Yellie Chermak moved to Minnesota with Micah eight years ago. She is originally from West Chester, Ohio and has enjoyed living in many different states over the span of her over twenty year professional dancing career. From a young age Yellie always had dreams of owning and directing her own school. She believes in encouraging and challenging each dancer she works with to find their own artistic voice and bring it to life. Yellie finds it exhilarating to create and be a part of new choreography that pushes boundaries, but she is also incredibly sentimental to the classics and feels honored to be able to pass down choreography from both classical and romantic ballets to the next generation.

Some of Yellie’s favorite performing credits include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Cinderella in Cinderella, Princess Florine/Sapphire Fairy/Benevolence Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Double Mint Twins in Hi Jinks by Sam Watson, Cascades by Kim Robards, The Funny Couple in Love Songs by Daniel Precup and Red by Denise Vogt. Yellie has had her own choreography performed by Reif Dance, Twin Cities Ballet, Ballet Tucson, and Ithaca Ballet. Alongside her ballet career she has been on faculty with Ballet Austin, Northwest Dance Project, BodyVox, Ithaca Ballet and numerous local academies. Yellie loves teaching all ages while bringing the love of dance, and specifically her love of ballet to the community. Finally, Yellie maintains a Yoga teacher certification with local to international experience.

Micah Chermak is a native to Minnesota and takes pride in his long career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and pedagogue. He is an alumnus to the University of Arizona School of Dance from which he received his Master of Fine Arts in dance while working as a preceptor and instructor of record for the University. He had previously earned his BFA in Ballet and his BA in Liberal Studies (Philosophy, and Lit. Analysis) from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He has worked as an artist and choreographer all around the country dancing and setting works on such companies as Cincinnati Ballet, St. Paul Ballet, PDX Contemporary Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theater, Ballet Tucson, The Portland Opera, and Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota- where he completed his time as a professional dancer. He is thrilled to now be sharing the role of artistic director with his lovely wife Yellie, and looks forward to a bright future of creating concert dance for his beloved Minnesota along with community building wellness classes.

Erin is a freelance dancer, teacher, and choreographer based out of Minneapolis. Erin received her BFA in Dance from The University of Iowa in 2021. During her time at Iowa, Erin had the opportunity to perform works from artists such as Monica Bill Barnes, Brian Enos ( Big Muddy Dance), Tony Oricco, Christopher Rasheem-McMillan, Melinda Meyers, Charlotte Adams and Armando Duarte. While in school, Erin received her Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification and has been teaching yoga for dancers since 2020. After graduating, Erin has continued her education with many companies including Jose Limon Dance Company, Alexandra Beller Dance, Chicago Dance Works, and Ground Grooves. Erin currently teaches ballet and modern throughout the twin cities and west metro. Erin has been performing with Corpus Dance Works since 2023. 

Elayna Leonard started dancing at the age of three. She trained at Fergus Falls School of Dance all the way through high school taking ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and modern classes before attending St. Olaf College. At St. Olaf she earned her B.A. with majors in dance and a course of studies through St. Olaf’s College of Integrated Studies called Body/Mind: Wholeness Through Movement. She also earned a concentration in Women’s Studies. In college she was a member of CompanyDance, performing works by professors, guest artists, and students. Her choreography was also shown throughout her time at school.

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Since graduating, Elayna has been teaching dance in the Twin Cities. She also received her instructor’s certificate for Mat Pilates through Balanced Body, and enjoys digging deeper into the cross training Pilates brings to dancers. Elayna is also a certified RPM Dance (Revolutionary Principles of Movement) teacher, using the certificate to help grow her teaching repertoire.

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Elayna has always wanted to use her love of dance to help others live fuller lives. Teaching dance is the perfect way to do that. Elayna focuses on correct alignment and technique in her classes, as well as building confidence and community with her dancers.

Heather Haugen is a movement educator, artist, and performer based in Minneapolis, MN. She began dancing at 4, and moved into the world of competitive gymnastics where she went on to compete at a national level until she was 12. She began dancing again her senior year of high school, and went on to study Dance and Literature where she received her BFA from Pomona College in 2000. She has performed works by Paul Taylor, José Limón, Frederick Ashton, Denishawn, Andre Paradis, Nicholas Leichter, John Pennington, Jesse Zarrit, and many other talented choreographers. While attending American Dance Festival, she was introduced to Pilates, and went on to earn her certification at Long Beach Dance Conditioning Academy (2001).

In 2002, she stumbled into the world of Aerial Arts, found her niche, and began performing locally and internationally while teaching Pilates, GYROTONIC®, GYROKINESIS® and all aerial apparatus. She has performed alongside rock bands, Opera singers, musical theater companies, dance companies, and so many wonderful circus and aerial performers at venues small and large. She holds certifications in Pilates, GYROTONIC® (Level1, Level2, and all specialized equipment) GYROKINESIS® and has developed certified training programs for aerial teachers on the Aerial Silks and Aerial Hammock. Heather owns and operates an at home studio in Eden Prairie, MN where she teaches part time and operates her family’s schedule.

She loves mind/body work and credits it to helping raise a happy, healthy family as well as allowing her to feel freedom in her body so that she may continue to play and create!

Jesse Schmitz-Boyd is a dance educator, choreographer, and performer with more than two decades of experience teaching students from early childhood through advanced and professional levels. He holds a BA in Dance with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and continued his training as an apprentice with Zenon Dance Company.

