Kelsie Carter
Kelsie Carter is a South East Idaho native who loves learning about and engaging in the arts. In 2017, Kelsie received her Bachelors of Honors in Dance with an emphasis in Choreography and Performance. Since that time, Kelsie has continued her education by receiving certifications in Yoga (YTT 200 through Yoga Alliance), Progressing Ballet Technique, and Above the BARRE. Kelsie is the new studio owner and director of Dancer’s Edge Rexburg, succeeding the lovely Joy Esplin Harris. Kelsie is also serving as the Advocacy director for the Idaho Dance Education Organization. Recently, Kelsie had the opportunity to perform in the Brigham Young University – Idaho Faculty Concert performing the piece, Dichotomy, choreographed and directed by Ashley Storm and Joy Esplin Harris. Dichotomy was a career highlight for Kelsie, and she gratefully and eagerly anticipates the next project she will become a part of. Kelsie has also performed with The Dance Collaborative of Idaho Falls for the past two years and has enjoyed the opportunity to choreograph and perform again. Kelsie has always had a deep love and attachment to movement, especially when given the opportunity to contact with a partner. The conversation and continual collaboration of peers and mentors in dance is something Kelsie thrives on. Working together is always a challenging and successful venture for her. Kelsie lives in Saint Anthony, Idaho with her family and enjoys being outdoors, eating and baking desserts of all kinds, exercising, going to the movies, and traveling the world. Kelsie is looking forward to working with everyone at the IDEO 2019 Conference this Fall, and hopes it is a positive experience for all who participate.
Ashley Case
Ashley Case is from Rexburg Idaho and grew up loving her little community and all it had to offer. As a little girl she would play music and dance all around the house having no idea what she was doing, her mom decided the excess energy should be put to good use. She started dancing as a Jazz baby but then expanded her expertise to different styles including; Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro, Tap, and Clog. Ashley graduated with her Bachelors of Arts degree from Brigham Young University of Idaho. She has had the opportunity to be on touring dance companies and has toured the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, and Panama. Dancing with many different companies and always wanting to expand her knowledge of dance Ashley has danced with; The Dance Collaborative, Dance Alliance, Collegiate Dancer’s, Aspire, Esplin Dance Project, The Dancer’s Project, and more. Ashley currently has her dream job of teaching dance to all ages and in many different styles. She loves sharing her joy of movement and getting to pass on what she has learned to her students and continue to learn from them as well. She believes that dance can be an outlet and that it can be a form of expression far beyond words.
Amy De Vera
Amy De Vera is a Utah native, but has enjoyed living in Rexburg for the last several years. In addition to Dancer’s Edge, she currently serves as adjunct faculty at Brigham Young University-Idaho where she graduated with honors, receiving her Bachelors in Dance Choreography and Performance in 2018. She most recently performed in a faculty concert at BYU-Idaho, entitled Dichotomy, directed and choreographed by Ashley Storm and Joy Esplin Harris. She also choreographed for and performed with The Dance Collaborative for their 2018 season, and was grateful to perform three years with BYU-Idaho’s touring company, Dance Alliance. Amy looks forward to serving as Assistant Director to Dance Alliance in 2020. Amy specializes in contemporary dance and holds a YTT200 certification in Yoga and also has extensive experience in ballet, jazz, floor work, improvisation, composition, world, and exposure to ballroom and footworks. She has taught at several local dance studios over the last few years, and enjoys watching her dance and yoga students discover curiosity, make connections, question themselves, and grow. Her choreography has won numerous awards at festivals, conferences, pageants, and competitions. When she’s not dancing and creating, Amy enjoys hammocks, naps, an engaging read, and bread baking.
Hannah Dunn
Hannah Dunn began dancing at an early age training mostly in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Music Theater. She performed as Maria in the Nutcracker Ballet and at 12 years old was selected to perform on stage with the New York City Ballet. At the university level she toured 4 semesters with Brigham Young University Idaho’s Dance Alliance, to Canada and New York City and was a student instructor Beginning Modern Dance Course and served as director for the Collegiate Dancer’s Company. She received her BA in dance from BYU-I in 2013 with academic and talent scholarships and an emphasis in Choreography. She is currently teaching adjunct at the University and has worked on numerous projects including Co-director for Winter 2019’s Extravadance and Assistant Director for the 2013 Christmas Show. She’s had an extensive performing and teaching career having performed as a professional dancer throughout Southern Idaho in The Dance Collaborative and Flatlands Dance Theater in Texas. As a choreographer her piece “To Know Thee” won 1st place at the Research and Creative Works Conference and her film “Get Out Houston” was 1 of only 5 artists rewarded and recognized by the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts for her work with Popwalk.
She has had the opportunity to train with the likes of Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, Repertory Dance Theatre, Bill T Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company, Scorpius Dance Company, Ririe-Woodbury, Danielle Agami, Daniel Charon, and most recently Yvonne Racz-Key, and Charlotte Boye-Christensen. As a teacher she had the privilege to work with Ballet Lubbock’s Outreach program which taught underprivileged youth ballet and with Flatland Dance Theater’s Youth literacy program.
