Meet our dance instructors.
Welcome to the family.
We can’t wait to have you in class!
Raena Rasmussen
Owner & Instructor
Raena K. Rasmussen was put into dance at a very early age due to her “incredible force of energy,” as her mother has said. Today, she still has that incredible enthusiasm for life. She loves to spread joy throughout the world, and you can feel her love for children and dance in all she does.
Raena received her degree in dance with emphases in choreography, teaching, and performance. She has studied under many renowned choreographers and has lived In Bali, New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other cities.
Raena opened Balleraena Dance Studio in 2001, which is now in its third location. Along with Balleraena, she currently runs LiRa Dance Theatre Company with partner Lisa Conlin, Meraki Dance Competition and Convention, and Miracles in Motion with Bob Holm, where they create music and dance for the community and give back to organizations dear to their hearts.
Raena is married to her eighth-grade soulmate, Aaron, and has three children: Bentley, Paris, and Summit. When Raena is not dancing (which is not very often), you can find her hiking mountains all over the globe or eating ice cream.
Email: balleraenadance@gmail.com
Classes: All styles
Available for private lessons: Yes!
Alex Mentele
Instructor
Alex has been dancing at Balleraena since she was two years old and has been a part of the team and company at Balleraena while in high school. Alex was also a member and captain of the O’Gorman dance team. She has a love for all things dance but especially loves jazz.
Alex is currently a student at Augustana University studying biology on the premed track. Alex also loves yoga and is a certified instructor.
Email: alexmentele@gmail.com
Classes: Pom, jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary
Available for private lessons: Yes!
Amy Hofer
Instructor
Amy Shaeffer (Hofer) studied classical ballet in Sioux Falls with Martha Peterson, Judith Szakats, and Carolyn Westphal. She continued her training at the Boston Ballet School and with Terry and David Shields in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she also studied modern dance with Julie Ince-Thompson and jazz with Adrienne Hawkins and John DeLuca. After returning to South Dakota, Amy attended the University of South Dakota as a Fine Arts/Dance major. Over the years, she has attended numerous dance intensives as both student and teacher, working with many world-renowned instructors.
Amy has played a pioneering role in worship dance ministry in many Sioux Falls area churches and throughout the Midwest since 1991 and has developed worship dance curricula for dancers of all ages. She has taught at the Northern Plains CCA Seminar and in several studios across South Dakota and Iowa. Since 2015, she has also served as ballet instructor for several world-champion competitive dance teams.
Amy is certified in Pilates mats technique and has completed Cecchetti teaching certification through the student grade levels. She has extensive expertise in pointe work and has developed pre-pointe through advanced pointe curricula emphasizing strength, alignment, and proper technique.
Amy is available for private lessons in any of the above disciplines as well as classical ballet variation preparation for competitions such as the Universal Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix.
Email: classicalballet2222@gmail.com
Classes: Ballet, pointe, adult ballet, adult pointe
Available for private lessons: Yes!
Anna Pyle
Instructor
Hi, my name is Anna Pyle. I am currently attending Augustana University as a nursing major! I have participated in dance for about 12 years. The first 8 years at Core Kinetics in Huron, SD where I grew up and the last 4 years at Balleraena Dance Studio. Even though I love all types of dance, I would say my favorite is either ballet or lyrical! Some things I like to do in my free time are spending time with family and friends, reading a good book, and working out at AMT right next door!
Email: Coming soon!
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming soon!
Ashlee Simonson
Instructor
Ashlee grew up in the suburbs of Denver and started both dance and gymnastics at the age of three.
While captain of her high school dance team, she competed in the 5A Division State Competition, taking home third place. Later that season, the team placed second in the small pom category at the National Dance Association National Competition in Orlando, Florida. Ashlee continued her dance career at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs and was captain of the dance team her freshman year. She also spent a year with U. Dance at the University of South Dakota while her husband attended medical school.
Ashlee has been a part of the LiRa Dance Theatre Company since 2015 and is excited to be able to continue dancing and teaching with Balleraena Dance Studio. She loves spending time with her husband, daughters, and their fluffy golden retriever Winston.
Email: balleraena.ashlee@gmail.com
Classes: Pre-School Ballet, Tap, Jazz, AcroDance (Levels Pre-School to Level 8) and Contortion
Available for private lessons: Yes!
