Our team.
Christine Fink
Owner + Director
Christine has been studio trained since the age of 5. She studied at several professional studios throughout her life in Madison, WI; Dallas, TX; and Marion, OH. When her family moved to Rice Lake, WI in 2001, she became a member of the Rice Lake High School Dance Team. After high school, Christine attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. There she worked at a local dance studio as an instructor and was also a member of the UWEC dance team. Every year they competed at the UDA National Competition in Orlando, FL, placing top 6 in the nation with both jazz and hip hop. In 2008, she graduated from UW-EC with a business-entrepreneurship major and an IT minor. She then combined her dance knowledge and business knowledge to form Christine’s Dance Company. Now, over 14 years later, she is proud of her successful and growing studio. Having the ability to impact so many young lives is beyond rewarding for Christine, it is her true passion in life.
Maren McMannes
Assistant Director
Maren grew up in Minnetonka, MN where she was studio trained at Summit Dance Shoppe in multiple styles including tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, and contemporary. She competed these styles at various competitions in the Twin Cities as well as nationals in Florida. She then danced on the competitive team at Minnetonka High School for two years. For her last two years of high school, Maren danced with an All Star team that competed at the UDA National Dance Team Championship in Florida. She was voted captain both years and received the UDA All American Award her senior year. Maren went on to dance for her first year in college at North Dakota State University. While on the team, Maren performed at various sporting events at the school including halftime performances and football sidelines. She also competed at UDA College Nationals in Orlando and won a national championship in pom and received 6th place in jazz. After her freshman year, Maren began teaching dance at local studios as well as coached a local high school dance team. Once Maren graduated, she moved to Milwaukee, WI where she attended graduate school for her Masters in Counseling. While in grad school, she coached multiple competitive teams at an All Star studio, competing and ranking locally and nationally. Maren looks forwarding to sharing her passion for dance each season with your dancer!
Cathy Jones Wolf
Master Instructor
Cathy began her dance training at the age of 4 under her mother, Virginia Stevens Jones, at Stevens Dance Studio in Cleveland, Ohio. Cathy’s childhood training specialized in classical ballet (Cecchetti Method), tap, jazz, pointe, and tumbling.
Upon Cathy’s graduation from high school, she continued her advanced level ballet training at the school of Cleveland Ballet while a theatre major at Cleveland State University. After graduating with a BA degree in theatre, Cathy became a member of Actors Equity, the union for professional actors, and performed for 2 seasons with Kenley Players, a professional summer stock production company.
During Cathy’s time with Kenley Players, she performed in several musicals with featured and understudy roles in such musicals as Bye, Bye, Birdie, Meet Me in St. Louis, Gigi, Music Man, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This gave Cathy the experience to perform with stars like Connie Stevens, Kathy Rigby, and Dottie West, just to name a few.
Upon Cathy’s move to NYC, she was quickly cast in the 1st National Tour of 42nd Street. Cathy’s incredible experience with 42nd Street allowed her the opportunity to perform in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas. Cathy was asked to join the Broadway company landing her the most coveted Broadway credit. While in NYC, Cathy’s intensive advance tap and jazz training was under the incomparable Robert Audy.
After a 6-year stint in NYC, Cathy returned to Cleveland to take over the family dance studios. While Cathy was teaching, she earned her teacher accreditation with the Cecchetti Council of America in classical ballet. Having dedicated herself to advancing in teacher certifications, Cathy earned, with honors, the prestigious Enrico Cecchetti Diploma. Cathy was also awarded the Young Teacher Scholarship to the Cecchetti Council of America’s International Teacher Seminar and the Sylvia Hamer Scholarship to ISTD Cecchetti Teacher Seminar in England. Cathy earned the position of Examiner with the Cecchetti Council of America, permitting her to examine Cecchetti trained students and certify Cecchetti teachers across the United States. Cathy holds the highest examiner status of Permanent Examiner.
Cathy and her husband, Patrick, have been residents of Barron County since 2008. Cathy loves working with the CDC students. Teaching dance is so much more that just steps, it is teaching anatomy, the physics of movement, quality, passion, molding young bodies and minds for the art of dance and performance. It is such an incredible experience to watch a young student become an incredible performer through hard work, dedication, and determination.
Along with teaching at CDC, Cathy keeps busy directing and choreographing at The Red Barn Theatre. Her RBT productions include Footloose, Grease, Big, Sister Act, The Drowsy Chaperone, Mamma Mia, and The World Goes ‘Round. Cathy also directs and choreographs the musicals at Barron High School. Her BHS productions include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Putnam County 25th Annual Spelling Bee, Little Shop of Horrors, and the upcoming Bye, Bye, Birdie.
