KELLY McCORMICK-BESTUL is the owner and founder of Kelly's Dance Academy. She's been performing, training & teaching for 40+ years. She was educated by her father, John Hallahan, and by Prima Ballerina Madame Jeanette Clavijo. Studied under top choreographers worldwide (Mia Michaels, Joe Tremaine, Mandy Moore, etc.) and continues to educate herself. She has taught at the top studios in the state of MN, and continues to be guest instructors for their Summer intensives. Her background is strong in ballet/pointe, contemporary, jazz, tap, character/folk dance, lyrical, classic jazz, hip hop and most styles of ballroom dance. Her students have gone on to win over 400 first place honors in Regional and National competition. Other awards have included Critic's Choice at the NYCDA convention, Best Choreographer at LA Underground and top honors at Minnesota Talent Search, Eclipse, Majestic, Minnesota Starz, and many more. As KDA owner, she has inspired/mentored 2 of her former instructors and several other students in studio management who have now gone on to open their own establishments (Encore & Touch of Grace, locally). She has seen her studio blossom from 80 students in her basement to almost 200 at her current establishment. Kelly prides herself on not being the atypical studio that focuses on the performance, but on the universal education we give our dancers to become better performers, athletes, instructors and poised individuals.
JUDY THUNSTROM has been teaching with KDA since 2000. As a dancer, she received her training from John Hallahan and Madame Jeanette Clavijo, as well. Her background includes ballet/pointe, jazz, lyrical, character/folk, lyrical and tap. She's received over 70 top awards with her students in National and Regional competitions. As a teacher, she's instructed for over 30 years both at Nan & Dad Studio and KDA. She keeps herself in immaculate physical condition by also teaching fitness classes. She's coached many of our local pageant participants and is the Talent Coordinator for the McLeod County Fair. Judy brings to her classes her energetic & enthusiastic approach to dance as well as her creativity. She's our resident expert on working with beginners & young children, and also keeps a well disciplined and FUN class with students of all ages! She is an inspiration to all of us when it comes to her "heart" and the love of what she does!! APRIL MICKOLICHEK joined the KDA family in 2014. She comes from a long history of entertainers and studied under the daughter of John Hallahan, ballet master and co-owner of Nan & Dad Studio. She has over 22 years of dance training and 7 years of teaching experience for all ages. Her strengths lie in her ballet, lyrical and tap, but more importantly she has a "keen eye" for proper technique. She excels at class management and getting the most out of her students. We are very proud to add her to KDA!! Ashley Froemming joined the KDA family in 2015. She started doing gymnastics at the age of 7 and continued until the age of 18. She competed in the Midwest Amateur Gymnastics Academy for 10
years preforming routines on the Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam and Floor Exercise. At the end of her gymnastics career, she began to teach at the New Ulm Area Gymnastics Academy which is also where she did her training. She continues to teach Ages 3 to 16 and prides herself on their individual improvement. With the ever growing amount of tumbling seen in dances today (like seen on "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dance Moms") KDA has now added this to their curriculum. |