MYDT Faculty

Emily Blacik Joos – Assistant Director
Ballet, Tap, Modern

Emily holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She was a member of Li Chiao-Ping Dance Company for 2 years, and had the opportunity to work with many renowned choreographers including Sean Curran, Molissa Fenley, Laura Dean, James Sutton, Cornelius Carter, Joe Chvala and Mel Wong. Emily has taught at MYDT since its beginning, and initiated MYDT's modern dance program in 1999.

 

Brad Hamilton – Jazz, Musical Theatre

Brad has been teaching at MYDT since 1994 while participating in performances around the Twin Cities. He has previously performed in Europe and on cruise ships.

 

Stacy Kotch – Modern, Jazz

Stacy holds a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University, and has participated in a wide array of dance performances. She joined MYDT in 2001.

 

Rebecca Saienga –
Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Combos

Rebecca has been dancing since the age of three. She has performed throughout the United States at such venues as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington , D.C. She has been a guest artist for a project with JAZZDANCE by Danny Buraceski, as well as an understudy with Cathy Young Dance. She has performed works by Merce Cunningham, Doug Varone, Shapiro and Smith, Zoe Sealy, and countless other choreographers. Rebecca has studied at Interlochen, American Dance Festival, American College Dance Festival, and at numerous workshops and conventions throughout the country. She received her BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota . She has been teaching in the Twin Cities since 1995, and has enjoyed being with MYDT since 2002.

 

Jessica Gryniewski – Hip Hop

Jessica graduated from MYDT in 2002 and has taught at MYDT for 8 years. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in dance, and is currently attending William Mitchell College of Law.

 

Margaret Marinoff – Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Combo

Margaret studied dance at the University of Utah and the University of Minnesota where she received a BFA in Dance. She has also trained with many prestigious teachers across the United States, and has performed with the Continental Ballet.

 

Becca Woodbury - Preschool, Ballet

Becca is a graduate of MYDT, and has been teaching for 2 years. She is currently attending the University of Minnesota.

 

Renee Starr - Ballet, Musical Theatre, Combos

Renee is an MYDT graduate and holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota . She is a member of ARENA Dances, and has taught at MYDT for 6 years.

 

Brita Schoen - Combos

Brita is an MYDT graduate and previous substitute teacher who recently received a degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota . She is currently pursuing a law degree at Hamline University .

 

Grace Wilson – Substitute

Grace is a graduate of MYDT and has been teaching for 5 years. She is also a graduate of Macalester College.