Nancy Dianne Studio of Dance, Ltd.
Family Owned and Operated Since 1972

2022 News Coverage

CBS 58 News Story:

Everyday Hero



Original air date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022


CBS 58 News Story: Everyday Hero-Extended Story


Original air date:

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Menomonee Falls Business Works Spotlight Business


Original air date:

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

February 2023 DMW Convention: Ingleside Hotel

  • Slide title

    Miss Megan taking class with Master Ballet Teacher, Jamie Harris!

    Button

  • Slide title

    Each of our convention participants earned scholarships to further their dance education.


    Our scholarship recipients!


    Pictured from left to right:

    Megan Holzhauer (College Scholarship)

    Aurelia Dawson (Dance Study of Choice)

    Rachel Gasser (Tap Study of Choice)

    Ella Kempen (3 DMW Workshops)

    Button

  • Slide title

    Congratulations to Miss Megan on her $1500 College Scholarship!

    Button

About Us

Nancy Dianne Studio of Dance, Ltd has been a part of the Menomonee Falls Fine Arts community since 1972.  As a family owned and operated business, we are honored to have you as a part of our dance family.  

We believe we offer a high quality program including a facility specifically designed and built for dance instruction. However, and much more importantly, we are fortunate to have assembled one of the finest and most qualified teaching staffs available to area dance students.  Our staff includes instructors who have completed college level degree programs in the Fine Arts as dance majors, as well as a Master Instructor who is regularly a guest instructor at Dance Conferences and meetings nationwide. Additionally, each of our instructors regularly participates in conferences and seminars to stay up to date on the latest developments in dance and teaching techniques.

We are also proud to note that a number of our current instructors were students of the Studio, including my daughter Heather Kempen and Holly Heard. It is extremely gratifying to see them carry on the legacy and objectives of the Studio and we believe that few organizations can provide this level of experience and talent to its students.

Our mission is to provide traditional Dance training from a dedicated and professional faculty teaching Dance as an Art through graded classes that best fit each student’s needs and abilities. 

Our Staff

Nancy Dianne Stark

Nancy is the Studio Director. Before taking on the responsibilities as Director of the Studio, she danced professionally as a founding member of the Milwaukee Ballet Company and also danced in the Vienna Operetta Carnival at the Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee (now the Marcus Performing Arts Center). Over the years, she has had the opportunity of studying with such well known teachers as the late Professor Jury Gotschalks, Professor Myron Nadel, William Reilly and Lupe Serrano of the American Ballet Theatre. She has also studied in Chicago at the Stone-Camyron Ballet School, the Gus Giordano Jazz Center in Evanston, Illinois, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Wisconsin College Conservatory.

She is a lifetime member of the Dance Masters of Wisconsin (DMW) and the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM), each of which is a national organization that strives for higher education in Dance. She also enjoys working with the youth of the community and has done choreography work for the Menomonee Falls North musical “Finnian’s Rainbow” as well as numerous Band Revues and Menomonee Falls Junior Miss Programs.

In June 2009, the Menomonee Falls School District recognized Nancy as a distinguished alumni by induction into the Menomonee Falls High School Performing Arts Hall of Fame. An independent committee of Teachers and Administrators selected Nancy for inclusion in this select group in recognition of her substantial and long standing contributions to the fine arts and community programs since having graduated from the Menomonee Falls High School. A permanent plaque recognizing this induction has been installed on the Wall of Recognition in the lobby of the Menomonee Falls High School Auditorium.

Heather Kempen, CDE (HK)

Heather is the Assistant Director of the Nancy Dianne Studio of Dance, Ltd.  She began her dance training here at the age of three and during her fifteen years as a student of the Studio, she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Tumbling, and Modern Dance and participated in the Student Teaching Apprenticeship Program. In addition to her participation at the Studio, Heather also furthered her dance education by attending classes at Milwaukee Ballet School and Danceworks Milwaukee. She continues to attend Dance Masters of Wisconsin (DMW) and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) Workshops and Conventions throughout the year.

