Helmer Dance Studio

 

Carol Helmer


 Carol Helmer is co-owner of Helmer Dance. Carol studied tap, ballet and modern, but it was the tap that kept her interest. She opened the Beldenville studio in the basement of her home in March of 1982 with 35 students. She retired from her day job as director of the Pierce County Child Support in 1999 and, at the same time, opened a second dance studio in Hudson. Carol teaches tap/jazz to ages 6 and 7, tap to pre-teens and adults and tap to the Company competing numbers. Carol also personally trains all of the Helmer Dance Studio teaching staff on how to correctly teach tap choreography and tap technique.

Email: Carol@helmerdance.com

 

Laura Decheine


 Laura Helmer-Decheine is co-owner of Helmer Dance Studio. She has been trained in tap, ballet, lyrical, jazz, musical theater, pointe and gymnastics and has been teaching for over 20 years. Her students have performed her choreography in many competitions in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area and have earned many awards. Laura has a Master's degree in speech therapy and is licensed to teach Pre-K-12. Currently Laura personally teaches nearly 200 students per week and enjoys every minute of it!  

Email: Laura@helmerdance.com

 

Kristin Baker


 Kristin Baker comes to us from Minnesota where she has danced at Metro Dance Center, Royal Dance and, most recently, Dancing Star Studios.  She has been an assistant dance instructor for the last five years.  She has been dancing for 15  years and has competed for 8 years.  Kristen has won many platinum awards for her group and solo routines.  She also competed in the National Solo Showdown in Las Vegas winning a second place trophy.  She was chosen to be a lead hip hop dancer in a music video for Stacy B.  Kristen is attending the University of Wisconsin at River Falls where she will be studying photography and dance.  At Helmer Dance she teaches all ages in all levels and all styles of dance.

 

Lauren Baker

 
Lauren Baker received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Minor in Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota (2009), where she was the recipient of the Jenwilla Dance Award and the Stephanie Valencia-Kierlin Dance Scholarship. While at the University, Lauren performed with the University Dance Theater in works by José Limón, Joe Chvala, Max Pollak and Mathew Janczewski. Lauren has also had the pleasure of working with the José Limón Dance Company, Wicked Sister Dance Theatre, Shapiro & Smith Dance, Thodos Dance Chicago and The Seldoms.
 

 

Gina Boogren

Gina Boogren has been an instructor at Helmer Dance since 2005.  Gina grew up dancing at Five Star Dance Studio in St. Paul MN and was a dance instructor there for nine years.  She enjoys teaching a variety of ages and ability levels, jazz and tap, to both children and adults. In addition to her studio training, she studied tap at the University of Minnesota dance program, under the directors of Keane Sense of Rhythm, and at several Al Gilbert and Chicago Human Rhythm Project conventions.  Although tap is her specialty, Gina enjoys all aspects of dance.  She likes choreographing pieces for dance classes as well as for groups for community events.  Gina is also a certified Zumba instructor (latin dance fitness) and member of the Zumba instructor continuing education network.

Christina Carlini

Christina Carlini

Christina Carlini started dancing when she was four years old.  She credits her 10 years at Larkin as giving her the foundation and knowledge for dance.  At the same time Christina was also performing on stage in numerous musical productions. In 2003 Christina attended UWRF majoring in Speech Communication and chose a minor in Dance Education.  She became a member of the Universities Dance Theater for 2 years which specialized in modern dance.  In 2005 Christina was hired as the head dance line coach for St. Croix Central H.S.  Graduating in December 2008, Christina is thrilled to be working at Helmer and sharing her passion of dance with kids of all ages.

 

Rachel Chadima


 Rachel Chadima has been a part of the Helmer Dance teaching staff since 2004.  She has been in dance since the age of 3 and enjoyed every moment dancing at the studio.  She feels fortunate to have enriched her passion for dance through workshops in the Twin Cities, New York City, Salt Lake City, and a summer spent in Los Angeles.  Rachel currently attends the University of St. Thomas where she is a part of the 3-time national championship dance team, 2 titles of which she has been a part of.  Rachel has won numerous awards and, most recently, led her team as a junior co-captain to win the 2010 UDA Open Division National Championship.  Rachel loves sharing her passion for dance with others and watching her students grow and reach their goals.  Outside of dance, Rachel enjoys teaching and practicing Yoga, travel and spending time with family and friends.

 

Tracy Davis


 Tracy Davis is a Personal Trainer certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).  She graduated from UMD with a Bachelors of Associated Science Degree in Psychology.  As an avid runner, she is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals.  Her love for children brought her to the YMCA, where she is currently employed. Working with kids, from preschool to teens, in a fitness setting, has been a lifelong dream come true.  She is excited to bring a strength and conditioning class to the studio, teaching the students stability, strength, and endurance.    

Kourtney Getschel


Kourtney Getschel has been an office manager at the Studio since 2002.  She grew up dancing in a studio in St. Croix Falls, WI, as well as being on her high school and college dancelines.  Besides being the ever efficient office manager, Kourtney is also our competition coordinator.  That position includes costuming, hair pieces, accessories and makeup, scheduling and just being there for moms who have questions.  Kourtney is married to David Getschel and they have four children: Maya, Owen, Anya, and Liam. They all love to dance too!


