Faculty & Staff

Dance Moves’ instructors are qualified adults with extensive training and experience in the dance world.

Laura McClanahan founded Dance Moves in 1992 and continues as the owner and artistic director. She graduated with a B.S. in dance from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Laura danced with several companies, including Peoria Ballet, Concert Dance Theater, and Dance Midwest and her teachers were with the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet and The Julliard. She is a qualified teacher with the Cecchetti Council of America and is one of the four CCA teachers in Minnesota. She has taught for over 25 years with many private studios as well as with the dance programs of several Colleges and Universities. Her training also includes Modern, Tap, Jazz, and Fitness/Pilates.

Laura Philpott teaches the Pilates/Conditioning classes in the Adult section and Tap and Jazz in the Performing Arts section. She has studied Tap and Jazz for many years and has done choreography for many high school dance groups and theater productions. She is also trained in Pilates and Fitness. She attended the University of Minnesota and is a legal secretary for State Farm Insurance. Laura is in her sixth year of teaching at Dance Moves. Laura’s daughter currently dances in the Performing Arts Program.

Kathy Miller brings a diverse knowledge of many styles of dance to her teaching. She will teach Tap and Jazz in the Performing Arts section and Theater Dance in the Adult section. She teaches for the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education program and has taught for several studios. She attended Anoka-Ramsey Community College and St. Cloud State University.

Susan DeLange joins us for the second year at Dance Moves.  She has retired from many years of owning her own studio in Roseville. Susan is the other recognized and certified Cecchetti teacher in Minnesota having passed through the professional level. She will be teaching some of the higher levels in the Performing Arts Program.

Penelope Freeh is a dancer with the James Sewell Ballet in Minneapolis. Originally from Ohio, Penny relocated to Minneapolis from New York City in 1994. In 1998, she received a Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship and a McKnight Fellowship for Dancers. Her choreography has been commissioned by James Sewell Ballet, 3-Legged Race’s Blizzard, Danny Buraczeski, the Minnesota Dance Festival, and New York’s Ballet Builders. Penny’s training included the Dayton Ballet Dance Center, National Academy of the Arts, Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Paul Taylor School, and Margolis Brown Physical Theater Lab. Her former companies include Dayton Ballet II, Dayton Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, and Michael Mao Dance. She received a Jerome Foundation Travel Grant to collaborate on a new work with choreographer and visual artist Donna Schoenherr in London.

Sandra Swami, who has a degree from the U of M, will also be on staff teaching Yoga. Sandra is a Personal Trainer and Certified Yoga instructor who has taught for years at the Sweat Shop. She has a daughter in the Performing Arts Program.

Cade Holmseth With a BFA in Dance from the U of M he is currently back in school earning a degree in shiatsu.  He has had the opportunity to dance with several area companies and has been training and performing aerial circus work with Risa Cohen Dance.  He is currently working on a piece of his own to be performed at the April 9x22 Lab at the Bryant Lake Bowl theater and is hoping to premiere the finished evening length work in late summer.  He is happy to be teaching to the eager students of Dance Moves.

Ann Wellmann is the Dance Moves Office Manager. She has a Computer Science degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and currently is a home-schooling mom. She also has a daughter in the Performing Arts Program.

Guest teachers and workshops may be available during the year to enhance the programs at Dance Moves.