ABOUT US
Fusion Dance is in the business of dance instruction. We offer a diverse program; students may dance either as a form of recreation while developing grace and poise or may strive to achieve a high level of technique and performing skills. Our focus is to encourage all of our students to work hard, strive for improvement, have self-discipline and be respectful to others.
DANCE Is FOR EVERYONE
The Fusion Dance adaptive dance class was born out of the belief that dance is for EVERYONE! This class provides an opportunity for children and adults with special needs to participate in dance education. Through the class, dancers gain confidence, coordination and strength. The class is taught by a Minnesota licensed special education instructor and has additional classroom assistants in the studio with the students.
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Fusion Dance Staff
Miss Cortney HrenMiss Cortney Hren began dancing at Woodbury Dance Center in Woodbury, MN and attended the Perpich Center for Arts Education. Following graduation, she continued her dance training at Broadway Dance Center in New York, NY, performing in shows such as Voices and Visions and DRA (Dancers Resisting Aids). Miss Cortney was then awarded a dance scholarship to study at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA. While in California, she was featured in The Carnival Choreographer's Ball, a dance show by top professional choreographers in the video, music and film industry. She has also performed in many industrial shows and an independent film, Spelling Bee. Her extensive training across the nation leads to her dance excellence and versatility in choreography..png)
Miss Madi SmithMiss Madi Smith graduated from Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA) as a dance major and trained in modern, ballet, breaking, choreography, improvisation, tap, concert jazz, vogue, popping and locking, West African, contemporary Indian, yoga, dance history, post-modern, and more during her three years at SPCPA. I also trained competitively at The Dance Factory, holding the team captain position for her junior and senior seasons. Miss Madi's training there included jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, musical theater, ballet, and pointe. During her time at The Dance Factory, she was an assistant teacher and a member of their trainee program, in which she taught weekly private lessons. Miss Madi is currently a student at the University of Minnesota pursuing Elementary Educational Studies with a minor in Racial Justice & Urban Schooling. She is so happy to be sharing her love of dance with the community through her other passion, teaching!
Miss Mary Cecile SmithMiss M.C. Smith began dancing at the age of ten at Fusion Dance and quickly moved over to competitive dance until she graduated from high school. During college at Mankato State University, she danced for two years on the university dance team. Miss M.C. has taught at Fusion Dance (Red Wing, MN) and Dance Express (Mankato, MN). She is a licensed special education teacher and holds an ABS Degree (Academic Behavioral Strategist) from Minnesota State University - Mankato and a Masters in Special Education in the areas of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Specific Learning Disabilities from Minnesota State University - Mankato. Miss M.C. Smith currently teaches special educaion at Pine Island Middle School. She is proud of the Adaptive Dance program that she has established at Fusion Dance - it puts together her two loves: special education and dance!Fusion Dance Staff
Miss Julie PenneyMiss Julie Penney is an University of Michigan dance major with experience in teaching ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap and modern. She teaches through the use of demonstration, imagery and hands-on correcections and exercises. The use of proper alignment, muscle groups and knowledge of dance vocabulary is very important to Miss Julie. She believes that all dancers need to know how to correctly execute the steps and know their names and meaning to be a well-educated dancers. She develops her students by giving them constructive critiques, encouragement and confidence. Miss Julie is a patient instructor and is determined to help anyone who has the heart and the passion to fully learn the art of dance. She makes evryone, regardless of their ability, feel included in her classroom.
Miss Abby PleinMiss Abby Plein graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Recreation Sports Management and a minor in Coaching. While working at a YMCA in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, Miss Abby developed a Creative Movement dance class which she then implemented at other YMCAs around the state of Minnesota. In 2012, she moved to Red Wing with her family, which now includes her husband and three children. In 2015, Miss Abby began offering her Creative Movement class to students at Fusion Dance. Teaching this class allows Miss Abby to see children learn and grow through play and being silly. This puts a smile on her face...and allows Miss Abby to act like a kid as well!
Miss Ashleigh MasonMiss Ashleigh Overlander started dancing at the age of four at Jan's School of Dance, competing all the way through graduation. She began teaching as a student teacher when she was still dancing herself. After graduation, she trained as an assistant teacher helping with choreography and technique. She was soon leading her own classes in ballet, jazz, lyrical and technique. She has achieved many awards as a dancer and a teacher, mainly for storytelling through emotion and movement. She has attended various University of Minnesota dance workshops, and she even took a year of ballet in Germany. Miss Ashleigh is a personal trainer at Anytime Fitness in Red Wing and has a passion for helping students become the strongest dancers they can be.Fusion Dance Staff
Miss Gabrielle MuellerMiss Gabby began dancing at Fusion Dance at a young age and quickly discovered her love of competitive dance. Her smile would shine and stage and show her passion for the art of dance! She has returned to Fusion as a teacher to share that love with current dancers. Miss Gabby is currently studying nursing at Minnesota State College Southeast - Winona Campus.
Miss Missy PrangeMiss Missy trained in Red Wing, MN; however, she also studied dance at The Edge Performing Arts Center (Hollywood, CA) and various dance workshops. She has taught at a variety of studios in Minnesota and is also a copetititon judge with BravO National Dance and Talent Competition. She performed with the American Heritage Dance Company under the direction of Miss Maria Buscaino and performed with Colleen McClelland's dance troupe for the Red Wing Shoe Company Centennial Celebration. Miss Missy received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with concentrations in Mathematics and Language Arts, and a minor in Pyschology, and completed a Master of Education degree in Teaching and Learning from Saint Mary's University in Winona, MN. Miss Missy is happy to share her love of dance with young competitice dancers at Fusion Dance..png)
Miss Mary PleinMiss Mary Plein is the owner of Fusion Dance. She holds accounting, business administration and computer science degrees from Winona State University. Citizens Security Mutual Insurance Company employed Mary for nearly thirteen years. She was with the Company as it grew from a small mutual insurer to a multicompany entity. In her last position, she was Vice President of Finance. Following her time in the insurance industry, Miss Mary was an independent consultant, specializing in financial and corporate communication consulting. She then spent eight years as the Executive Director of the United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha & Pierce Counties. Miss Mary is proud to have owned Fusion Dance for 23 years!