Ironwood Dance Company, Inc.

Instructors

	Margaret Grachek President, Director and Instructor for IDC. Margaret has 25 years of training in aerobic dance, aqua exercise, country/ballroom, ballet, jazz/lyrical and tap. She has been fortunate to train with some of the world’s highly respected artists such as Al Gilbert and Kathy Roe; also with master instructors for Star of the Northland, Manhattan Dance Project, Dance Olympus, LADF, Show Stoppers and JUMP/Break The Floor. Margaret works hard to provide the northland with the most technical and up to date dance information and choreography. She and her husband (Mark) have successfully competed in country dance. She is excited to share all her knowledge and training with her students; to make them better dancers. Margaret appreciates the area’s strong support for the arts.
	Joan Movrich is our Hip Hop/Funk instructor. Hardworking and energetic, Joan is one of those people you like to be around. Joan has been teaching aerobics since 1992 and is a certified AFAA instructor. Her background includes DJ work on the radio and in clubs. Joan has taken specialty classes in dance, choreography and funk. She also attended a special tap workshop with Michelle Gustafson and a funk workshop with Sean Debidin. On her long list of assets is a great sense of rhythm and excellent musical knowledge. Joan is our Funk I, Funk IV and Competition Funk instructor.
	Nancy Ramsay has been involved in many forms of the arts for the past 10 years (painting, sculpture, pottery and dance. She has 19 years of experience working with young children. As a volunteer, she has brought pottery classes to the elementary schools in the area. Nancy teaches the Creative Movement/Pre-Ballet and the Pre-Ballet/Tiny Tap classes while taking tap with the adults. Nancy loves working with small children, as she brings their creative, energetic spirit alive.
	Amber Hollenbeck brings a wealth of experience and energy to IDC. An instructor for IDC for nine years. She has spent time studying ballet with the Marquette Dance and American Dance Theatre of Duluth and the St Louis City Ballet. Amber received additional training under numerous master dance instructors in workshops such as Showstoppers, and Break the Floor. She recently completed a jazz and lyrical workshop with the Judy Peterson School of Dance out of Wausau, Wi. Amber has choreographed for many community events including parades, musicals, local show choir, church dramas and sacred dance presentations. She teaches our Ballet III/IV, Pointe, Lyrical III and Jazz III/IV classes.
	Becky Bogaczyk loves to dance. She brings a wide variety of dance experience and enthusiasm to the class room. Starting with baton and hula lessons, as a youngster Becky continued to dance; on dance teams, as a cheerleader, in musicals and as a University of Wisconsin pom pom girl (choreographer and captain). She has taken belly dancing lessons, taught aerobic classes and now is an instructor for the Adult Tap II class. She is a dancer with the Claudettes.
	Karen Mallum debuted as a dancer 7 years ago when she performed an Irish style duet with her son, Matthew, at the Ironwood Dance Company spring recital. Since then she has been dancing tap and instructing the Adult Tap II class. She is interested in all types of “percussive” dance, and likes to experiment with mixing different styles of dance. Karen has been co-instructing the adult tappers with her partner-in-dance, Becky Bogaczyk. Karen is also one of the Claudettes dancers.
	Jennifer Markowski is going into her 3 year teaching for IDC. She has been dancing for 12 years competing in many dance competitions. Her favorite dance style is Hip Hop and Funk. Jennifer is excited to to be teaching the Funk IV and Competition Funk classes this year. She loves working with kids and is looking forward to sharing her dance techniques and style with them.
	Cheyenne O'Brien will be attending Gogebic Community College this fall in their nursing program. She has been with the Ironwood Dance Company for the past twelve years. Dancing in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, and also Tap. Cheyenne has participated in many dance competitions along with being active in pageants across the United States such as Minnesota, California, Tennesse, and Detroit, Michigan. She is proud to say that she has had great success. She is very excited to be teaching for IDC this coming season for the Lyrical III and Lyrical IV classes.
	Jamie Hinds is a creative and energetic individual with an enormous passion for dance. She has danced for 10 years taking classes in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe and funk. Jamie has a natural rhythm and poise and is excited to share her experience and ideas with her students. She is going into her second year at Gogebic Community College and is hoping to transfer to Hope College to pursue a career in dance education. Jamie will be teaching our Ballet III/Pre-Pointe and Ballet IV classes.
	Taylor Stella is going into her sophomore year at Hurley k-12 School. This is her 12th year dancing with IDC. She has studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Hip hop/Funk. Taylor attends several conventions throughout the year studying with nationally known instructors and was given a scholarship at the Pulse from Brian Friedman, a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance. She hopes to expand and compete in larger national competitions this year. She was invited back to the Capital One Bowl this year at the Spring Fling competition in Superior for her "outstanding solo" award. This year she will be teaching Funk III and Jazz III classes.
	Alycia Heckathorn is a senior at Ironwood High School. This is her 13th year dancing with Ironwood Dance Company. She has taken classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Lyrical. If anything has ever the slightest bit of dance in it, you can count on her being there. She is active in the theatre community and loves to perform. She is very excited to be teaching the Ballet II class this year.
	Tiffany Erickson is going into her first year at Gogebic Community College. She has been with the dance company for 11 years and has taken ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pointe. Tiffany is looking forward to teaching the Jazz II and Jazz IV classes this year with the hopes of taking those classes to competitions and conventions.
	Bethany Hellen joins IDC this year in teaching the Tap I, II and III classes. She is a Al Gilbert Level V tapper with lots of great ideas up her sleeve to share with all her students. Bethany has a background in ballet and jazz, but her main focus has always been tap. She was also involved in technique and competition line classes during high school, and participated in workshops and competitions. Bethany's goal in teaching is to try to revive tap and get more students interested in joining. She is also trying to learn the art of break dancing and hip-hop in hopes of teaching related classes in the future.
	Jennifer Slavin is going into her senior year at Hurley High School. This is her 11^th year dancing with Ironwood Dance Company. She has taken classes in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, and Jazz. Jennifer has participated in many dance competitions and has also been to workshops such as Showstoppers. Jennifer is also active in cheerleading at her school. She is excited to be an instructor for IDC and is looking forward to teaching a Lyrical II class this coming dance season.
	Alyssa Kitzman is a student at Gogebic Community College in their nursing program. She is a compassionate individual that enjoys working with students. Making a difference in their lives is important to her. Alyssa attended the University of Wisconsin Superior for the past two years for Pre Med. She was a dance assistant and instructor for Just For Kix in Superior. Alyssa is very excited to be back in the area and looking forward to sharing her dance experience with her students. She will be the instructor for the Tuesday Funk II/A class.