The DSD Team

Emily Boyd

Studio Owner, Director, Teacher

Emily has been dancing since the age of three years old, when she began studying dance at Jill Hoggard Academy of Dance. Her love of dance began there, and she started to take every opportunity she could to dance and take class. She was an assistant teacher throughout high school and went on to attend St. Olaf College where she graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and English. At St. Olaf, Emily was heavily involved in the dance department, dancing and choreographing for Companydance. After graduation, Emily went on to pursue her MFA in Dance at the University of Oregon, Eugene. She also was teaching hip hop in an area elementary school in her spare time. After moving back to MN, Emily taught at various studios around the Twin Cities and Northfield, as well as coached cheerleading, and received her certification to teach Stott Pilates. 

Emily earned her MBA from Hamline University in 2011, and took over Division Street Dance shortly thereafter. 

Emily danced with many guest artists and choreographers throughout her college and post graduate experience, as well as danced for eight seasons with Ethnic Dance Theatre in the Twin Cities. Emily's past work experience includes various department manager roles at Nordstrom, as well as Target Corporation.

Her love of dance continues to grow more and more with the opportunity to run DSD and spend time getting to know all of the dancers and their families. She is incredibly proud of the family atmosphere DSD has and is passionate about growing the love for dance in every kid and adult who comes through the door. She believes in constantly growing and continuing her education, and is now certified as a Preschool Acrobatic Arts teacher. She has also trained through the Tap Teachers Lounge and is a member of the Dance Studio Owners Association. Emily's favorite classes to teach are anything toddler and preschool-related as well as Tap and Hip Hop classes.

Emily currently resides in Owatonna with her two kids, Clara, 12, and Gavin, 9 and when she is not at DSD, you will likely find her teaching Zumba, attending football, basketball, or baseball games for Gavin, or watching Clara acting in a play or playing her violin.

Maddi Miller

Teacher

Madeline Miller has been studying dance since the age of three. She began her dance training at Dance n’ Fitness dance studio in Northfield, MN and completed her studio dance education here at Division Street Dance in 2016. In May of 2020, Madeline graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. in Dance with Honors and Arts Administration. She has performed in a number of faculty and student works while at Gustavus, as well as performing with 820 Dance Company and Borealis Dance Theatre. Her choreography has been presented at Inbox@Artbox in Minneapolis as well as at the 54th Nobel Conference. She is so excited to be back at Division Street Dance teaching this year!

Beth Pitchford

Teacher

The North Star School of Irish Dance started in August of 2009 when Deanne’s Dance Studio, an award-winning studio located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, brought in Beth to revive their Irish dance offering. Prior to this, Beth was teaching an adults-only class in Minneapolis and continuing her own Irish dance studies as a distance-learner with the school she started with in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2010, Beth expanded to Northfield to teach at Dance’N’Fitness in an Irish dance program started by Linda Doran. Dance’N’Fitness is now Division Street Dance and the Irish program continues to grow.

Beth, originally from Athens, Georgia, began dancing after returning home from living in Scotland. She was initially looking for Scottish dancing but stumbled on Irish céilí dancing and fell in love. Beth began competing in the adult age group with the Drake School of Irish Dance (Mary Brannick Ujda, TCRG) and then, after moving to Minnesota, eventually settled in at O’Shea Irish Dance where she still attends classes to improve her own dance skills.

When Beth is not dancing, she works as a mental health therapist at the Autism Society of Minnesota. Non-dance hobbies include gardening, graphic design, and anything to do with cats!



Jordyn Tesch

Teacher

Jordyn Tesch is a dancer and choreographer from Faribault, MN. She danced at a studio in Faribault for 13 years dancing high kick and jazz then increased her training by taking online courses for other styles such as musical theatre and lyrical. She has choreographed several musicals at the Paradise Center for the Arts in Faribault and can not wait to share her passion and love for dance and the arts with her students at Division Street! She can’t wait to meet everyone! 

Kylie Kasprick 

Teacher

Kylie Kasprick SPT, CSCS, grew up dancing and training in a broad range of styles as a competitive dancer in the Minneapolis area, winning many top awards both regionally and nationally. As a young dancer, Kylie also guest performed with Cities Classical Ballet Ensemble at Fringe Festival, the Kenny Kiser Show, and ARENA DANCES. Graduating with honors from the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA), Kylie had the privilege to work with some of Minnesota’s finest dance artists and companies, such as BRKFST Dance Company, Threads Dance Project, TU Dance, and Shapiro & Smith Dance.

Kylie attended St. Olaf College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2023 with a double degree in Dance and Kinesiology with minors in Neuroscience and Media Studies. In her time at St. Olaf, she choreographed for and danced in Grammy artist Caliph’s live performance of Dummy, Synergy’s Concerto in D. Major, the Ole Tap Collective, St. Olaf’s production of Noye’s Fludde, and the 2022 and 2023 Company Dance Spring Concert, as well as guest performed with Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theatre. In addition to her studies at St. Olaf, Kylie lived in New York the winter of ‘23 where she trained at Broadway Dance Center, Steps Dance Center, American Ballet Theatre, American Tap Foundation, Alvin Ailey, Peridance, Gibney Dance, and Mark Morris. 

