olaf, Kylie lived in New York the winter of ‘23 where she trained at Broadway Dance Center, Steps Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre, American Tap Foundation, Alvin Ailey, Peridance, Gibney Dance, and Mark Morris. 

As a DPT student at Mayo clinic, Kylie is passionate about increasing awareness of safer training and injury prevention practices and holds certifications in Progressing Ballet Technique and Strength and Conditioning through the NSCA. She is excited to continue teaching, choreographing, and sharing the joy of dance at Paradigm!

KIRSTEN

Instructor

Kirsten began dancing at the age of 2 and found a lifelong passion. She grew up dancing in the Twin Cities and started dancing competitively at 8 years old at QC Studio of Dance and went on to compete in multiple lines between QC's two studios. Her training included all styles of dance; with tap and jazz as her favorites. Dance camps, conventions, parade unit, and competitive team captain of the competition lines kept her busy dancing year-round. Her teams won many regional and national titles. In high school she joined the Blaine Bengalettes dance team where she went on to be a varsity member, a head choreographer and captain While her team won multiple conference championships and finals finishes, she helped lead them to a second place finish in State in jazz her senior year. After high school she continued to take classes, attend camps, was the captain of a semi-professional football team's dance team, and began coaching at Blaine High School while earning her biology degree at the University of Minnesota. When she moved to Rochester to work at Mayo Clinic, she was lucky enough to teach various classes at Allegro School of Dance and Music and grew her love for the sport of dance team as the head coach of the Century High School competitive dance team for 12 years. She is currently finishing her master's degree in clinical counseling and looks forward to working as a child therapist.

Kirsten's dance specialties are teaching dancers to improve movement through body mechanics, creating dynamic choreography, and helping a group find their connection. Her favorite role is helping build teams and helping each dancer unlock their own potential to elevate their training and energy for performance. She loves teaching all ages from tiny tappers to seniors.

Dasha

Instructor

Dasha is a former US National Team rhythmic gymnast and competitive contemporary dancer with elite training and extensive experience.

Dasha began her athletic journey in Rhythmic Gymnastics at the age of 3. Throughout her career, she competed extensively across the United States, claiming numerous state and regional titles. She secured multiple USA Gymnastics Championship titles and won the Junior Olympics for several consecutive years. Alongside her gymnastics career, Dasha has been actively involved in dance, specializing in contemporary dance, ballet, and acrobatics.

Following her retirement, she has established a strong reputation among elite dancers as a teacher and coach, focusing on high-level instruction, professional training, discipline, and nurturing dancers' expertise to create the best environment for future success. She has continued to add to her many accolades as a teacher and choreographer, choreographing award-winning routines for YAGP and UBC competitions.

On the side, Dasha is a first-year graduate student at the Mayo Clinic, where she is pursuing a Master's degree in Physician Assistant studies. In her free time, she enjoys choreographing and improvising routines, and is passionate about sharing her expertise with future champions.

hailey

Instructor

Hailey is an accomplished dancer in training. She began dancing with us at the age of 4 and has trained consistently since that age in all styles of dance.

Hailey has won numerous scholarships and titles with companies such as Jump and Radix. Hailey was the recipient of Grand National Titles. She is currently an apprentice with Tremaine Company for the 2022 season and has been with them since 2018. As Hailey travels the country with Tremaine, she continues to learn from some of the best instructors in the world. We are fortunate to have Hailey with us at Paradigm.

alice

Instructor

Alice Chase is a Rochester native who has been dancing and celebrating her love of the arts since the ripe young age of two. She primarily trained at Allegro School of Dance & Music, honing her skills in choreography and every genre from ballet to hip-hop through her senior year of high school. During her high school career she not only trained classically, but found a love for the competition and the commercial world of dance.

Alice attended many national competitions and was selected to travel with Dance America Company as a junior faculty member, where she performed in cities all over the US and assisted workshops alongside world renowned choreographers. She then went on to pursue her BFA in Performing Arts (emphasis in Dance Theatre) at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles and New York City.There she studied the industry and all genres of dance, as well as took full time courses in film, writing, acting, vocal techniques, and musical theatre. In addition to her studies at AMDA, she had the opportunity to train bi-coastally at EDGE Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, Broadway Dance Center, The Playground LA, and Evolution Dance. Alice is passionate about all things dance and loves to teach dancers of all ages (particularly in the contemporary and jazz genres).