Liz Schwab

Studio Manager & Instructor

Liz Schwab grew up right here in St. Michael, MN. She began her studio career at the age of 4, dancing locally at Dance Impressions, and ended her journey at Genesis Dance Company in Maple Grove. She enjoyed a variety of dance styles and competed at regional and national levels. 

Liz graduated with her master's degree in December 2020 in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. She received her bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire (UWEC) in Kinesiology. While at UWEC, she continued her passion for dance by participating in the dance club and the university's dance program. Through the university's dance program, she received a certificate in dance! At UWEC, Liz was fortunate enough to do administrative work, choreograph, and lead the dance club. 

This will be Liz's fourth year with Gravity Dance. She loves the atmosphere of Gravity and all of the amazing dancers, families, and staff! Liz will be teaching on Wednesday 

evenings this season.

She is ready for another great season with her dancers! Liz is excited for her dancers to step out of their comfort zones and be more confident with their movement and technique! 

Erin Evans

Ballet Instructor

Erin Evans is originally from Rockford, Minnesota and currently is working in Minneapolis. Erin received her BFA in Dance from the University of Iowa. During her time at Iowa, she had the opportunity to study under many great professors such as Armando Duarte, Charlotte Adams, Jennifer Kayle, Melinda Meyers, Tony Oricco, Christopher Rasheem Mcmillan, and Eloy Barragan. During undergrad, Erin performed many of her professors' works and danced for guest artists such as Monica Bill Barnes and Brian Enos. In 2017, Erin performed in the premiere of Monica Bill Barnes “Leave it on the Field”. Since finishing school, Erin received her Yoga Teacher Training certificate and has been teaching yoga and ballet throughout the Twin Cities. 

This is Erin's third year instructing ballet at Gravity and she's looking forward to watching the dancers learn and grow throughout the season!

Kaitlyn Ryan

Instructor

Kaitlyn started dancing at age five at a studio in her hometown of Becker, MN. She performed multiple styles of dance including jazz, tap, hip hop, pointe, lyrical, and musical theater. Kaitlyn was a teacher at the studio for seven years starting in her senior year of high school. 

Her dance journey shifted when she attended Main Street School of Performing Arts in Hopkins, MN from sophomore to senior year of high school. Kaitlyn states attending Main Street was “One of the best decisions she could have made” to advance in her dance career while also still dancing at her hometown studio. She experienced many leadership opportunities such as: Vice President of National Honors Society for Dance Arts, Co-Directed a National Dance Day Production, and a Cast Member in Southern Theatre’s ArtShare Program in the 20-day Show “Hollywoodland”. 

Kaitlyn was also given opportunities to study and take master classes from artist professionals such as Mette Towely, John Mark Hostetler, Dario Mejia, Crash Dance Productions, TU Dance, Flying Foot Forum, and Zenon Dance Company. Other styles/concepts she has been exposed to are: Fosse, Ballet, Modern, Dance Somatics, Improvisation, and Lighting Design. 

Kaitlyn graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato with a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation. She currently works as an Activities Director for a Senior Living, and resides in Hanover with her fiancé, and cat named Kevin. 

In seasonfour, she will be assisting/teaching on Monday nights, and is super excited to be back with the Gravity Dance Family! 

Becca Olerich

Competition Director & Instructor

Becca began dancing at the age of three in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where she trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, and pointe. During high school, she guest performed in numerous productions, including Milwaukee’s TBEY, The Nutcracker, and other regional performances. She also discovered a passion for choreography, creating works for multiple musical productions with the Playhouse Theater Group.

While attending Winona State University, Becca minored in Dance and immersed herself in every aspect of the performing arts. She directed two dance productions, choreographed multiple original works, and performed in numerous university dance concerts. During her college years, she also taught and choreographed at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts and the Saint Mary’s University Dance Program. Becca furthered her hip hop training at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and was selected to perform in the traveling production Places, Please alongside Broadway choreographers.

Today, Becca loves sharing her passion for dance with the next generation, helping dancers grow in both confidence and technique while creating a positive and encouraging classroom environment. 

Jenna Simonson

Instructor

Jenna grew up in White Bear Lake, MN where she started dancing at the age of 4.  She grew up dancing competitively at White Bear Dance Center and Metro Dance Center. She finished her last few years of competitive dance in high school at Northern Force Dance Company! She trained in all styles including lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap, ballet, pointe, musical theater, hip hop, and so on. Jenna was also a 4 year member of the White Bear Lake School Danceline, where she served as a captain her senior year. 

Jenna graduated in December 2024 from Winona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education! Throughout her time at Winona State, she continued her dance training through the dance program and dance club. During this time, she held many leadership roles including Secretary and President of the club, Dance Society, as well as a choreographer for the WSU dance program’s show, Dancescape, and the student’s spring dance show for 3 years. During her senior year, she also got to co-direct the student-run spring dance show! 

Jadyn Mahaffey

Instructor

Bio coming soon!

Arista Metz

Instructor

Arista grew up in Corcoran, Minnesota. She started dancing at the age of two, though she didn’t begin competitively training until fifth grade. She pursued additional ballet training through Metropolitan Ballet Academy, performing alongside professional dancers in Romeo and Juliet.

Arista danced for the Rogers dance team, where she served as captain, and was crowned Miss Dance Team Minnesota. She went on to dance for the University of Minnesota’s premier dance team, again taking on the role of captain.

In her professional career, Arista has earned national titles and choreography awards, later returning to judge the Miss Dance Team Minnesota competition. One of the highlights of her career was performing at Super Bowl fifty two alongside Justin Timberlake. She has shared her passion for dance through teaching and studio managing at Just for Kix. She’s went on to teach at The Dance Complex, and currently teaches at both Gravity Dance and Summit Dance Shoppe.