Diem Anderson
Instructor
Hi! My name is Diem Anderson and I am 16 years old. I did regular dance for a few years before I found Irish dance at 8. Through my time dancing Irish I went to regionals and got to the highest level at only 11 years old in 2019. I am excited for the opportunity to teach kids something that was so important to me for so long!
Email: Coming Soon!
Classes: Coming Soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming Soon!
Elliana Marlier
Instructor
Originally from Minnesota, Elliana began her training with Premiere Dance Academy and later furthered her training by attending Ballet Royale Minnesota, where she performed with The Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota. Elliana received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance performance from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College. While there, she had the opportunity to study with notable faculty such as Linda Celeste Sims, Bettijane Sills, Martin Løfsnes, Jean Freebury, Doug Varone, and Kevin Wynn, as well as artists from Urban Bush Women, Martha Graham Dance Company, José Limón Dance Company, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Batsheva Dance Company. Elliana has performed in works by Mary Anthony, Cain Coleman, Jordan Pelleteri, Madeleine Scott, and Blake Krapels, among others. She has also been featured in multiple short films, including student-produced film projects at Purchase College and a promotional video for Mugler. She is currently working as a freelance dancer while conducting movement research for a new project and teaching in Sioux Falls.
Email: ellianamarlierofficial@gmail.com
Classes: Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Leaps Jumps & Turns, and Pointe
Available for private lessons: Yes!
Hannah Hetland
Instructor
Hannah is a choreographer, performer, and dance educator based in South Dakota. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Spanish with a minor in Dance from South Dakota State University, where she studied choreography, dance pedagogy, movement theory, and creative movement.
She has served as a choreographer for the Prairie Repertory Theatre and The Premiere Playhouse and has choreographed for competitive show choirs in the Sioux Falls and Harrisburg areas. She has also worked as Assistant Dance Coach for Brookings High School's competitive dance team and has choreographed for university dance concerts, musical theatre productions, and student organizations.
As a performer Hannah has appeared in regional theatre, university productions, and concert dance performances. She has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, and pom, bringing a strong technical foundation and adaptable style to both the stage and the rehearsal room, with her favorite styles being contemporary, musical theatre, and jazz.
Outside of dance, Hannah is a certified group fitness instructor and enjoys teaching cycling and strength classes.
Email: Coming soon!
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming soon!
Hannah Wollenzien
Instructor
Hannah Wollenzien grew up dancing in multiple cities in Minnesota and North Dakota. She started dancing at age 3 and has not stopped!
Hannah received intensive ballet training from Dr. Rinat Mousafarov at the Rinat Mousafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre in Minot, ND. After graduating high school, Hannah moved to Moorhead, MN and earned a Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, and neuroscience at Concordia College. While in college, she danced as a member of the Fargo/Moorhead Ballet Company. After graduating, Hannah moved to Sioux Falls for graduate studies, and completed a PhD in basic biomedical sciences. While she was in graduate school, she met Raena and became a member of LiRa Dance Theatre Company and occasionally taught classes at Ballaraena. Following her PhD work at USD, Hannah and her husband Jordan moved to Richmond, VA where she completed a fellowship in clinical laboratory genetics and genomics. Hannah and Jordan moved back to Sioux Falls in 2024 and she has again become an active member of the Sioux Falls dance community, dancing with LiRa, Conlin Choreography, and the Move to Heal Dance Collective.
Hannah is board-certified in laboratory genetics and genomics and currently works remotely as a laboratory director for Quest Diagnostics (San Juan Capistrano, CA). She is a life long learner and enjoys taking dance classes of all styles. When she is not working or dancing, Hannah enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with family.
Classes: Coming soon!
Jayda Jackson
Instructor
Coming soon!
Email: Coming soon!
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming soon!
Julie Dziedzic
Instructor
Coming soon!
Email: Jules42573@gmail.com
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Yes!
Kade Evans
Instructor
Coming soon!
Email: Coming soon!
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming soon!
Kristen Jost
Instructor
Kristen Jost is a lifelong dancer who trained at the Turning Pointe School for Performing Arts in St. Clair Shores, Michigan with focus in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. Kristen continued dancing in college and was co-director of Frelon Dance Company at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After college, she went on to become a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation and is currently employed at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Since 2018 she has been a ballet, pointe, and tap teacher at Balleraena Dance Studio (with a few interruptions for her two children, Mila and Otto). In addition to choreographing competition dances, she has also been a guest artist at Meraki Dance Competition and Convention. She was a member of LiRa Dance Theatre Company for five years and now is excited to be a part of both RR Dance Collective and Conlin Choreography & Collaborators.
