Dance lessons in Eau Claire, WI - The ECSOD Staff

Welcome Studio Information Studio Calendar ECSOD Staff Testimonials Contact Information

Classes Descriptions Class Schedule Summer Classes Online Registration

Our Staff:

Stephanie Houdek-Kling The Eau Claire School of Dance is owned and under the direction of Stephanie Houdek-Kling. She has been teaching studio classes for more than 20 years. She worked with the Universal Dance Association for 15 years and was a Head Instructor for 12 years. She has judged the National Dance Team Championships for many years. This competition can be seen yearly on ESPN. Stephanie has toured worldwide teaching classes in Paris, France, London, England, as well as numerous cities in the US. Her choreography has earned top honors at numerous highly regarded competitions around the country, including various "High Score" and "Grand Champion" titles. Stephanie furthers her training yearly in New York City, as well as attending conventions and classes throughout the United States learning from the best in the dance field: Joe Tremaine, Desiree Robbins, Jackie Sleight, Dave Carter, Mia Michaels, Wade Robson and Cris Judd, to name a few. She has also worked for several years with the Moscow Ballet and their local performances of The Great Russian Nutcracker. Stephanie has also worked with the one and only, Bob McGrath, from Sesame Street! She choreographed for the local performance of Bob's National Tour. Stephanie's students have gone on to earn several distinguished awards at competitions over the years, "Stand Out Dancer", "All Star", "High Point" and numerous others. Several have been hired by Disney as performers.
Miki Hegg The ECSOD is also under the direction of Miki Hegg. She has been teaching and assisting classes for over 8 years. Miki began her dance career right here at the Eau Claire School of Dance. She then went on to study dance at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she trained under countless dance professionals from various prestigious dance companies around the world including The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The American Contemporary Ballet Company, and The Limón Dance Company. She has also studied under numerous world renowned choreographers including Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Shane Sparks, Cris Judd, and Laurieann Gibson, Joe Tremaine, Art Stone, and many more by continuing to further her dance education at various conventions and classes around the United States. She has also received various awards through dance including multiple "High Score" and "Stand-out Dancer" awards as well as the "Best Choreography" award at Triple S Dance Championships. Her choreography has also earned many "Grand Champion" awards throughout various dance competitions around the area.
Paige Pearson - Instructor Paige has been dancing since the age of three. She has taken classes at various studios, including college classes at ECSOD, and was on her high school dance team. She began teaching dance when she was 14 and continued all through high school, and now college. Paige is currently a junior at UWEC and is majoring in nursing. She loves to work with students of all ages and hopes that she can help them to grow in their knowledge and love of dance!

Laura Casper - Instructor Laura has been dancing since the age of three at the Eau Claire School of Dance. She joined the Company Line at age 7 and competed in various styles of dance until age 18. She then attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she was a member of the UW-Milwaukee dance team. Currently, Laura is in nursing school at CVTC and is working in progressive care at Sacred Heart Hospital. Laura teaches classes in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop at ECSOD.
Katherine Allee - Instructor Katherine has been dancing her entire life. She has most recently studied ballet and ballet en pointe through Sue Dorrow’s School of Dance in Plymouth, WI. She also took tap and hip hop lessons through Autumn Creek Dance Studio in New Holstein, WI, as well as jazz, modern, and performances with a dance company at Forestner’s Academy of Dance in Sheboygan, WI. Katherine currently teaches 5 year old tap/ballet, 6 year old ballet/jazz, and 7-9 year old jazz/tap at ECSOD! She is a freshman at UWEC with a BA Liberal Arts-Music Magor, and will be declaring a dance minor in the 2012 semester.
Chelsey Finstad - Assistant Desk Manager/Assistant Instructor Chelsey started dancing when she was 13 years old and has been with Eau Claire School of Dance for the past year. She was a Team Leader for her high school dance team for two consecutive years and helped bring her team to state along with various other competitions throughout the region where she received numerous awards and recognition. Chelsey continues to expand her dance experience through the Eau Claire School of Dance where she takes classes and participates in several competitions. She also attends The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where she majors in Kinesiology and hopes to pursue a career in Health and Human Performances.

The entire ECSOD teaching staff and all of the ECSOD classes are under the direction of Stephanie Houdek-Kling and Miki Hegg.