Classes open for registration! 10820 Nesbitt Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55437
Gillian
Educator
Gillian started dancing at 9 years old in Lakeville Minnesota at Danceworks. At 15 she went to Ballet Royale and decided to pursue ballet seriously. At 18 she moved to Missouri and went to the Conservatory of Music and Dance at UM-Kansas City. During her time there she participated in many extra-curricular projects like the March for Our Lives and theatrical collaboration. After graduating in 2021 Gillian decided to return to Minnesota to be closer to her family and return to teaching dance. In her 10+ years of training, Gillian has studied many styles of ballet and modern, as well as Jazz, Musical Theatre, tap and commercial hip hop.
Bella
Educator
Bella grew up in the Twin Cities dance world as a competitive dancer. She earned many top awards and scholarships throughout her high school career. Since then, Bella has performed in many companies as a freestyle dancer. She is also an expert in Krump and Breakdancing styles. Bella has had an opportunity to be involved in video productions as a dancer including the House of Dance and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dance Endeavors looks forward to learning from her energetic and widely professional style.
Cherry
Educator
Cherry has been passionate about dance and performing ever since she can remember. She grew up in Plymouth, and attended her first classes at Summit Dance Shoppe when she was three. She then went on to win Miss Masquerade in 2011, and placed 1st in multiple competitions for both her solo and group routines. After going to study at Larkin Dance Studio where she placed nationally in Las Vegas, she attended Saint Paul Conservatory and experienced a wide range of cultural dance styles on top of her technical training. She has attended workshops around the country including Pacific Coast Dance Fest & JUMP, and trained with multiple studios around the Twin Cities throughout her dance career. She is excited to be teaching with Dance Endeavors after a full year at Tonka Dance, and looks forward to many more great years of instructing!
Ali
Account Specialist
Ali grew up right here in Bloomington, MN. She began volunteering at Dance Endeavors in 2017 and has been an account specialist since 2019. She also serves as the parent volunteer coordinator for winter shows and recitals. Ali has worked in finance for over 10 years and has attended various trainings for financial literacy and accounting. In addition, she has taken basic UFARS training through the Minnesota Department of Education. Her daughters participate in both traditional dance classes and the competition program at the studio. She is proud to be a part of such a welcoming team, and enjoys meeting and interacting with families!
Juli Caldwell
Owner/Lead Educator
Juli has taught dance for over 30 years, 20 years here in Bloomington. Juli studied many forms of dance, thriving in the study of classical ballet. She studied intensively with Branitski Ballet Company, Andahazy Ballet, American School of Russian Classical Ballet, Fort Worth Ballet, and Minnesota Dance Theatre. She performed in numerous ballets including Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Swan Lake and was a dance major at Texas Christian University. She is also an accomplished choreographer of dance performances and musicals, and certified Yoga instructor. Juli teaches all ages and levels with her unique blend of proper technique and a fun atmosphere.
Allison G
Educator
Allison has been at Dance Endeavors for 15 years. She has danced on the Competition Team, the Youth Performance Ensemble, and almost everything DE has had to offer! Allison is self-motivated and eager to share her love of dance. She has earned prestigious top awards at both Regional and National Competitions for groups, duets, and solos. She has trained in all styles of dance. Allison has assisted with parties, events and classroom teaching. She has helped the studio ever since she could, even cleaning mirrors and organizing trophies when she was just a wee dancer! We are so excited to have Allison teach again this year!
Claire F
Educator
Claire is a Savage MN native. She grew up dancing recreationally and in high school she joined competition. After graduating, Claire continued training classically at Ballet Royale MN for 7 years while performing with Twin Cities Ballet. She attended the Milwaukee Ballet Summer Intensive in 2021. She was trained in Vaganova, Cecchetti, and RAD styles. Claire also trained in jazz, tap, contemporary, character and modern styles of dance. Currently she is a company member with Continental Ballet Company in Bloomington. Some of her favorite roles she has done are Friends and Willis in Giselle, and Life Influence in Pink Floyd's The Wall. In her free time she likes reading, playing video games, and doing nail art. Claire is so excited to be joining the Dance Endeavors team and to be able to share her love of dance!
Educators & Support Staff
Our talented and creative staff includes highly trained, enthusiastic, and positive instructors with background in a wide variety of dance styles. Many of our instructors grew up dancing at DE and have returned to teach after receiving additional training at collegiate and professional levels.
