We’re All

About Dance!

Our Teachers

Amy Davis

Co-Owner, Tippy Toes, Youth Combination I, Competition Teams

Amy has danced at Central Dance Academy under the direction of Tina Hansen since she was 3 years old. She attended Wayne State College and graduated with a major in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Music. While in college, Amy continued dancing at a studio in Wayne and was a cheerleader for the college all four years. Amy also coached the LCHS Dance Team for nine years.

She works in the office at Le Mars Community High School during the school year. When she isn’t at the studio or school, she enjoys spending time at Okoboji with family and friends or watching her kids grow up. She is married to Gabe Davis, and they have two wonderful children, Kyndal and Kemper.

Amy is excited to be back at CDA as a teacher and co-owner. She has enjoyed getting to know the wonderful families that make up the CDA family and can’t wait to learn more.

Beth Ruden

Co-Owner & Company Director, Ballet I, Jazz I, Tap I, Tumbling III & IV, Youth Jazz/Hip Hop, Competition Teams

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

Abby Foster

Tippy Toes, Youth Combination I

Abby has been dancing with CDA for 14 years. She graduated from LCHS in May 2019 and is currently attending Western Iowa Tech for Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism.

Abby was very active in high school and assisted at CDA. She will be teaching Tippy Toe and Youth Combination I classes. Abby will also be waitressing at Family Table. Abby is excited to take all of the incredible knowledge her teachers gave her throughout her years of dance and pass it along to young dancers.

Dory Parkin

Modern I-IV, Adult Jazz Class

Dory Parkin has been a lifelong resident of LeMars. She grew up doing dance and gymnastics at a local studio from a young age and competed in both for several years. Eventually began teaching both and was the manager of a studio for eight years. Her background covers a wide range of Modern, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Tumbling, and Artistic Gymnastics. Following that time, Dory taught at CDA and Contemporary Dance Studio in Sioux City. Dory will offer a Modern class, an adult jazz class, and assist with advanced tumbling classes.

Dory began work at Wells Enterprise in Le Mars. She is currently a production Supervisor 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 husband Josh love playing with their son, Elliot. And Dory is an avid bicycle rider and does RAGBRAI every year.

Katie Driggs

Butterfly Ballet, Twinkle Toes, Tippy Toes, Youth Combination I, Ballet II & IV, Jazz II & IV, Tap II & IV, Competition Teams

Katie has been dancing for 27 years and teaching for the last 13. She took dance classes under the direction of Tina Hansen at Central Dance Academy for 15 years, where she was a member of the Performance Company and taught classes. Katie has choreographed for various high school and college dance teams in the surrounding area and has coached the LCHS dance team and other teams for the past seven years.

Her choreography has received awards such as Best in Show, Best Choreography, Most Entertaining and 1st place at State Dance Team. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 2013 with her B.A. in dance and from WITCC in 2018 with her A.A.S. as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Katie is also a certified NAIA Dance Judge and enjoys judging competitions in her free time.

Kayla Foelske

Butterfly Ballet, Youth Combination II, Youth Jazz/HipHop

Kayla has been involved with dance her entire life. She danced at Central Dance Academy growing up 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 for two years. She graduated from high school in 2009 and then moved to Cedar Rapids to attend Kirkwood Community College, where she graduated with a diploma as a Pharmacy Technician.

Kayla works part-time as an Administrative Assistant at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars. In September of 2013, Kayla married her husband, Kyle Foelske. In September 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!

Brittany Lake

Lyrical I/II, Youth Jazz/Hip Hop II, Lyrical III/IV

Brittany danced at Central Dance Academy under the direction of both Tina Hansen and Beth Ruden for 12 years. While at CDA, Brittany completed many classes including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Tumbling as well as being a Company member for three years. Following high school graduation in 2014, Brittany attended Iowa State University. Here she continued to dance in various clubs while earning both a Bachelor of Animal Science degree and Master of Business Administration degree. 

Brittany returned back to Le Mars for work and is currently employed with The HANOR Company as a Veterinary Assistant. When the opportunity to return to Central Dance Academy as a teacher presented itself, Brittany couldn’t say no. She is eager to be teaching Lyrical ½ and Lyrical ¾ this year!

In August of 2020, Brittany married her husband, Carter Lake. They love to spend time outdoors with their three dogs – Beau, Cash and Freckles.

Cassidy Pravecek

Tumble Tots, Tumbling I & II, Hip Hop I/II & III/IV, Adult Grooves, Competition Teams

Cassidy has been taking dance and gymnastics most of her life at local studios and gyms. She started gymnastics at the age of two and dancing at the age of seven. She competed in both for several years, earning many awards for both. Cassidy started teaching dance and gymnastics as an assistant and eventually started teaching her classes. In all four years of high school she was a member of the LCHS Dance Team.