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Jesse teaches modern and contemporary dance, jazz, ballet, conditioning, partnering, creative movement, and musical theatre dance. His teaching balances strong technical foundations with musicality, creativity, and individual artistic expression. He strives to create a space where dancers can take risks, build confidence, and develop their own artistic voices.

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Alongside his teaching, Jesse remains active as a professional performer and choreographer in the Twin Cities. He spent 11 seasons with Alternative Motion Project, and has been a long time collaborator with Off Leash Area. His ongoing artistic practice informs his work in the studio and allows him to bring current professional experience into the classroom.

Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kiana moved to the Twin Cities in 2017 and has since built a career as a dance educator, choreographer, and coach. She has taught at studios including Larkin Dance Studio, CREO Arts & Dance Conservatory, and Velocity Dance and Theatre and has choreographed for multiple community theatres since 2018. Kiana also served as Head Coach of the Southwest Stars Dance Team for eight seasons and currently coaches dance at Orono High School.

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Kiana’s training is rooted in jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, and hip hop, with private tap instruction under Sean Kaminski and ballet training under Edith Barragan, former ballerina with the Royal Ballet of Wallonie in Charleroi, Belgium. She has continued her training at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, Dance Connection in Palo Alto, and Synergy Dance Academy in Colorado Springs. A few of her performance credits include productions of The Nutcracker with both Moscow Ballet and Quad City Ballet.

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Throughout her training, Kiana worked with and performed choreography by artists including Shannon Mather of Mather Dance Company and Kari Herman of Synergy Dance Academy. Kiana began choreographing at a young age, earning her first choreography award at just 15 years old. Since then, her work has received top choreography honors across the country, with her dancers earning numerous regional and national titles.

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Kiana is passionate about developing confident, artistic dancers with a lifelong appreciation for movement. Students she has trained have gone on to pursue professional careers in dance, and she strives to create an environment where every dancer feels challenged, supported, and inspired.

Kris is a native Minnesotan originally from Rochester, Minnesota and graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Communication Disorders. She continued her studies to graduate from University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a Masters Degree in Communication Disorders. As a certified Speech-Language Pathologist she worked in Rehabilitation settings, Hospital settings and finally landed in the Public School setting for 36 years of teaching in the Special Education field with students ranging from Preschool to High School. 

Kris is married to John Chermak, and includes her role as the wife and mother of 5 children as her most favored positions. All 5 of her children participated in dance throughout their school years, with 3 of them pursuing dance in their college years. 

Kris has always had a special place for dance in her life, probably from her own mother’s Irish roots and delight in dance. She has participated in dance programs both in High School and College with Choreography being her favorite part of dance. 

Kris is the mother of the current Director, Micah Chermak, and grandmother to Emerson-Rose Chermak. Since retiring from the education field, she is finding new skills and learning through becoming the current Office Administrator here at Ashley Ballet Arts Academy and meeting all the new and wonderful people within the dance community. 

Amber grew up in a small town in Wisconsin and began dancing at the age of four. Throughout her training, she trained at several studios, including April’s Dance Studio, Step It Up, Dance Explosion, Plié Dance, and Hudson Dance Academy, while also performing as a member of her high school dance team.​ Amber continued her education at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she completed a double major in Dance and Management, and a minor in Arts Administration. During her time at Gustavus, she also performed with the Gustavus Dance Company and served as the treasurer.

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After graduation, Amber worked in high-end retail management for Chanel and in business administration for several dental practices. At the same time, she remained deeply involved in the dance community, coaching at studios and with dance teams throughout western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities area. She currently coaches with the White Bear Lake and Medina Just For Kix programs.

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Amber is excited to be part of the ABAA team in a role that brings together her passion for dance and her professional experience in business administration. She is looking forward to supporting the ABAA community towards the goal of elegance and excellence. 

Merie Elise grew up here in the Twin Cities.  She did her undergrad at Gustavus Adolphus College and her graduate work at The University of St. Thomas.  Merie Elise currently teaches 5th grade in Shakopee.  She lives in Prior Lake with her husband Jeff, and her 3 daughters, Ella, Ava and Camille.  Merie Elise and her family have been with ABAA since it’s inaugural year.  She loves interacting with students and families here at the studio.  Her favorite season is Nutcracker season!  She can frequently be found in the car shuttling her children to all of their activities, but would love to connect with you whenever she is at ABAA!

Ashley Burkland received her early training with the Kehl School of Dance, under Susan Marsden, Shannon Gallagher, and Jo Ann Janus. She was a member of the youth ballet company Wisconsin Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Jo Jean Retrum. With this company, Ashley danced roles in The Nutcracker, Coppélia, La Fille Mal Gardée, and Peter Rabbit Ballet. Ashley received a scholarship to study dance at the University of Arizona, performing in numerous Dance Department Showcases and ballets including Paquita, Gershwin Medley, and Carmina Burana. She also danced with the U of A Pomline. Ashley completed her degree at the University of Minnesota, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Dance in 2004. Ashley has danced professionally with Kanopy Dance Company, Jazzworks Dance Company, Madison Contemporary Vision Dance Company, Continental Ballet Company, and Cities Classical Dance Ensemble. While Ashley loves to perform, her true passion for dance is teaching. She has over 25 years of teaching experience at various schools across the country. Owning a dance studio fulfills a life-long dream and she feels blessed in the success of Ashley Ballet Arts Academy. In ABAA’s twelve years of business, Ashley has enjoyed watching the studio grow and the students thrive, and inspiring a love for the ART and JOY of dance in the Twin Cities community. Ashley now lives in the Mankato area, with her husband Carl and their three children, Charlie, Oliver, and Eden.