Our team.

Christine Fink
Owner + Director

Christine is the owner and director of Christine's Dance Co, a successful and innovative dance studio offering a variety of classes and programs for dancers of all ages and levels.
She was introduced to dance at the age of 5, training at studios in Madison, WI; Dallas, TX; and Marion, OH. Then, upon moving to Rice Lake, WI in 2001, she joined the Rice Lake High School Dance Team, where her passion for dance bloomed.
After high school, Christine attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, studying business entrepreneurship and IT while teaching dance at a local studio. During her time at UWEC, she was also a member of the dance team, achieving top 6 rankings in jazz and hip hop at the UDA National Competition in Orlando, FL.
In 2008, Christine graduated and combined her dance passion with business skills to establish Christine’s Dance Co. Over the past 16 years, her studio has grown into a thriving and integral part of our community. Christine is passionate about inspiring others to chase their dreams and believes in creating a ‘growth mindset’ environment. Christine’s Dance Co. prides itself on promoting positivity and continuous learning among its students and staff.
Christine's mission is to inspire and empower people through dance, providing a fun, safe, and positive environment where everyone can express themselves and enjoy the many benefits of moving your body and being creative. Inspiring young dancers and witnessing them achieve their goals is the most fulfilling part of her life; it is her true passion.

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.

Dana Brettingen
Lead Instructor, Pom

Dana was born and raised in Rice Lake, WI, and has been dancing since she was three years old. With experience in both recreational and competitive dance, Dana has developed expertise across all styles. In high school, she was part of the Rice Lake High School Dance Team, the Warriorettes, and now coaches the same team in their competitive Pom, Jazz, and Kick routines.
Dana pursued her education at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she earned both her undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Communications Sciences and Disorders. She currently works as a Speech Language Pathologist for the Rice Lake School District.
In her free time, Dana enjoys spending time with her family and friends, shopping, reading, and exploring the outdoors. She is excited to share her knowledge of dance team-style Pom with the next generation and inspire younger dancers to follow their passion, both in dance and in life.

Emma Johnson

Lead Instructor

Emma was raised in Dallas, WI, and attended school in Barron. She began dancing at the age of four, exploring multiple styles both recreationally and competitively during middle school. In high school, Emma continued to refine her skills and deepen her passion for dance.

After graduating in 2019, she pursued her dream of teaching by attending Minnesota State University-Mankato, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with honors in 2022. During her time there, Emma performed in various dance concerts, attended prestigious conferences like ACDA, and built a solid foundation for her teaching career.

Now living in Chetek with her husband Cody, Emma works full-time in marketing while sharing her passion for dance with the next generation of dancers. She finds immense joy in teaching and inspiring others through the art of dance.