After graduating high school, Cassidy was happy to join the CDA staff and looks forward to continuing teaching at the CDA!

Maile Narkon

Competition Teams, Uniquely You

Maile is in her 12th year of dance, 10th at the Central Dance Academy.  She is also in her 8th season with the CDA Company.  This season, she has enjoyed teaching company rehearsals, company technique classes and Uniquely You.

As a competition dancer, Maile has won numerous soloist awards including top prizes at multiple regional competitions. She’s also won multiple improv challenges, scholarships from convention classes and auditions.  Since joining the CDA Company, she has participated in Starz Nationals in Wisconsin, taken classes at the Brodway Dance Center in NYC and done the Sweatshop Intensives in New York City.  This past summer she spent all of July at Perry-Mansfield in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the Young Artist Intensive Program, dancing 6 days per week.

She’s looking forward to continuing her dance training at the Central Dance Academy and wherever her dance education takes her, as long as it takes her to the stage!

 

Kristin Iverson

Youth Musical Theater, Musical Theater I-IV

Kristin has been active in music and dance her entire life. She studied dance at Mary Helen’s School of Dance in Webster City, IA starting at age 4. She grew up being very involved in dance and countless musical activities.

She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education from the University of South Dakota. Previously, Kristin was a Choral Director in Sioux City, IA, and Vermillion, SD, where she directed many choirs, show choirs, and different musicals. During that time, she was an active choreographer for her musical groups and spent her free time judging Show Choir Competitions in the area.

Currently, Kristin is the elementary general music teacher at Clark and Franklin Elementary in Le Mars. She enjoys spending time with her very busy family when she is not at school. She is married to Mark, and they have three great kids, Tyler, Tanner, and Tessa. Kristin is excited about taking her love of music and dance to the next level and is honored to teach musical theater classes at CDA.

Madison Campbell

Ballet III, Jazz III, Tap III, Competition Teams

Madi has been dancing for the last 18 years and has been teaching the last eight years. She has recently graduated from Buena Vista University, where she majored in Business-Human Resource Management and was also a member of their dance team.

Madi was part of the Central Dance Academy company for eight years and can not wait to be back teaching where her love of dance started. She is married to Zach Campbell and has a handsome baby boy named Kruze. Madi will teach company classes and rehearsals, Ballet III, Jazz III, and Tap III.

Addisyn Weiland

Twinkle Toes, Youth Lyrical

Addisyn Weiland is a senior at LCHS.  She has attended CDA for 13 years.  She has been on the CDA Competition Team for the past 8 years. Addi especially enjoys jazz and acro styles of dance. In 2020, Addisyn was selected as a title winner at the Sioux City Showbiz dance competition. Last spring, Addisyn was also a title winner at the Sioux City Fly dance competition. She has enjoyed performing with The Browns over the last two years at their Celtic shows and the annual Christmas in Hometown Le Mars. In addition, Addisyn has won several dance scholarships throughout her time at CDA. 

She is also a member of the LCHS Football Cheer Team, Lead Dog Leadership Club, Student Council, NHS, and Dance Team, placing 11th in Class 8-A at the Iowa State Dance Team Solo Competition in 2021 and 8th in 2022. She is also a three-time All-Iowa Dance Team qualifier.

She enjoyed teaching Butterfly Ballet last spring and looks forward to teaching Youth Lyrical & Twinkle Stars this year.

 

Rachael Minar

Substitute Teacher

Rachael is a recent graduate from LCHS and has been dancing at CDA since she was 3 years old. She was a member of the CDA Company for nine years and participated in various conventions and competitions. She participated in various classes such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and tumbling throughout her years. Rachael has won many awards and scholarships.

Rachael was also a part of the LCHS dance team during high school for two years. Rachael will teach Twinkle Stars, Sapphire Ballet Tech, and Ruby Contemporary Rehearsal. She is the proud mother of her sons, Hudson and Milo. Rachael is excited to continue her dance career as a CDA Faculty Member!

Paige Anthony

Substitute Teacher

Paige started her dance career at Central Dance Academy and has been dancing for the past 16 years and was a member of the CDA Performance Company for 10 years. While competing with CDA, Paige held the title of Miss Teen of Dance Masters of  Mid-America Chapter 47 and has received multiple awards and scholarships. She participated in varsity football cheerleading and dance team all four years of high school and was captain her senior year. At the Iowa State Dance Team Solo  competition, she placed in the top 10 all four years of high school and was crowned the Division 4 winner in 2014.

 She was a University of Nebraska-Lincoln cheerleader before  transferring to USD. Paige is a recent graduate from the University of South Dakota where she majored in Business. 

