The faculty of a dance studio is the life-blood of the organization. Here at the Dancer's EDGE, we are blessed with some of the best in the business. Here you'll learn more about these caring individuals who shape the lives of our dancers.
Anna Bachman
Anna has been dancing for over 16 years. She is a 2010 Linn-Mar High School graduate where she was active in women’s golf and a dance captain of their Varsity show choir. She is currently a sophomore at Mount Mercy University where she is studying communications and spanish. She is also continuing her love of golf through an athletic scholarship and is involved in campus extracurriculars as well. Dance as always been a passion of Anna’s and she looks forward to helping young children become the best they can be.
Anna has been dancing for over 16 years. She is a 2010 Linn-Mar High School graduate where she was active in women’s golf and a dance captain of their Varsity show choir. She is currently a sophomore at Mount Mercy University where she is studying communications and spanish. She is also continuing her love of golf through an athletic scholarship and is involved in campus extracurriculars as well. Dance as always been a passion of Anna’s and she looks forward to helping young children become the best they can be.
Nichole Matejka
Nichole is a Cedar Rapids native and has been dancing for more than twenty years. She has earned a B.A. in Dance from the University of Iowa and was also a member and captain of the nationally ranked Iowa Dance Team. Nichole lived in Los Angeles where she choreographed for several dance studios, a children’s musical theater company, and coached a nationally competitive high school dance team. While in L.A. she also continued her training and studied at world famous studios such as Millennium Dance Complex, Westside Ballet, and Edge Performing Arts Center. Nichole has instructed all ages and has choreographed many styles including Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz and Pom. Throughout her more than ten years as a dance instructor Nichole’s choreography has been performed throughout the country and she has won several Grand Champion, Judge’s Choice, and Best Choreography awards for her work. Now back in Cedar Rapids Nichole is working on free-lance choreography as well as coaching the Iowa City Regina Varsity Dance Team. Nichole is thrilled to be a part of the Dancer’s EDGE family!
Nichole is a Cedar Rapids native and has been dancing for more than twenty years. She has earned a B.A. in Dance from the University of Iowa and was also a member and captain of the nationally ranked Iowa Dance Team. Nichole lived in Los Angeles where she choreographed for several dance studios, a children’s musical theater company, and coached a nationally competitive high school dance team. While in L.A. she also continued her training and studied at world famous studios such as Millennium Dance Complex, Westside Ballet, and Edge Performing Arts Center. Nichole has instructed all ages and has choreographed many styles including Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz and Pom. Throughout her more than ten years as a dance instructor Nichole’s choreography has been performed throughout the country and she has won several Grand Champion, Judge’s Choice, and Best Choreography awards for her work. Now back in Cedar Rapids Nichole is working on free-lance choreography as well as coaching the Iowa City Regina Varsity Dance Team. Nichole is thrilled to be a part of the Dancer’s EDGE family!
Carol Maxwell Rezabek
Carol has over 15 years experience teaching dance in university, college and studio settings and is an instructor in the theatre department at Coe College. Beginning her training in Cedar Rapids with Dieman-Bennett dancer Linda Earley, she earned her BFA with honors in dance performance from The University of Iowa and her MFA in dance directing from The Ohio State University. At Iowa, she trained under Francoise Martinet and performed in the landmark events of the Dancers to Go (Dancers In Company) tour to Hong Kong and the Gala performances of Con Amore and Stars and Stripes. A certified teacher of Labanotation (dance notation) and director of Labanotation scores, she completed notator training at The Dance Notation Bureau in New York. Carol’s students have been accepted into summer intensive programs of American Ballet Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet and The Rock School, have competed at the Youth America Grand Prix, and have gone on to study at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre High School Program, The Ohio State University Dance Department and The University of Iowa Dance Department. Her choreography has been performed by Dancers to Go, Theatre Cedar Rapids, Classics at Brucemore, The Cedar Rapids Summer Players, the Cedar Rapids Symphony Guild's Follies, and at the American College Dance Festival. Carol is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 & Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Carol has over 15 years experience teaching dance in university, college and studio settings and is an instructor in the theatre department at Coe College. Beginning her training in Cedar Rapids with Dieman-Bennett dancer Linda Earley, she earned her BFA with honors in dance performance from The University of Iowa and her MFA in dance directing from The Ohio State University. At Iowa, she trained under Francoise Martinet and performed in the landmark events of the Dancers to Go (Dancers In Company) tour to Hong Kong and the Gala performances of Con Amore and Stars and Stripes. A certified teacher of Labanotation (dance notation) and director of Labanotation scores, she completed notator training at The Dance Notation Bureau in New York. Carol’s students have been accepted into summer intensive programs of American Ballet Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet and The Rock School, have competed at the Youth America Grand Prix, and have gone on to study at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre High School Program, The Ohio State University Dance Department and The University of Iowa Dance Department. Her choreography has been performed by Dancers to Go, Theatre Cedar Rapids, Classics at Brucemore, The Cedar Rapids Summer Players, the Cedar Rapids Symphony Guild's Follies, and at the American College Dance Festival. Carol is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 & Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Jessica Purdy
Jessica has been dancing for almost 20 years and is excited to be a part of the teaching staff at the Dancer’s EDGE. She has experience with numerous styles including jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, modern, tap, and pom. Jessica was a member of the Linn-Mar Varsity Poms during all four years of high school. She served as captain her senior year and helped choreograph numerous routines. Jessica attended Indiana State University, where she graduated with a degree in Finance. She was a member of the professional NBA dance team for the Indiana Pacers, from 2008-2011, and had the opportunity to choreograph for that team as well. Jessica is currently a financial analyst at Rockwell Collins, and is eager to bring her energetic style and enthusiasm to our studio!
Jessica has been dancing for almost 20 years and is excited to be a part of the teaching staff at the Dancer’s EDGE. She has experience with numerous styles including jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, modern, tap, and pom. Jessica was a member of the Linn-Mar Varsity Poms during all four years of high school. She served as captain her senior year and helped choreograph numerous routines. Jessica attended Indiana State University, where she graduated with a degree in Finance. She was a member of the professional NBA dance team for the Indiana Pacers, from 2008-2011, and had the opportunity to choreograph for that team as well. Jessica is currently a financial analyst at Rockwell Collins, and is eager to bring her energetic style and enthusiasm to our studio!
Matt Shea
Matt has been teaching at the Dancer's EDGE since 2008 and has over 20 years experience in the dance world. Matt instructs Jazz, Ballet, Pointe and Tap classes and provides with students with in-depth training and skills to improve their dancing.
Matt has been teaching at the Dancer's EDGE since 2008 and has over 20 years experience in the dance world. Matt instructs Jazz, Ballet, Pointe and Tap classes and provides with students with in-depth training and skills to improve their dancing.
DeeDee Vogl
DeeDee is from Cedar Rapids and has been dancing for about 18 years and instructing since 2008. She is currently in Nursing school at Kirkwood and hopes to work in a Pediatrics unit when she graduates. She is a nanny for a family in Iowa City and loves that both of her jobs allow her to be with kids! DeeDee instructs Tiny Dancers, Jazz, and Hip Hop classes, and brings a lot of fun to every class she’s a part of.
DeeDee is from Cedar Rapids and has been dancing for about 18 years and instructing since 2008. She is currently in Nursing school at Kirkwood and hopes to work in a Pediatrics unit when she graduates. She is a nanny for a family in Iowa City and loves that both of her jobs allow her to be with kids! DeeDee instructs Tiny Dancers, Jazz, and Hip Hop classes, and brings a lot of fun to every class she’s a part of.