White Bear Dance Center

Instructor

Aaliyah acker

Aaliyah has been dancing since she was 2. In 2023, she graduated high school and completed her 15th season of competitive dance. While dancing at White Bear Dance Center she was a WBDC assistant and an award winning company dancer and soloist. Aaliyah was a double varsity member of Forest Lake Dance Team where she helped her team achieve 4 conference championships over her years on FLDT.

Aaliyah is a student at the University of Minnesota where she is studying Kinesiology on a Pre-PT route. She loves being around kids and hopes to pursue a career as a pediatric physical therapist. She is also currently a toddler teacher at Room For Growing in Forest Lake. Aaliyah is so excited to transfer to an instructor roll at WBDC, the place she calls her second home, for the 2024-25 season.

Adaptive Dance, Instructor

GRETCHEN BIEHN

Gretchen graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She loves her job as a 4th grade teacher at Centennial Elementary.

She danced for 16 years and was a competitive dancer for 11 years. She won awards both regionally and nationally as a dancer. She also performed in Walt Disney World in 2016.

She has worked as an assistant teacher for recreational and competitive classes for 5 years and teaching for 8 years both at WBDC and a dance studio in North Dakota.

We always loved when she spent her summers back home teaching at WBDC and are thrilled to have her back on staff year round for a second season!

Instructor

Allison Burns

Allison began dancing at the age of 3 and grew up studying ballet at St. Croix Ballet Academy in Stillwater, MN. She continued her dance education at Out on a Limb Dance Company and School in St. Paul, where she broadened her training to include jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, and tap. She also performed with Out on a Limb as a company member for many years.

Outside of her dance life, she holds a BFA in graphic design and a BA in journalism from the University of Minnesota. She is the owner and graphic designer behind AllieMarie Design (check out her work at www.alliemariedesign.com).

She's also a proud dance mom of a Mini Company member this year! 

Allison discovered a love for teaching in 2005 and has enjoyed instructing in all styles of dance to students of all ages throughout the Twin Cities area.

We are excited to have Allison on staff again for the 2024-25 season!

Office Manager

Sarah Cook

Sarah has been a part of WBDC since 2015, when her oldest daughter began dancing at the studio. After spending several years as a dance mom, she joined WBDC’s amazing Front Desk staff.

Since then, she has enjoyed helping WBDC around the studio and community and is excited to add on the role of Office Manager this season!

Her exceptional attention to detail and organization skills will be highlighted in this new role!

Instructor

Layla DIan

Layla has been a dancer for the past 12 years. She started dancing at WBDC when she was 11 and continued her dance career throughout college. She was a member, captain and assistant coach of the Minnesota Premier Dance Team at the University of Minnesota where she graduated last year with a degree in Journalism.

During her time as a competitive dancer she won awards at the highest level regionally and nationally. She was awarded many technique, performance and title achievements as a soloist. She is known for her amazing lines and incredible stage presence.

She is so excited to work with the WBDC dancers and dance families again this season!

Instructor

jennie Hebaus

Jennie is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business & Marketing. She is currently working at Land O’Lakes as a Social Media associate.

She has been a dancer for over 20 years. Growing up she trained at White Bear Dance Center in ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, hip hop and tap. She was a competitive company dancer with WBDC for 13 years. She received numerous regional and national awards/titles and was often recognized for her turn technique and stage presence.

She went on to become a 4 year member, one as captain, of the University of Minnesota Premier Dance Team. Since graduation she continues her training by taking classes in the Twin Cities area and New York City.

She is delighted to be able to share her love for dance and fitness by being back at WBDC as an instructor for another season.

Co-Owner, Instructor

Jenny Landry

Jenny is one of the proud co-owners of White Bear Dance Center.   

She grew up dancing in the Twin Cities Area, as an award winning regional and national competition dancer.   She graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a BA in Dance, she moved to Orlando to work for Walt Disney World.   She loved working for Walt Disney World Entertainment within the 4 theme parks, various resorts, and special events.  Her favorite position was with Disney Magic Music Days (Disney Performing Arts and now Imagination Campus), a department that brings children/performers from all over the world to perform within Walt Disney World.  

After teaching in dance studios and running various competition programs through out Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida, she has loved returning home to MN where she is going into her 15th season as co-owner of WBDC. 

Known for her choreography, costuming and creativity, she loves sharing her passion for dance and theater with her students.

Adaptive Dance, Instructor

Payten Stemig

We are thrilled to have Payten back at WBDC as an instructor for another season.

She is an Education Assistant Specialist at Pankalo Education Center. She adores working and helping children feel great about themselves and showing them how to feel confident and successful in a learning environment.

She was a WBDC Company dancer for 10 years and assistant for 6 years. Working as a nanny, babysitter, chauffeur and built in best friend for what feels like all of our younger company dancers at WBDC it was only a natural choice to have her transition into an instructor roll after she graduated.

She is so excited for the 2024-25 season.

Instructor

Sydney TImm

Sydney graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with majors in English and Sociology/Anthropology and minors in Spanish and dance. She is currently in graduate school for a Masters in Social Work, and will graduate in May of 2025. She is specializing in Clinical Mental Health and hopes to work with children and families. 

She has danced for 19 years, and competed for 10 years. She studied modern dance at Gustavus Adolphus and had experience choreographing and setting a piece to be performed in a school sponsored show. She was captain of her college dance team for two years, and has competed both regionally and nationally. She has experience in styles of jazz, lyrical, ballet, modern, hip hop, tap, contemporary, pom, and musical theater. 

She is currently employed as a Behavior Therapist at Minnesota Behavioral Specialists, where she works with children with disabilities, and has 5 years of experience working with children ages 2-17.

She is excited to begin her first season teaching at WBDC!

Co-Owner, Instructor

Katie Weidner

Katie is one of the proud co-owners of White Bear Dance Center.  

Dance has been part of her life since she can remember.  She grew up performing and training with The Dance Shoppe.   She was a regional and national award winning dancer and now loves sharing her passion with her students.  She attended Gustavus Adolphus College and The University of Minnesota with a BA in Dance.  She was a member of the Dance Team for The U of M.   

She has danced professionally in hair and convention shows, in various theaters and outlets in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and for the Royal Caribbean International Cruise lines.  

After teaching at various studios in the area, she was happy to become co-owner of WBDC, going into their 15th season.

Known for her classic technique, high energy choreography, and intense tapping, she is a favorite amongst all ages and levels of students!