Melissa Gutting


 Melissa Gutting began dancing when she was 4 years old at Stage Door in Coon Rapids, MN.  She began teaching at age 13 and since then has taught tap, jazz and ballet to children ages 3 to 10.  Melissa teaches tap/ballet to little ones and tap/jazz to students age 6 and up.  She competed with our Company Classics, adult tap line, in 2005.  She enjoys watching her students learn and grow as individuals as well as a group.  She is now excited to watch her daughters dance at the studio as well.  Melissa has been with Helmer Dance since 2002.

 

Brianna Hover


 Brianna Hover started dancing at Larkin Dance Studio at the age of three learning tap, jazz and ballet. She started competition dance at the age of 5.  After moving to Hudson, she began dancing at Helmer Dance Studio and has been here dancing for the past 9 years.  She is grateful to be a part of teaching young children her love for dance and watching them grow into successful dancers themselves.  She is a junior at Hudson High School and a member of the Company Senior line here at Helmer Dance Studio. "I live for dance and enjoy being a part of a wonderful dance studio."

 

Laura Janson
Laura Janson completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from the University of Minnesota in 2006, as well as a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification from the Yoga Center of Minneapolis in 2005  . While in college, she was awarded an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Grant for choreography in conjunction with an apprenticeship with Shapiro and Smith Dance Company.  Professionally, Laura has danced with Metropolitan Ballet, Saint Paul City Ballet, Kats D. and Paneer Project, and is currently in her second season with the Continental Ballet Company based out of Bloomington, Minnesota.  She has experience teaching Ballet, Modern, Creative Movement, and Yoga at several local studios as well as for Community Education.  Laura is excited to join the teaching team at Helmer Dance Studio.
 

 

Stacy Marquardt

 

Stacy Marquardt Stacy is a lifelong dance enthusiast and an accomplished performer, instructor and choreographer.  She trained with the Helmer Dance Studio in Wisconsin and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota where she spent time as a dancer and captain of the University of Minnesota Dance Team.

Stacy continued dancing after college as a captain for the Minnesota Timberwolves Dancers.  Most recently, she spent three years as the Assistant Coach for the University of Minnesota Dance Team and just completed her 7th year as a coach for the 4-time state champion, Maple Grove Dance Team.  Stacy has choreographed for several dance studios, college and high school dance teams throughout the Midwest.  She also serves as a judge, speaker and guest instructor for UPA, UDA, IASF and the WACPC. 

Jessica Nelson

 

Jessica Nelson is 22 and is a former member of our studio's Company Senior Line.  She teaches contemporary, lyrical, ballet, jazz and hip hop to students of all ages.  This will be her ninth year teaching and choreographing for Helmer Dance.

Jessica has trained, worked and created in Los Angeles, New York City, Windsor, Ont. and Minneapolis with the amazing hearts of, but not limited to: Lilian Manansala, Darryl and Linda Retter, Tommie Retter, Gina Badone, Heidi Anderson-Jarret, Ryan Heffington, Christina Woodard, Blake and Lindsay Angier and Tamara Squires.

Jessica's recent credits include; dancer for Ashley Argota of Nickelodeon's hit show "True Jackson VP", performance duo with Katelyn Reece Farstad of Mouthful of Bees, choreograher and lead in Amalia Nicholson's "Country Queen": music video for Battle Royale, "Feast of Failure" at the Open Eye Theatre, improvisation at Hollywood's Cinespace, hip hop instructional video "Fuzion", Dance Olympus VIP tour, "Sugar Plum Fairy Variation" at NYRSP/AICAD Gallery, and this past Halloween, Jessica had the great honor of opening for Japanther. 

Jessica is currently finishing her BFA at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and will graduate with a major in Photography December 2010.  She is also the founder and artistic director of Skulls and Seeds, a performance company that is dedicated to all things good.

Kallie Pechacek
Kallie Pechacek  From age 3-18, Kallie danced her way through Helmers.  She is a Former Company Senior Line dancer, Prescott Dance Team member and University of Wisconsin, Madison Dance Team Member.  She has won numerous awards for her group, duet, trio and solo work, including the "Super Tap" award for her solo in 2004.  Kallie graduated from Prescott High School as Valedictorian in 2005 and continued dancing, field and courtside, for the Badgers her first two years of college.  After graduating in 2009 with a B.A. in Strategic Communications, she has returned to Helmers teaching students of all ages.  Kallie loves watching her students learn and grow and believes that dancing is more than a skill.  It teaches children life-long lessons and values and instills a creativity that will stay with them forever.

 

Cheri Rosenberger
Cheri Rosenberger is a former Company Mom whose own daughter danced on the Company Line for four years and graduated from Helmer Dance Studio in 2007. She owned the children's retail boutique Alley Jax and Moppets on Main in Hudson for three years, sold it, and has been working at the Hudson Studio as an Office Manager ever since. Her older sister is the Dance Instructor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and grew up dancing with the Andahazy Ballet Company in St. Paul, MN for 11 years. Cheri loves children, meeting new people, animals, gardening, anything creative, traveling to new places, and anything that sparkles!