STAFF BIOS

TERESA NELSON:
Teresa, born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, has over 21 years of extensive dance training in jazz, lyrical, modern, ballet and tap. With her fast excelling talent she was invited to compete starting at the age of 7, at some of the most respected dance competitions held in the U.S, winning many various awards. At Dance Olympus she has taken champion solo overall awards. In addition to her competitive edge, she has accomplished many of her goals set for herself, including traveling the U.S. as a Dance Olympus VIP, in 1999. Some other highlights in her career include traveling to Hawaii with NCA cheerleading association. As Teresa matured as a dancer, she knew dance would be her life, along with competing she began her teaching career at the age of 16. Teaching children of all ages and levels, sharing her love of dance and her own styles with them. In addition to her studio training, she continued her dance education through various workshops taught by dance masters from all around the world. Some of her favorites are Dance Olympus, Tremaine and L.A. Danceforce. Locally, Teresa has also trained at UMD's Dance Department and was invited to choreograph UMD's dance team competition routine in 2005; her explosive choreography helped the team win 3rd at the regional competition held in Minneapolis, MN, qualifying them for nationals.

For many years Teresa has taught and choreographed for many young dancers at a local dance studio before Elite Dance Productions. She has helped many of these dancers win various high point and specialty awards with her highly respected fresh and unique choreography at many competitions such as; Showstoppers, Dance Olympus, Starquest, Showbiz and Starpower to name a few. Teresa is a firm believer in keeping her dance education up to date, so she can provide fresh and new innovating dance techniques and styles for her students. She feels blessed to be able to work with children every day doing what she loves to do and sharing her love for the living art form. DANCE!!! It is her true passion in life, and looks forward every day to the new adventures it always has to offer.

 

ANN RADIG:
Ann, a life Duluthian born in 1977, is very proud and excited to share with the Northland her extensive dance training background. She was introduced to dance at the age of 5 and at the age of 12, knew she wanted to claim a professional dance career. To accomplish her goals she began basically living at the studio, student teaching and training extensively in classical ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, lyrical and tap techniques. Due to her passion, she started her competition career competing at the most prestigious dance competitions such as; Showbiz, Dance Olympus, Showstoppers, Starpower, Starquest and Statewide. At these competitions she claimed many first, platinum, top high point and specialty awards for her dance execution and choreography, which qualified her to travel to Las Vegas, New York, Los Angles and Florida for Nationals.

In addition to her successful competition career, Ann still loves to attend workshops and conventions. Her favorites include LA Danceforce and the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance World Congress, where she has trained (and continues) with some of the worlds top choreographers and dance masters such as; Gus Giordano, Nan Giordano, Tremaine, Frank Hatchett, and many more at various workshops! One of her most memorable dance credentials includes auditioning for the American All-Star Dance/Drill Team where she traveled to Vienna, Austria and there was picked to perform in the Super Bowl. Over the years she realized her true passion lives within the art of dance technique training and has a gift of encouraging her students to work to the best of their abilities in dance class and outside of the classroom. Already, Ann has touched the lives of many young dancers in Duluth, and has helped them reach their goals as dancers by giving them great technique and providing them with unique and exciting choreography helping them win various awards at competitions. Ann is effective and proficient in training many and the most popular forms of dance disciplines and makes her continued education a top priority! She focuses on traditional and most recent dance training techniques from the West and East Coast styles while incorporating her unique and fresh style. Giving every dancer she instructs great knowledge and material to be creative, self-expressive and confident as they grow and learn their favorite styles of dance.

 

SARAH SHERLOCK:
Sarah was born and raised in the Northland. She began taking dance at the age of 10 and has since danced both recreationally as well as competitively. Though she has been instructed in many areas of dance, her passion and expertise is Hip Hop. In high school, Sarah was a varsity cheerleader in junior high and was on the school's dance team in high school. While on the dance team, Sarah led her team to the state competition two years in a row and was recognized by many for her choreography. Also while on the dance team, Sarah was selected by the Universal Dance Association as an All-Star and was invited to perform in the Paris New Year's Eve Parade in Paris, France. Since that time, Sarah has begun teaching Hip Hop dance competitively and her routines have achieved gold medal awards at many prestigious dance competitions in the Twin Cities. Sarah's love for dance has motivated her to continuously learn, improve and appreciate this art form, and she looks forward to sharing her passion with others!