“As a dancer, teacher, and choreographer I believe creating community is the most important part of what I do. I try to exhibit this in all aspects of my life as an artist, teacher, and athlete. I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this community and family Kelsie is building here at Dancer’s Edge!”-Hannah
Hayley Stoddard
Hayley Stoddard was born and raised in the Rexburg area and is a Dancer’s Edge alumni! She is just a couple semesters away from graduating with her bachelors in dance, with and emphasis in performance and choreography. Hayley is very active in the dance department at BYUI and has been a member of both the Collegiate and Dance Alliance companies. She has received her 200 hour YTT yoga certification from Yoga Alliance. She has been dancing for 13 years, and has trained in many styles including modern, jazz, contemporary, ballet, gymnastics, hiphop, and more! She loves working with the next generation of dancers to help them achieve their goals and find a love for dance!
Kierstena Rolfson
Kiersi adores teaching and dancing! Her dance experience began at age 3. She danced with “Stars on Stage” by Katie Sandberg and at Jan’s School of Dance in Washington state. She received a bachelor’s degree in Child Development with a minor in Contemporary Dance at BYU-Idaho. Her experience with teaching children is substantial! She worked as a behavioral therapist for children with disabilities for 6 years, taught Mommy and Me dance for toddlers also for 6 years, worked at a preschool and daycare for 3 years, taught kids’ dance at Bodifi Gym for 2 years, and has 3 years’ experience teaching and choreographing for multiple ages at other dance studios. Kiersi has been described as creative, energetic, and “magic” with the little kids. She loves to hike, kayak, and watch movies with her husband and 3 kids.
Catherine Allred
Catherine Allred was born and raised in Rexburg and loves the experience and memories her hometown has given her, especially when it comes to dance. Catherine trained in Ballet for 13 years before studying and graduating from Brigham Young University-Idaho. Her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with concentrations in both Dance and Business Management, has given her a wide variety of experience in studio dance. While studying at a collegiate level, she performed on the BYU-Idaho Dance Alliance team for 3 years where she toured the Midwestern and Southern United States, Eastern Canada, and Michigan. She has had the opportunity to perform and compete in Ballet at a national level through the Distinguished Young Women Program, as well as co-create and teach a curriculum for the China Horizons School of Dance in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China. Catherine’s specialty styles include Modern and Ballet, but she has also had experience and exposure to different dance genres including world, Ballroom, Hip Hop, and Footworks. Her love of discovery and creativity of the body and mind have become her anchor as she pursues her ambitions of becoming a teacher, performer, and choreographer of dance. Catherine loves to watch the evolution that occurs in herself and in others as they work toward their greatest potential as artists and dancers.
Quincy Boe
Quincy Boe received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho with an emphasis in Dance Choreography and Performance. She was a member of their premier touring dance company, Dance Alliance, for two years. She has trained in modern, ballet and jazz dance, the bartenieff fundamentals and has completed extensive coursework in dance kinesiology, teaching methods, dance history, and choreography.She taught beginning modern and jazz classes on campus and student directed the last Extravadance show in the Oscar A. Kirkham Theater celebrating the theater’s 50 plus years. Quincy has worked with teams and studios in many places from Houston, Texas to Rexburg, Idaho and Napa, California. She has served as an assistant coach to the 28-time NDA National Champion team; the Napa High School Spiritleaders. Quincy most recently taught ballet, contemporary, jazz, pre-dance, dance for special needs and musical theater classes at The Dance House Napa Valley under the direction of Alex Blitstein. In August 2020 Quincy completed her 200-hour yoga certification through Yoga Alliance. She is extremely passionate about providing a safe space for children of all ages to learn, grow and experience dance.
Madeline Andrew
Madeline Andrew is an Idaho native with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Performance and Choreography. She has been the recipient of multiple talent and academic scholarships at Brigham Young University Idaho and has trained extensively in Jazz, Contemporary, Modern and Ballet. She is also a Yoga Certified teacher through Yoga Alliance and loves to help others learn the practice. Dance has been a part of her life since childhood and she cannot imagine her life without it. She loves to teach and finds joy in helping others accomplish their goals.
Kirsten Ludvigson
My name is Kirsten Ludvigson and I am from Johannesburg, South Africa. I grew up in a culturally diverse country with many vibrant rhythms and dances. I began Modern dancing at the age of 5, and a few years later I started Ballet too. I went on to study a Bachelor of Music in Dance at the University of Cape Town. During my studies I was able to travel to the USA twice for the AAB Summer Intensive Program in New York, and for a research project including performances, discussions, and classes with the University of Delaware. I have had the privilege of learning from world class teachers both at home and abroad. I am also a qualified Personal Trainer, and so body conditioning, fitness, and injury prevention in dance are also interests of mine. While Contemporary dance is my first love, I have learnt many other styles and I enjoy the continuation of learning that takes place in dance, no matter what level of experience you have. I love that every person has a different way of moving, and dancing for wellbeing is definitely a priority of mine. During and after my studies, I was able to dance and perform internationally and back home in festivals, in an opera, in corporate events, on tours, and I’ve taught little ones as well as working adults. Now, my journey has finally led me to have the opportunity to teach in the United States, and I am so excited!
Rachel Ostler
Rachel Ostler was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rachel began dance and gymnastics at an early age. She is trained in mainly jazz, hip hop, and acrobatics . She has competed at WCE competitions for the past four years. From 2017-2018 She was honored to be a WCE grand champion and from 2017-2020 was an NDA all American. She started college at Brigham Young University- Idaho in 2021 as a dance major. She has danced for Brigham Young University-Idaho’s tour company Dance Alliance for her first two semesters and is excited to join the Collegiate team in the fall. She has enjoyed teaching summer dance camps for the past four years and has especially loved choreographing and leading Green Valley high schools dance team for the past two years. She loves watching her students excel in class and is grateful she can be apart of their dance journey!