Meet Our Instructors
Our experienced instructors are dedicated to helping you achieve your dance goals. They bring years of training and performance experience to each class and are passionate about sharing their love of dance with others. You'll find their expertise and enthusiasm create a supportive environment where you can grow as a dancer.
Heather Osborn
Like most dancers, Heather began her dance training while in elementary school. She started with a community ed program and eventually moving to a local studio where she learned jazz, tap, and ballet. Once Heather started high school, she became a member of both the performance and competitive dance teams, adding both hip hop and pom to her repertoire. After High school, she continued her dance training at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and eventually started choreographing for Unity High School of Balsam Lake WI and Saint Croix Falls High School dance teams, as well as working with the local dance studio in Osceola, WI. Over the past two years, Heather has been working locally with dancers aged 3 and up. Teaching them technique and choreographing both competitive and recital pieces. Some of Heather’s favorite dance memories are performing during the Minnesota Timberwolves games and competing with her High School competition team at the WACPC state championships. After her 20 plus years of choreographing, teaching, and learning about the art of dance Heather is looking forward to sharing her passion for dance with the Chequamegon bay area community as not only an instructor but the owner of Elevé Elite Dance Academy.
Desi Niewinski
Desi began dancing at the age of 3 at Summit Dance Shoppe in Plymouth, Minnesota. She was trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and started competitive dancing at the age of 7. In high school she attended the Performing Institute of Minnesota to obtain a dance arts endorsement. In high school she developed more skills in ballet and modern technique, choreography skills, improvisation classes, and attended multiple workshops in ballroom and belly dance. In college she was a member of the Northland College Dance Team, and in graduate school was a member of the SMAG dance collective. She has previously worked at Saint Paul City Ballet, instructing 3-6 year olds in ballet technique, and has previously taught jazz, ballet, tap, and lyrical classes at En Pointe Dance Company and Ashland School of Dance. Desi works for Bayfield Country and lives in Washburn, WI. Desi is thrilled to continue the dance journey at Elevè Elite Dance Academy and to create a love for dance within her students! Desi will be teaching tap and production and would love to choreograph solos/duets/trios this year in a multitude of styles.
Amanda Johnson
Amanda began the art of dance in Ashland at the age of 3. When she reached the age of 7 she began competing and began taking classes anywhere she could. Throughout her dance journey, Amanda studied the styles of ballet, lyrical, pointe, jazz, and tap. Throughout her training in high school, she further developed skills in modern dance, character dance, pas de deux, ballroom, and pom. Some notable moments in her dance career were when she danced with the Minnesota Ballet, was a member of the University of Wisconsin Superior Dance Team and performed at ESPN’s Capital One Bowl. Amanda has previously instructed ages 3-16 in a variety of styles, at local studios and public schools, as well as lead workshops for Camp Carnival on Carnival Cruise Lines, and RAF Lakenheath Air Force Base Youth Center in England. Amanda is a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician, recently moved back to Chequamegon Bay area. Amanda is SO excited to get back in the studio! She is most excited about sharing her love for classical ballet technique and choreography. This season, Amanda will be teaching intro to ballet, Opal Ballet/Jazz, Pre-Pointe, and Pointe. Amanda is available for private lessons and would love to work with students ready to learn the art of pre-pointe/pointe.
Emma Holtan
Emma began her relationship with dance in Madison, WI as a kindergartener. Over the course of time, she has studied jazz, lyrical, ballet, and contemporary. Emma also had dance opportunities while she was a member of her high school’s show choir and, since graduation has continued to work with the program choreographing pieces for them. In 2016, Emma migrated to the beautiful Chequamegon Bay area and attended Northland College. Although she has been dancing mostly as a hobby, Emma has also been teaching and choreographing occasionally for her home studio in Madison, WI. Dance is something she couldn't live without, and she's thrilled for the opportunity to share it with others once again! This Season, Emma will continue to spearhead our lyrical program and will be teaching Wednesday and Friday evenings. She is also excited to work with our dancers on solos, duets, and trios.