Our Teachers

Amy danced at Central Dance Academy under the direction of Tina Hansen since she was three years old.  Amy has been teaching for 10 years at CDA. She attended Wayne State College and graduated with a major in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Music.  While in college Amy also continued dancing at a studio in Wayne and was a cheerleader for the college all 4 years.

Amy is very excited to be teaching at CDA teaching and is currently working in the office at Le Mars Community High School.  She will be teaching Tippy Toe and Youth Combination I this season. Amy also coached the LCHS Dance Team for 9 years.  She is married to Gabe Davis and they have 2 wonderful children, Kyndal and Kemper.

Beth started dancing at the age of two under the direction of Tina Hansen. During her time dancing at Central Dance Academy, she was a member of the CDA Company and participated in numerous conventions, competitions, and scholarship auditions. She has been teaching for 21 years at Central Dance Academy. Beth is also the Director of the CDA Company. Her choreography has won many awards: Best in Show, Best Choreography, Most Entertaining, and many other awards. Beth has also choreographed many winning routines for area dance teams, and her dancers have placed in the top 10 at State Individual Dance Team. She has also worked with local college dance teams and judged competitions.

Beth is a certified Dance Masters of America member and a certified NAIA Judge. Whenever the Company travels to conventions, Beth continues to take classes and learn from some of the best teachers in the country. Beth is a certified Dance Masters of America member and a certified NAIA Judge. Beth’s love of dance continues to grow each year she teaches, and is excited for another fantastic year for CDA!

Beth and her fiancé, Scott, are the proud parents of three beautiful girls, Lilly, Lainy, and Maisyn.

Dance Masters of America

Dory Parkin has been a life long resident of Le Mars.  She grew up doing dance and gymnastics at a local studio from a young age and competed in both for several years.  Eventually she began teaching both and was the manager of a studio for 8 years.

Her background covers a wide range of Modern, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Tumbling and Artistic Gymnastics. Following that time Dory taught at the CDA, then The Dance Studio and Contemporary Dance Studio in Sioux City.  Dory will be offering Modern, Pom, and an Adult Jazz Class at CDA. Dory began work at Wells Enterprise in Le Mars.  She is currently an Environmental Health & Safety Specialist at the South Plant.

After some time away Dory is excited to return to dance and share the love with more children. At home she and her and husband Josh love playing with their son, Elliot.  And Dory is an avid bicycle rider, and does RAGBRAI every year.

Kayla has been dancing for 26 years and teaching for 11.  She has danced at Central Dance Academy from the age of  4, participating in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz.  She was also involved in the Dance Team at Woodbury Central, where she was captain.

Currently, Kayla works part time as the Quality Coordinator at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars. In 2013, Kayla married her husband, Kyle Foelske. In September of 2016, they welcomed their  daughter, Adalee and in January 2020 their son Abel. She is excited to continue sharing her love of dance with the children she teaches!

Lexie has been dancing for 21 years and teaching for 7. She took dance classes under the direction of Tina Hansen at Central Dance Academy for 15 years. Of those 15 years, she spent 10 on company, assisted classes, and taught for one year.

Lexie is currently the coach of LeMars color guard, and ,LeMars Winter guard. While coaching she has choreographed shows for the marching band, group routines, and solos for both winter guard and dance team.

She has received awards for top 10 placements for both winter guard and dance at State Dance Team, top 10 placements at marching band competitions, and won the title of Miss Dance Chapter #47 in 2014.

Her choreography has received awards such as Best in Show, Most Entertaining, and has received Best Choreography.

She is married to her husband, Jon Landis, and has 3 beautiful children, Braxten, Avery, and Paisley.

Katherine has been taking dance and gymnastics classes since the age of six. Participating in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, gymnastics, and tumbling. Katherine was also on the competitive dance team at a local studio. She started teaching dance and coaching gymnastics at the age of 14.

After graduating from high school, she took several years off until 2017 when she started taking the Adult Jazz class that CDA offers. She started teaching again in 2024. This year she will be teaching Tumbling I and II.

Outside of the studio Katherine works full-time for Staples Promotional Products out of Orange City. She also works part-time at a hotel to help fund her various travels. She has visited 10 countries so far and has many more to go!

Naomi Johnson Naomi has been dancing for 13 years and she is starting her fourth year on Company at Central Dance Academy. Naomi loves all styles of dance, but her favorites are contemporary, and jazz. Naomi has assisted with the Uniquely You class, and cannot wait to teach Combo II. Naomi has won various awards at competitions since she was young Some of her favorites were getting to work with new choreographers, and getting to meet new amazing people!

Naomi will be a freshman at Lawton Bronson High School where she is in choir and is also on the Lawton Bronson Dance Team. Naomi works at a restaurant in Hinton and she also dog-sits and babysits.

In her free time, she likes to cook, hang out with friends, and spend time outdoors.

Naomi is so excited to teach again at CDA, and get to spend another year on this amazing team!

Reese attends high school at Le Mars Community. She is part of the Le Mars Dance team, Le Mars Cheer team, and Le Mars Girls Golf team. This is her 13th year of dancing and 8th year with the company. This year she will be competing in Jazz, Contemporary, HipHop, Tap, and a solo.

Reese has assisted with Combo 1, Pearl Company, Tumble Tots, Tumbling 1, and Twinkle Toes in past years.

In Reese’s free time, she likes to hang out with friends and family, swim/tan, and bake.

Reese is excited to teach her first classes this year!

Haley is a Junior at LeMars High School. This will be her 13th year dancing at CDA and 7th year in CDA Company. This year she will be competing a solo, small group, two tap pieces, two hip hop pieces, a jazz, and a contemporary.

She has assisted for 3 years in classes including tippy toe, combo 1, and butterfly ballet. She also is involved in dance team, football cheer, and golf in school. In Haley’s free time she enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the lake, and going shopping.

Haley is so excited to be co-teaching Boys and Youth Lyrical this year!

Tessa is beginning her 15th year of dance and her 11th year in Company at the CDA. This year, she will compete in Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap, solos, and additional small/select/mixed groups.

Tessa is a senior at Le Mars Community High School. She is involved in Football Cheer, Dance Team, Track, and Student Council.

In Tessa’s free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, traveling, and watching a good movie.

Tessa always excited for teaching opportunities as they arise.