As a DPT student at Mayo Clinic, Kylie is passionate about increasing awareness of safer training and injury prevention practices and holds certifications in Progressing Ballet Technique and Strength and Conditioning through the NSCA. 

Kate Sebes

Teacher

Kate Sebes is a 2023 graduate of St. Olaf College, where she pursued a degree in dance with concentrations in management studies and gender/sexuality studies. As a lifelong lover of the arts, Kate enjoyed performing and choreographing for St. Olaf's dance company, in addition to working for the admissions office and planning student events on campus.

Kira Cupp

Teacher

Kira was born and raised in Northfield, MN, and she started dancing at the age of six, and when she turned seven she started dancing at Division Street Dance. She continued dancing for ten years at DSD, where she joined the competition company at the studio in fifth grade, and continued with competitive dance until she graduated in June of 2024 from Northfield High School.

Throughout her years at DSD, Kira grew to love the styles of tap and hip hop, and her passion for these styles is what drew her to becoming a teacher. Kira has been a teacher for many years, and has enjoyed being able to work side by side with other teachers, Watching routines come together, and seeing the progress students can make with her assistance is something that Kira takes joy doing. Kira will be attending St. Olaf College in the fall of 2024 as a freshman, where she will be majoring in Psychology and continuing her tap dancing career by joining the Ole Tap Collective on campus. Being able to have the opportunity to still tap throughout college is what drew Kira to St. Olaf, but having the opportunity to come back and teach at DSD sealed the deal. Kira is excited to be able to give back to the studio with her love for dance, and can't wait to get to know all of the dancers!

Hailey Barnes

Teacher & Front Office

Hailey grew up dancing at unlimited possibilities dance studio in Albert Lea Minnesota. She danced there for 10 years as a competitive dancer. She did many different styles including musical theater, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, and ballet. Her favorite style of dance is either jazz or hip hop. She also have been a gymnastics coach for 5 years at the Albert Lea gymnastics club. She was able to work with their competitive gymnasts and choreograph their floor routines for competitions. She is currently going to school to get her elementary education degree as well. She is very excited to continue her love for coaching here at DSD!

Rachel Mork

Teacher

With over 30 years of experience, Rachel’s journey in dance has been marked by dedication and artistry. She began her training at the age of 3 at Dance Connection is Rosemount, MN. While dancing competitvely at the studio, she also embarked on high school dance team, The Irishettes. She found her biggest passion in Modern Dance, where she developed a strong foundation in expressive movement, eventually earning the title of Performing Arts Student of the Year for her dedication to both theatre arts and dance.

Her passion for the stage led her to a Rockettes clinic, where she embraced the precision and flair of the iconic dance style, Multiple collegiate level classes in dance and performance from the University of North Dakota, and teaching experience from her time at Dance Connection, Rosemount High School and the North Dakota Ballet Company.

Rachel’s career includes an apprenticeship and membership with the North Dakota Ballet Company, where she both performed and contributed as a choreographer. Now an accomplished educator, Rachel brings her extensive experience and love for dance into the classroom, inspiring the next generation with both technique and creativity.

She is thrilled to be part of the Division Street Dance team and is excited to see growth in both humanity and performance in her dancers. 

Emma Gannon

Teacher

Emma grew up just south of the Twin Cities and began dancing at Shana's Dance Studio at age 5. She started taking hip hop classes around 13 years old and loved it. She continued dancing with Shana's Dance Studio through her senior year of high school. She then furthered her dance education by taking a choreography and improvisation class at St. Olaf along with performing at Fresh Space in fall of 2023. She looks forward to getting to know all the dancers each year!

Cierra Lizer

Teacher

Cierra is a biology major in the class of 2026 at St. Olaf College. She has been dancing for 15 years in her hometown of DeKalb, Illinois, and is continuing her dance career as a member of the St. Olaf Dance Team. Cierra has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and musical theatre participating in numerous productions, recitals, ballets, competitions, conventions, and camps. She started teaching dance her sophomore year of high school and began choreographing the next year. She is so excited to join the DSD community. 

Emma Smith

Teacher

Emma M. Smith is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and started her dance training at the Dance Center of Kirkwood (DCOK) when she was two. She is currently a biology and dance major at St. Olaf College, concentrating in biomathematics on the pre-health track. Emma is also a member of St. Olaf Companydance and Ballet Club, along with being a biology teaching assistant. While at DCOK, she was a member of Dance Concert Society, a dance outreach group, and also part of the competition team, competing both regionally and nationally in pointe, ballet, jazz, and contemporary categories and winning various awards for her dancing. She has performed in the yearly full-length production of the Nutcracker Ballet produced by DCOK, including the principal roles of Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Emma's ballet studies focused on the classical Vaganova technique under DCOK studio director Kathy Massot and she is classically trained in pointe technique. Some of her favorite hobbies are baking, running, and solitaire. Emma has always enjoyed substitute teaching and demonstrating at her home studio and looks forward to joining the Division Street Dance team!