Claire S
Educator
Claire grew up in Ankeny IA where she began her dance journey at age 5. In high school she also participated in choir, show choir and cheerleading. Claire enjoys tap, contemporary, tumbling and heels along with more traditional dance training. Claire had the opportunity to perform at Disneyland and Universal Studios as a dancer and in Milwaukee as a vocalist. She has been recognized for her performance quality in every activity, and continues to perform in her adult life. She studied dance at U of MN - Mankato, serving as the secretary of the Student Dance Coalition. Claire is excited to continue learning and growing through dance with Dance Endeavors!
Emma
Educator, Assistant Competition Coordinator
Emma is originally from Park Rapids Minnesota. She trained in dance for nine years and competed in dance throughout high school. Emma is trained in ballet, jazz, musical theatre, tap, hip hop, contemporary and modern, with additional experience in precision dancing, pointe and acrobatics. Emma has attended intensives with the Radio City Rockettes and The National Dance Association. She also completed the zone trainee program at Zenon Dance Company. Emma is USAG certified in coaching gymnastics and tumbling, and has been teaching dance, and choregraphing and coaching gymnastics for the past 7 years. She will is attending college, majoring in Psychology, and continuing her trainee program at Zenon Dance School. Emma is excited to be the Assistant Competition Director this year as well as an instructor! She can’t wait to continue her growth at Dance Endeavors!
Aliyah
Educator
Aliyah has grown up in dance, and has called Dance Endeavors her home for 15 years. She has trained in all styles with contemporary being her current favorite. This is her 5th year on the Dance Endeavors competition team where she has earned top awards at both Regional and National events. Aliyah has hosted DE Birthday parties, assisted in numerous classes and taught her own classes. She organizes team events and does planning and execution for many studio needs. Aliyah is excited to be teaching again this year and share her love and knowledge of dance!
Jessica
Educator
Jessica is a Maple Grove native and started dancing at age three. She started competing at the age of five and went on to win multiple titles and scholarships. She also was a gymnast for ten years and danced on the highly acclaimed Totino Grace High School varsity dance team. Jessica went to North Dakota State University where she trained under the director of the Fargo-Moorhead ballet and obtained a minor in dance. She recently coached dance team at Eden Prairie where she taught and choreographed jazz and high kick. Jessica is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, gymnastics, and more. Jessica just graduated from law school and is a law clerk to a Judge in family court. Jessica is very excited to be a part of the Dance Endeavors team and to spread her passion for dance!
Alarica
Educator
Alarica is a Minnesota-born dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Predominantly Cecchetti- trained, she has over 7 years experience teaching ballet and is excited to share her passion with Dance Endeavors. She has danced professionally as a company member with the Tobak Russian Character Dance Company, John Munger's Third Rabbit Dance Ensemble, Continental Ballet Company, Ballet of the Dolls, and The Armenian Dance Ensemble of Minnesota and has also performed as a guest artist with Saint Paul Ballet and Live Action Set.
Outside of dance, Alarica speaks several languages and works as a French interpreter.
Monica
Educator
Monica was born and raised in the Minneapolis/Richfield area and now lives in Bloomington. Monica is a lifelong learner of many different styles of dancing. She is trained in ballet, jazz and tap and also enjoys learning salsa and various ballroom techniques. After college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Monica was a member of an advanced adult competition tap group for seven years. Monica has been teaching and choreographing dance to children for over 10 years in studio classes, dance camps and workshops. Outside of the studio, Monica enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters at their family cabin in Minnesota.
Sophia
Administrative Assistant, Nutcracker Associate Director and Educator
Sophia recently graduated from the U or MN with a BFA in Dance and a 200 Hour Yoga Certification. She has performed in works by and trained under artists including Herb Johnson III, Danial Shapiro & Joanie Smith of Shapiro and Smith Dance, Souleymane Badolo, and Renée Copeland & Genevieve Muench of Hiponymous, Carl Flink, Erin Thompson, and Marciano Silva Dos Santos. She has also worked closely with Madeleine Scott of South Dakota Ballet in Sioux Falls for the last two seasons. She loves to share her passion for dance with people of all ages and abilities. She hopes to foster a meaningful community by meeting each dancer where they are at and creating a safe space that empowers them to push their limits. Sophia is so excited to stage the 2nd annual Nutcracker Ballet as well as teach classes and create competition choreography!