Student of the Month

October

Benjamin Lundula

Ben was selected as the October Student Of The Month because he always comes to class eager to learn, and returns each week as a stronger dancer.  He stays on task and has a positive attitude. Keep up the great work!

November

Charlotte Erdmann

Charlotte was chosen as the November Student Of The Month beacause of her presence in class. When Charlotte is in class she is always giving 100%. She is also attentive whenever the teacher is talking, whether it is a new step or corrections!

Keep up the great work!

December

Savanah Sheehan

Savanah was chosen as the December Student of the Month for her contagious positivity and energy. Savanah works hard in all her classes and is always positive. Keep up the great work!

January

Jenna Fisher

Jenna was chosen as the January Student Of The Month because she works hard in class as a student and also as an assistant. Jenna has great energy and is always positive. She is also very helpful with the classes that she assists!

Keep up the great work, Jenna!

February

Eisley Bouma

Eisley was chosen as the February Student of the Month because of her energy in class and she has stepped out of her comfort zone. Eisley joined Company and is growing quickly, she works hard in all of her classes, We always see her smiling in every class!

Congratulations Eisley! Keep up the great work!

March

Harper Clarey

Harper was chosen as the March Student Of The Month because of her drive in class. Harper attends class eager to learn and is thriving with any challenge we throw at her. Her contagious smile makes her classmates smile too! Keep up the great work!

April

Kylie Oetken

Kylie was chosen as our April Student Of The Month for her improvements inside and outside of class. Kylie has really worked hard to grow as a dancer. She also has a wonderful attitude and is always making her teachers and classmates smile! Keep up the great work!

May

Isla Penning

Isla was chosen as the May Student of the Month because she comes every week happy to be in class! She practices her routines, she knows her ballet vocabulary, and she is just a joy to have in class . Keep up the great work!

June

To Be Announced

Get to know us in person!

Our Policies

CDA’s friendly office staff is happy to help! We expect questions and are eager to introduce you to our facility, faculty, and classes.
See our policies below or reach out with any questions.

Payment Policies

All fees are due by the 5th of each month. CDA accepts Debit cards, Credit Cards, Checks, Cash, and Automatic Withdrawals as forms of payment for tuition and other fees.

Late Fees

Accounts are considered past due when not current by the 6th of each month and are charged a $10 late fee.

Registration Fees

CDA’s Registration fee is $20.00 for the first student and $10.00 for each additional student. This fee must be paid in full prior to the commencement of classes and is non-refundable.

Performance Fees

CDA is extremely proud of our annual production! In order to continue to provide a quality performance, we require a performance fee and sell tickets to each performance. The Performance Fee is NON-REFUNDABLE and is due by October 1st. Our Performance Fee is based on stage time, determined by how many total dances your student(s) are in for the show.

1 dance – $30 plus tax
2-3 dances – $50 plus tax
4 dances – $65 plus tax
5 dances or more – $75 plus tax

Videographer Fees

There will be a $20 fee charged in October for the video fee. Everyone will receive a link to the recorded show that they can save or download. DVDs are also available to purchase.

Trial Classes

CDA offers Free Trial Classes in order to help students find the right class for them. Ask our office staff or your current dance teacher how you can try a class you are interested in!

Withdrawals

If and when a student wants to withdraw from all of their classes at CDA, we require the parent to fill out a withdrawal form by the 7th of the month, and the student will finish the month. CDA does not accept any withdrawals after January.

Costumes

Costumes are charged to accounts on October 12th and are ordered by November 1st to ensure timely delivery. We measure students in class and provide the measurements to ensure the proper fit of costumes.

Annual Performance

Our performances are held at the Le Mars Middle School Auditorium. Students perform in two shows – one youth show Saturday afternoon, a teen show Saturday evening, and one full one on Sunday afternoon. Performances for 2022-23 are June 10th and 11th.

Dress Rehearsal

Students have class on stage the week before the performance. One Dress Rehearsal is on Friday, June 9th, with the students practicing in their costumes.

Get to Know
Central Dance Academy

Central Dance Academy has talented, enthusiastic dance instructors devoted to bringing quality dance and performing arts instruction to all ages and abilities. We are proud of our role in our students’ lives, instilling a strong sense of self-confidence, self-respect, discipline, and appreciation of dance and the arts in our students.

We hope to inspire each student to release the creativity inside of themselves. Whether students are learning beginner steps or interested in competition dance, we have dance classes for everyone at every level! Visit our Le Mars, IA studio today!

Curious About Classes?

For more information about our policies or facilities, please contact us at 712-546-9217 today!

Hours:

Monday - Thursday
3:30 P.M. – 9:45 P.M.

Saturday
9:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Chamber Members - Le Mars Chamber of Commerce
Central Dance Academy are proud Athletic & Music Boosters for our local schools!