EXCELLENCE IN DANCE SINCE 1950
Marilyn
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School of Dance
"Dedicated to providing the community with the best education in dance as a performing art."

Welcome! Specific Goals Diverse Schedule of Classes Performance Opportunities Convenient Locations Studying Classical Ballet –  --Why and When   What We Have To Offer Meet Our Faculty New! Suzanne’s Boutique

 
 

We are truly happy to have you as part of our dance family.  Our programs are second to none in achieving the right balance between professional quality training and fun!  Our faculty is dedicated to implementing new and innovative discoveries for the classroom. We always welcome new ideas and suggestions, just talk to the desk or inform Miss Suzanne of any you might have.  We value your input!

Our goal at Marilyn School of Dance is to provide our students with a positive learning and performance experience. Our handbook is an aid designed to acquaint students and their families with the day-to-day policies and procedures of Marilyn School of Dance. In addition, we have included information regarding the most commonly asked questions when beginning dance training.
 

Tu Twos:  For our terrific 2-3 yr olds, a series of 4 week workshops, each class with a differedt stimulating theme.  Imaginative gross motor skill exploration, creativity, musicality and tumbling.  The workshop may be repeated as themes are rarely duplicated.  30 min.

Kidlet:  The Early Childhood Discovery Program for 3 ½ and 4 yr. olds and includes tumbling. 45 min.

KidDance:  Early Childhood Discovery Program for ages 4 ½  through Kindergarten.  Tap is introduced and it also includes tumbling. 1 hr.

KidDance 2:  Early Childhood Discovery Program  - Integrates Tap and Tumbling- 1st and 2nd grade. 1-11/4 hr.

Classic Ballet Technique:  The foundation of our program, offered in level Ballet I through Ballet IV- training does not start until 3rd grade.  Level III and up must be taken twice a week. 1-1 3/4 hr.

Pointe:  Instruction begins after a solid foundation in classical ballet has been established.  Subject to instructor’s approval.
Pre, Beg, Interm levels available.  Must be taken with a twice a week technique class. (Tomah only.)

Tap:  All levels of  tap from the Early Childhood Program through adult. Must be taken with a technique class through 5th grade. 30-45 min.

Jazz:  The many styles of Jazz dance include classical, lyrical, Broadway and percussive.  Jazz is stylized Ballet.  Children's Jazz may be started in 2nd grade Jazz I in 5th grade. Must be taken with a technique class through 5th grade. 1-1 1/4 hr.

Adult Jazz, Tap, & Ballet:  Learn an art form, exercise, relax from your busy day, and have fun! 45 min - 1 hr.

Ballroom/Swing:  4 to 5 week sessions, partners or singles learn the Waltz, Foxtrot, Swing, Cha Cha and much more!  What a great way to meet people and have fun.  (Tomah)

Hip Hop ranges from very placed isolations, to quick rhythmical moves, to “pop and lock,” to jazz influenced moves with athletic floor work. 

Modern Dance is based on intellectual approaches to movements to create specific form and designs to achieve specific ends.  The movement in modern dance is taken from the everyday experiences.  There is greater flexibility of the upper body and torso signifying the expression for the soul and heart.

Ilene Quartemont      Originally from Chicago area, where she studied dance for 14 years, she is now the Director of One Note Above Show Choir and a private voice instructor in Tomah.  Miss Ilene holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Masters of Science in Teaching with an emphasis on Special Education besides her extensive dance training.  She is excited to share her love of stage and performing with an amazing background, both starring and acting in the Tri-state area.

Kristy Doyle      I currently am a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and I am studying Business Administration along with Dance. I have been dancing since I was three years old.  I took dance classes at Marilyn School of Dance for eleven years with two years previously in South Dakota. I have participated in many Monroe Jackson Dance Theatre performances. Some of these include The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf, Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan’s Awfully Big Adventure.  I was enrolled in the dance team all four years throughout high school. Some competitions we competed in were UPA, Spirit of America, Coulee Region Classic, Regionals and State.

Brittany Mlnsa      

Amanda Konsitzke   Born and raised in Tomah, WI, Amanda Konsitzke is excited to be joining the faculty at Marilyn School of Dance.  She has 13 years of dance experiance, including ballet, tap, jazz and hula.  She was also a member of Tomah's cheer and dance team for 5 years.  After graduating from high school, Miss Amanda attended UW- Stevens Point as a music education major.  While there, she had the opportunity to coach the cheer and dance team.  While attending many competitions, in a combined effort, they took the national title.  Miss Amanda returned to Tomah to raise her family.  Once here, she coached another national winning cheer team.  She is very active with the local show chiors, choreographing, judging local competitions, and assiting an many ways.  Miss Amanda is ecstatic to share her love for the stage, performing in many theater productions in the area.

Patrice Parkison          My name is Patrice Parkison and I studied ballet, tap, and jazz for 11 years as I was growing up.  My dance instructor retired after my high school graduation so I was unable to continue to dance after high school.  A few years later, I discovered Miss Suzanne’s studio, and took an adult class but schedule wise it became very hectic, as I was a single parent, working full-time, and attending school part-time.  When I lived in Florida, I was involved with the optimist football club, and assisted the coach of the mites and mini-mites cheerleaders.  I took that experience along with my dance experience, restarted and coached the cheerleading squad at St. Mary’s School for approximately 4 years. A couple of years ago, I returned to Marilyns School of Dance to take summer classes and I was once again hooked!  It has been such a pleasure to be back dancing again and a privilege to be learning from Miss Suzanne! I have also been working at the desk on Saturday’s for the past year for Miss Suzanne and have volunteered to help her with whatever I can.  I became involved with the Monroe-Jackson Dance theatre a couple of years ago, and more recently am serving as the Secretary of the organization.  Last year I had the honor to perform in Sleeping Beauty as the Queen Mum, and this brought so much back to my heart, as I had performed in Oliver in high school. Dancing has been a lifelong pastime for me and I am very excited in becoming part of the Marilyn School of Dance faculty.

Body Shoppe Fitness Studio Body Shoppe Fitness Studio Instructors:  Jenny Whipple / Rhonda Von Haden

Jenny Whipple       Jenny Whipple is a Tomah resident that has been teaching fitness classes since 1989.  She began in Mankato, MN, at a YMCA and has joined the Body Shoppe at its opening in 1998.  Like Rhonda, she has seen the trends come and go.  One thing never changes are that people want a quick fix to their fitness problems.  The last thing anyone wants to do is make a life style change.  Jenny likes to encourage just those types that come after the holidays looking for fast results.  The Body Shoppe’s mission is functional fitness, meaning  the work and effort you put forth inside class benefits your quality of life outside of class.  The most rewarding thing is when people begin exercising for the first time and can’t believe all the energy they have and how much better they feel.  Teaching fitness is not just a job it’s a joy!

Rhonda Von Haden Rhonda Von Haden is a Tomah resident and has been in the fitness industry since 1987.  She has offered classes at a variety of locations but for the past 3 years she has called the Body Shoppe her home. Rhonda is an all around instructor that can step into any class and get great results out of the participants.  Through the years she has attended many workshops and seen many trends come and go.  Step aerobics is one fitness trend that has passed the test of time.  Step aerobics is also Rhonda’s forte’.   She has a way of super charging a group and keeping the enthusiasm going until the cool down.