Heather graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in May of 2000, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. At the U of M, she had the opportunity to study with teachers such as Lise Houlton (former American Ballet Theater dancer and Director of the Minnesota Dance Theatre), Cathy Young (former member of JAZZDANCE and renowned Minneapolis Jazz choreographer), and Modern dancers/Choreographers Paula Mann and Erin Thompson. As a part of the University Dance Theater, Heather performed in Jose Limon’s “There Is A Time”, set by Carl Flink and Emilie Plauche of New York city’s Jose Limon Dance Company, and understudied Paula Mann’s “Mad Rush” as a part of the University Dance Theatre’s “Women At Work'' concert.

Heather has been a member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters since 2002. She passed her Certified Dance Educator Exam (CDE) through this organization in 2006.  Heather is also a member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin where she was voted to serve as the DMW Educational Director in 2022 and Vice President in 2023. In 2016, she successfully completed the ABTⓇ Teacher Training Intensive in Detroit, becoming certified in the Pre-Primary thru Level 3 of the ABTⓇ National Training Curriculum. 

Melissa  Anderson (MA)

Miss Melissa has been happily teaching Ballet and Pointe technique at Nancy Dianne Studio since 2005. A native of Milwaukee, she has performed in Soloist and Principal Roles with companies as diverse as the Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Teatro Municipal de San Juan, Southern Ballet Theatre (now the Orlando Ballet), Michigan Opera Theatre and the Icelandic National Ballet. She has also danced with Danceworks Performance Company, a Contemporary dance ensemble located in Milwaukee, WI under the direction of Dani Kuepper. Melissa also teaches Ballet as adjunct faculty at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts.

Melissa enjoys sharing, teaching and choreographing at large dance conventions such as Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM), Dance Masters of Wisconsin (DMW), Southern Dance Masters, Atlanta’s Ballet Fest and SPARK, Texas Association Teachers of Dance (TATD) and the National Association for Dance and Affiliated Arts (NADAA).

Melissa is an American Ballet Theatre (ABTⓇ) Certified Teacher. She has successfully completed the ABTⓇ Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABTⓇ National Training Curriculum. Miss Melissa has been featured in Dance Magazine’s Dancer Online Chat, and in Dance Teacher Magazine. You can connect with her on Facebook at Melissa Anderson Ballet, Pointe, Choreography, Performance.

Chelsey Biersach (CB)

Chelsey began her dance training at the Studio at the age of seven and has studied Ballet, Jazz, and Modern Dance. During her high school years she participated in the Student Teaching Apprenticeship Program as well as having participated in multiple Chicago National Association of Dance Masters and Dance Masters of Wisconsin workshops. Chelsey graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she completed a double undergraduate major in Dance and Business and subsequently earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration concentrating on Business Analytics. As an Undergraduate at UWM she has had the opportunity to perform in several works choreographed by both students and faculty and also had the opportunity to study with the Milwaukee Ballet during their six-week summer intensive in 2017. In Spring 2020, Chelsey became a member of the Dance Masters of Wisconsin having successfully passed her Entrance Examination.

Holly Heard


Holly began her dance education at the age of three at the Studio. In the later portion of her time at the Studio, she was involved in the Student Teaching Apprenticeship Program and was a part of the Advanced Placement Level in all dance disciplines. Holly has attended many Dance Masters of Wisconsin workshops as well as Chicago National Association of Dance Masters conventions.


Holly holds a dual major in Elementary Education and Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership as well as Curriculum and Instruction and Director of Special Education and Pupil Services from Carroll University. In addition to her experience in education and administration, Holly has also worked in event

management in both Southern California and locally at Ironwood Golf Course, in Sussex.


While Holly is not directly teaching students at the Studio at this time, she works on the administrative side of the business handling accounts and marketing. Holly looks forward to the day that she can bring an adaptive/inclusive dance curriculum to the Studio allowing all students to share the joy and expression dance can bring to both the dancer and audience.