Jess Lokhorst

Strength Instructor

Bio coming soon!

Katie Johnson

Ballet Instructor

Katie received her BFA in Dance from the University of Iowa, where she was the recipient of the Iowa Center for the Arts scholarship. She trained at Butterfield’s School of Dance, Mark Morris Dance Center, STEPS, River North Dance Chicago, and Beijing Dance Academy in China. Katie has worked with Tania Perez-Salas, The Joffrey Ballet, Duarte Dance Works, Deanna Carter Dances, Ballet America, and was a company member with Minnesota Dance Theatre from 2008-2018. She has performed works by Jiri Kylian, Jose Limon, Dwight Rhoden, Louis Falco, Elisa Monte, Hope Boykin, Emery LeCrone, Eliot Feld, Jeffery Bullock, Alan Sener, George de la Pena, Wynn Fricke, Mariusz Olszewski, Loyce Houlton, and Lise Houlton, amongst others. Katie is a 2011 SAGE Award nominee and a 2012 SAGE Award winner for Outstanding Performer. In addition to her performing career, Katie was a Capezio Dancewear model, appeared in various film productions and documentaries, and was highlighted in Lee Lynch’s book, Amazing MN (2017), and Georgia Finnegan’s, Grace & Grit (2024). She served as repetiteur and rehearsal director for Minnesota Dance Theatre’s 2023-2024 season. Katie is currently part of the artistic team for Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy. As rehearsal director, she leads casting, staging, and coaching for the production.

Emma Forsyth

Instructor

Emma Forsyth grew up in Houston, MN, dancing competitively and performing in her school's musicals and one-act plays. 

Emma has a BA in Dance and Environmental Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College. During her time at Gustavus, Emma was highly involved in the dance community as a member of the Gustavus Dance Company and Dance Team, a student

representative for the Theatre and Dance Department, and the president of the student-run Dance Collective.

Emma previously taught at Dance Express in Mankato, Minnesota, working with both

recreational and competitive dancers. When she is not dancing, Emma works at an ESG

consulting firm as a Sustainability Analyst.

Ashley Gonzalez

Tap Instructor

Ashley Gonzalez is a tap dancer based in Minnesota who trained under the direction of Chloe Arnold, Sarah Reich, Aaron Williams, and other notable tap artists. Ashley graduated from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul with a double major in music with a vocal emphasis and business administration.

Ashley is the director of Keane Sense of Rhythm Youth Ensemble, where she cultivates a space for dancers to learn, perform, and create. She has produced a handful of shows for this program. She is also the founder of Radiant Rhythm Initiative and has produced Swingin’ into Summer Tap Festival.

Ashley has taught and performed in Brazil, Germany, South Korea, Ireland, and more. She has toured as a tap dance company member of Rhythm Street Movement with original shows such as ‘Who Brought the Humbug’ and ‘Storyboard.’ She has also performed and continues to do so with musical groups primarily based in the Twin Cities. Recently she was featured tap dancing on a live album with the Dawson Redenius Septet.

Allison Crane

Ballet Instructor

Allison trained in classical ballet at Inspire Ballet Academy for 10 years and danced en pointe for 6 years. Over the past few years, she has continued her ballet training at different studios, allowing herself to grow as a dancer and continue her  love for ballet.

Allison also has a degree in Health Sciences that has helped her  learn how teach ballet in a way that is safer and healthier for our bodies. 

Before joining Gravity, Allison taught ballet at Tempo Dance Studio, where she realized how much she loves to teach. Allison believes that there  is something so special about watching students grow and improve. She says that teaching brings her so much joy, and feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share her passion for ballet and pass along the technique, dedication, and love of dance that her own wonderful teachers shared with her when growing up.

Karli Turner

Instructor

Karli is orignally from Maple Grove, Minnesota and just graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Bachelor of Science. While at MSU, she also competed on their dance team where we won 4x Open Pom National Championships and 3x in Open Jazz. While in college, Karli worked at a local dance studio called Dance Express for four years where she not only taught competition classes, but also helped run their Darby’s Dancers and Special Olympics Dance program.

This coming year, Karli will be attending the University of Minnesota to complete her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy! 

Savanna Theisen

Tap Instructor

Savanna Theisen grew up training in all styles of dance at Music General Dance Studio in Brainerd, Minnesota from age four through high school graduation. Throughout her years at Music General, she traveled the country attending conventions, competitions and intensives. She earned multiple national titles across a variety of styles in solos, duos, trios and group performances. Tap was her primary competitive focus and quickly became her greatest passion.

From ages nine to eighteen, Savanna had the privilege of training under renowned tap instructor and choreographer Mike Minery. She also attended week long tap intensives in Los Angeles and New York City where she trained with accomplished tap artists and choreographers including Anthony Morigerato, Ayodele Casel, Lisa Minery and many others. These experiences played a significant role in developing her tap technique, musicality and performance style.

After graduating high school, Savanna continued her dance career as a four year member of the University of St. Thomas Dance Team. During her time on the team, she earned six national titles in the Open Division. In her senior year, St. Thomas transitioned to Division I and the team earned national runner up titles in both Jazz and Hip Hop. Her collegiate experience transformed her as a dancer and strengthened her approach to precision, performance quality, consistency and teamwork. It also taught her the importance of pushing beyond what you believe you are capable of.

Savanna is thrilled to join the Gravity Dance Studio faculty as a tap instructor. She looks forward to sharing her passion for tap and helping dancers develop strong technique, musicality and confidence while building a genuine love for the art form.