Kristen loves that she can continue her passion for dance through teaching, learning, and performing, alongside her rewarding career and amazing family.
Classes: Ballet, pointe, tap
Kristyn Johnson
Instructor
I have extensive experience teaching, choreographing, and dancing in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, lyrical, pom, hip-hop, and musical theatre. My background includes competitive studio training, collegiate dance team experience, pre-professional company work, and university-level dance training. I have taught a wide range of ages and styles, worked with competition teams, choreographed for high school dance programs, and led dance master classes. As an instructor, I focus on building strong technical foundations, performance quality, confidence, discipline, and a supportive classroom environment where dancers feel motivated to grow.
Email: Coming soon!
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming soon!
Leila Trigg
Instructor
Leila Trigg grew up in Hawarden, Iowa, where her love for dance first began. At 14, she made the exciting move to Texas to pursue intense training at the Joffrey Ballet School! Since graduating, she has been fortunate to work with incredible organizations, including South Dakota Ballet, Cirque du Soleil, GagaLab, and more! Each of which has inspired her growth as both a performer and teacher. I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned and creating a positive, encouraging environment for all artists. I am so excited to work with your dancers this year and can’t wait to see you all in the studio very
Email: leilatrigg@gmail.com
Classes: Ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, pointe, tap, technique
Available for private lessons: Yes!
Rachel Spinks
Instructor
Coming soon!
Email: Coming soon!
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming soon!
Tali Curry
Instructor
Coming soon!
Email: Coming soon!
Classes: Coming soon!
Available for private lessons: Coming soon!
Thomas Nguyen
Instructor
Thomas Tu Nguyen is an award-winning choreographer, coach, educator, judge, and performer with more than a decade of experience in competitive dance. A three-time Dance Worlds Champion, Thomas earned World titles in All Male Hip Hop (2014) and Open Coed Jazz (2020, 2021), establishing himself as both a dynamic performer and innovative choreographer. He is also a USASF Certified Coach committed to developing technically strong, confident, and well-rounded athletes.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in French Studies with a minor in Dance from South Dakota State University. Throughout his career, he has coached high school and all-star dance teams, taught dancers of all ages, and created award-winning choreography across Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom, Lyrical, and Contemporary. Since 2016, he has served as a dance instructor at Balleraena Dance Studio, where he teaches a variety of styles and technique classes while mentoring dancers throughout their training. Thomas continues to pursue his own growth as an artist by actively competing as a soloist and duo performer at regional and national competitions, earning top placements and awards.
Since 2020, Thomas has served as both Head Coach and Assistant Coach at Dynamic Dance, working with Mini, Youth, Junior, and Senior competitive teams while teaching Hip Hop and Tricks classes. His choreography has contributed to nationally recognized routines, including a 2024 Youth Lyrical Grand Championship title and successful competitive placements. Recently, Thomas has accepted and started coaching as the Assistant Spirit Coach (Dance) at Augustana University. In addition to coaching and choreography, Thomas assists with competition videography and creates engaging social media content to showcase team achievements.
As a contracted choreographer with Bre Choreography since 2023, Thomas travels throughout the United States creating competitive routines and providing educational experiences for varsity high school dance teams and dance studios. Specializing in Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom, and Lyrical, he collaborates with local, national, and international programs to develop innovative choreography and elevate team performance. His work with high school programs has helped create historic milestones, including Harrisburg High School Dance Team earning two State Runner-Up finishes—the first in program history—and South Lyon East JV Dance Team qualifying for UDA Finals for the first time in program history with his Jazz choreography. Most recently, Thomas expanded his international experience by serving as a judge for an international dance competition in Europe.
Beyond coaching and choreography, Thomas is passionate about using dance to strengthen communities. His choreographed performances for Dancing with the Sioux Falls Stars, a fundraiser supporting mental health initiatives, earned the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy in both 2018 and 2023. Whether performing on stage, teaching in the studio, judging on the international stage, or creating championship-caliber routines, Thomas strives to inspire dancers through creativity, excellence, and a genuine passion for the art of dance.
Email: tnguyen_dance@icloud.com
Classes: Lyrical, contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, jazz funk
Available for private lessons: Yes!