Rachel Oftedahl
Lead Instructor
Rachel started her studio training as a young child. She was a member of the GFW Voltage Competitive Dance Team for 3 years. She was captain her senior year and her team reached the finals in the Minnesota State High School League State Dance Team competition in 2000 and 2001. Her team placed fourth in jazz in 2000 and fifth in jazz and second in high kick in 2001. Rachel went on to dance and choreograph for the Ridgewater College Dance Team in Willmar, Minnesota. In 2003, she transferred to Minnesota State University, Mankato and majored in business management and minored in dance. In college she studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, improvisation, and Afro-Caribbean. She performed in several semester showcases and danced with the Dance Conservatory in Mankato, Minnesota. Rachel taught creative movement classes at West Lussier Family YMCA and the Mankato Family YMCA.
After college, she became the director of the Gibbon Just For Kix Program and coached junior varsity and varsity teams at GFW High School and New Ulm Public High School. She also became an AFAA/NASM certified group exercise instructor and personal trainer. She has been certified for over 12 years and has instructed a wide variety of class formats across the United States including Zumba, Barre, and yoga.
Rachel moved to Rice Lake, WI in August of 2020 with her husband and three children. She loves dancing, exercising, and spending time outdoors in her spare time. She has a passion for dance and a love of teaching others. She is very excited to begin her next teaching adventure at CDC!
Haley Ferguson
Lead Instructor
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.
Kalyn Smith
Front Desk Manager + Lead Instructor
Kalyn has been dancing since the age of 5, and was a CDC competitive dancer from 2015-2022. Kalyn loves all styles of dance, but ballet is her favorite. She enjoys seeing the progress of the little dancers from the beginning of the year up to recital. When Kalyn isn’t at the studio, she likes to read books, paint, and spend time with her animals.
Morgan Musil
Lead Instructor + Assistant Instructor
Morgan has been dancing since the age of 3 and has been a CDC competitive dancer since 2018. She loves all styles of dance, but her favorites are contemporary and tap. This season, you will see Morgan performing with Elite Line, Senior Line, Production, Tap Squad, a duet, and a solo. Morgan loves seeing the young dancers grow throughout the season and being part of their dance experience. When Morgan isn't at the studio, she enjoys playing the bassoon and spending time with her friends and family.
Kacee Evans
Assistant Instructor
Kacee has been dancing at CDC since the age of 3. She has been competing with CDC since 2017 and will be dancing on the Platinum & Senior line along with production, a duet, a trio, and a solo this season. Kacee’s favorite style of dance is contemporary but she has a lot of background with a variety of dance styles including: jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, and pom. She is very excited to be assisting with some of CDC’s younger classes this season and is especially looking forward to seeing them preform at the recital in May!
Abbi Frischmann
Assistant Instructor
Abbi has been dancing since the age of 2 and has been competing with CDC since 2018. She will be dancing on the Platinum & Senior line along with Production, a trio, and a solo this season. Abbi enjoys training with all different types of dance but her favorite is Jazz and Contemporary. She is very excited to help with some of the younger classes at CDC this season, especially to see them grow and help them achieve their goals.
Kaydra Krovoza
Assistant Instructor
Kaydra has been dancing since the age of five and has been competing with CDC since 2017. She will be dancing on the Elite & Senior line, along with Production, and a trio. Kaydra has studied a variety of dance styles such as jazz, ballet, lyrical, pom + kick, and contemporary. She enjoys helping out with the younger classes and being a good role model. When she is not at the studio Kaydra enjoys spending time on the lake, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her family.
Kendyl Kucko
Assistant Instructor
Kendyl has been dancing at CDC since the age of 3 and began competitive dancing in 2020. She will be dancing on the Elite & Senior line along with Production this season. She loves many styles of dance but contemporary is her favorite. Kendyl enjoys working with younger kids and is excited to share what she has learned through her years of dancing with the younger CDC students.
Karlee Seifert
Assistant Instructor
Karlee has been dancing with CDC since I was 3 years old. She has been competing with CDC since 2017 and will be dancing on the Platinum & Senior line along with Production, a duet, and a solo this season. After years of training, Karlee is very excited about earring a spot in our Ballet XI/Pointe class this season. She is looking forward to this new challenge! Her dance background includes a variety of styles including jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, and lyrical. Outside of dance she loves being outdoors and surrounding herself with friends and family. Dance is a big passion in her life and she is very excited to share her dance experience and knowledge with younger CDC students.