Holly Swenson (HH)

Holly was first introduced to dancing at the age of two and a half at Melody 'n Motion in West Bend. She began her training at Nancy Dianne Studio of Dance at the age of ten and continued through her completion of high school taking classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Modern Dance. During her high school years, she became involved with the Studio's Student Teaching Apprenticeship Program and was accepted into the Advanced Placement Level in all of her dance disciplines. Holly graduated from West Bend East High School in May 2006 and went on to study at the University of Iowa where she graduated in May 2010 with Bachelor degrees in Dance as well as Business Administration-Finance. While at the University of Iowa, Holly won several scholarships as a result of her demonstrated abilities in Dance as well as having performed in numerous undergraduate performances. She became a member of Milwaukee's Danceworks Tap Company, "Danceworks On Tap” in 2012. Additionally, Holly was dance instructor and choreographer for the Falls Patio Players Summer Camp's production of "Annie Jr.". In June, 2019 Holly completed a Master’s Degree in Finance from Concordia University Wisconsin. She is a member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin as well as the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Holly was recently named Treasurer of the Dance Masters of Wisconsin.

Megan Holzhauer (MH)

Megan joined the Studio staff after having graduated from Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in 2021. She is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a Sophomore where she is working toward her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance degree. In connection with her enrollment there, Megan was awarded The Peck School of the Arts Dance Student Scholarship,  The Peck School of the Arts Provost merit award and the Dance Foundation Scholarship from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.


Megan began her training at the Studio at the age of three, achieving Advanced/Intensive levels in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Modern Dance. Throughout her high school years, she was involved in the Studio’s Student Teacher Apprenticeship Program, providing leadership to students and assistance to primary instructors. Megan has attended several Dance Masters of Wisconsin Workshops and was selected to receive two scholarships through this organization. She has also participated in the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters Ballet Forum, earning a spot in the highest ballet level. 


In the fall of 2021, Megan was featured in two New Dancemakers pieces choreographed and presented by the Dance Department students at UWM. Additionally, she was selected to perform in UWM faculty member Dawn Springer’s piece for the 2022 Spring dances. Megan is looking forward to continuing to perform in pieces in the New Dancemakers, Winterdances and Springdances presentations in the upcoming school year. In addition to that, she looks forward to assisting the Dance Department students as a writing tutor.

Abby Knueppel (AK)

Abby Knueppel graduated from Living Word Lutheran High School in Spring of 2022. Throughout her High School career she took part in Choir, Dance Team, Track and Field, Praise Band, Solo and Ensemble competitions, Musical and Drama programs as well as other Clubs. In addition to her numerous extracurricular activities she was inducted into the National Honor Society having earned a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.9 In addition, she received the Student Athlete Award from her school for having maintained a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher while participating in a Varsity sport.


Abby has been dancing at the Nancy Dianne Studio of Dance since she was three years old and the Studio has become a very significant part of the young adult she has become. Over the past several years, Abby has had the wonderful and educational experience of sharing her leadership and demonstrative skills by participating in the Student Teacher Apprenticeship Program. As a student of the Studio, Abby has consistently attended both Dance Masters of Wisconsin and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters conferences where she received multiple Scholarships from each organization. In Fall, 2022 Abby begins her college career by enrolling at UW-Milwaukee where she intends to pursue a double major in Dance and Kinesiology. She intends to stay connected with the Studio throughout her college career as she feels this will be a great asset in preparing her for a future career in the field of Dance.



Miranda Zielinski (MZ)

Miranda began training in dance at the Studio at the age of 3 and continued on until graduating from Germantown High School. During her 15 years at the Studio she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern Dance and in her High School years participated in the Student Teaching Apprenticeship Program. Miranda has attended multiple Chicago National Association of Dance Masters intensives, and was awarded the 2015 College Scholarship from Dance Masters of Wisconsin.
 
Miranda graduated in 2019 with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Dance and Choreography. Here she has had the opportunity to work with and perform works choreographed by faculty members Darci Wutz, Dani Kuepper and visiting Professor Rhea Speights. In addition to faculty works, she has been previously selected to perform in works done by 5 student choreographers. She was also given the opportunity to work with New York visual artist, Xavier Cha and Chicago based choreographer Molly Shanahan. Miranda is also a member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin having passed her entrance Examination in Spring, 2019. 

Follow Us On Facebook for Studio News

Share by: