JUNE POP-UP CLASSES

LEAPS & TURNS

Lola Shafer has been dancing competitively since the age of 5. Having trained in multiple styles, she competed extensively on the all star circuit both as an individual and on an elite level team. Lola's comprehensive training includes pom, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and Vaganova Russian Ballet. Over the years, Lola has won numerous solo titles at regional and national events, and also holds multiple duet titles with her twin sister Livi.

Her time spent training at Brookfield Center for the Arts (now Brio Studios) eventually led her to becoming a World Champion as her team won the 2023 Senior Large Contemporary/Lyrical Division at the prestigious Dance World Championships. After graduating high school, Lola was selected to be a member of the University of Minnesota Dance Team, and as a freshman she competed in both their jazz and pom routines at nationals this year, helping to earn the program their 22nd national championship.

While Lola continues to train for next season with the U of M Dance Team, she has been teaching college prep clinics, as well as assisting on choreography jobs, and teaching private lessons.

CONTEMPORARY

Elliana grew up in Rice Lake, WI dancing at Christine’s Dance Company. She graduated in May of 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She complemented this degree with studies in biology and health & wellness promotion, receiving minors in both. While in school, she also had the pleasure of working with Crash Dance Company and Shapiro and Smith Dance, and also performed in the 2018 North-Central American College Dance Association Gala. Elliana is honored to have been a recipient of the Beth Hope Suran Dance Scholarship (2016-2020) and the Jean Congdon Dance Scholarship (2019-2020). Elliana has been cast in works by acclaimed artists: Leah Nelson, Joan Smith, Robert Moses, Eko Supriyanto, Kjara Wurst, Carl Flink, Berit Ahlgren, Helen Hatch & Marcus Jarrell Willis. She has had the privilege of dancing with Shapiro and Smith Dance, ARENA DANCES, and the MN Opera. She is currently working with Black Label Movement, and choreographers Stefanie Batten Bland, Alanna Morris & Yusha-Marie Sorzano as part of the 3-Women Project through TU Dance. She is looking forward to teaching the Company students at CDC this summer!

MUSICAL THEATER + LYRICAL

Tara has over 30 years of dance experience in a variety of styles of dance and is excited to work with the dancers at CDC! She spent her formative dance years competing for Woodbury Dance Center and Woodbury High School. Tara danced for the nationally ranked University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire dance team for four years and was named "Dancer of the Year" and captain for one. Post-graduation, Tara was one of the founders of the Somerset Dance Team, serving as a coach and choreographer for five seasons and helped the team secure nine state qualifications and a regional kick title.

In 2016, Tara joined the faculty at St. Croix Valley Dance Academy. She had the privilege of teaching competition lines of all ages and levels for six seasons and earned awards for choreography, entertainment value and overall placement. She recently completed her third year as a certified dance judge for the Wisconsin Association of Pom and Cheer Association. Tara works full-time for 3M as a global marketing leader and resides with her husband in Hudson, WI.

MODERN

Miranda began her dance training at the age of 4 in multiple styles including ballet, tap, contemporary, lyrical, and jazz, and is a CDC competition alum.

After graduating in 2022, she began attending UW-River Falls in pursuit of an Animal Science degree. She has been on the University’s Dance Team for the past two years she has been there, furthering her dance experience and discipline into the style of pom. She also participates in UWRF’s modern-based dance company, Dance Theatre, as both a dancer and as an officer for the student-run club, and has plans to become a choreographer for Dance Theatre in the 2024-2025 season.

IMPROVISATION

Haley is from Marshfield, WI where she was classically trained in Russian and French ballet technique at Main Street Conservatory of Dance from the age of three. She has taken part in several University productions as a choreographer and performer and has attended multiple national dance conferences while earning her degree in Business Administration and Dance from the UW-Eau Claire. She was involved with UWEC’s Concert Dance Company as a performer, choreographer, and executive board member throughout her college career. Haley is a Realtor at RE/MAX 4 Seasons in Spooner and has been teaching dance since 2016.