 |
Jessica Mahr
Jessica is a 13 year staff member with Just For Kix. She trained at a Minnesota dance studio and was a member of a high school dance team. She graduated from the University of MN with a BA in Dance and was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves professional dance team. In Los Angeles, Jessica was with the Bobby Ball Agency and danced for various companies. She was the Director of the Dance Department at Taft High School for four years. Currently, Jessica is the Director of the Dance Department at Eastview High School. |
 |
Justin Jackelen
Justin is also a Minnesota native. Justin trained with the national award-winning Larkin Dance Studio. He won numerous awards as a soloist and group member through the studio and continues to teach classes there today. |
 |
Amanda Gaines
Amanda trained at the Dance Shoppe in Plymouth, MN and was a member of the state champion Wayzata dance team. During her competitive dance career, Amanda was awarded Miss Showbiz, Miss Starquest & American Dance Awards - Dancer of the Year. She went on to dance with the national champion University of Minnesota Dance Team. |
 |
Shannen Pickens
Shannen's training began at Eastview High School as a member of their dance department and as a member of the state champion Lightning Dance Team. Shannen represented Minnesota at the national Miss Dance Drill Team USA pageant in 2005 where she advanced to second round of finals and placed 7th in the nation. Her intense work ethic and persistence lead her to the national champion University of Minnesota Dance Team. |
 |
Alexandra Clough
Ali Clough has been a member of the Just For Kix staff for many years. She was a student with the Storia Ballet for 10 years and grew up at the Just For Kix original studio as well. She was a member of the Brainerd Kixters Dance Team where she received MVP and All Conference 2 times. Last year Ali was chosen to represent Minnesota at the Miss Dance Drill Team USA competition in California. She is currently a full time instructor at the Just For Kix studios and Summer Camps. |
 |
Amber-Rose Sutton
Amber Rose is a 6 year staff member with Just For Kix. Amber Rose has trained with the Milwaukee Ballet and with instructor Leslie Daly at Hopkins Dance Studio. Amber Rose was a member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison dance team for three years and now teaches at the JFK studio in Brainerd, Minnesota. She is a free-lance choreographer for high school and college teams. Her unique & creative choreography has won numerous awards around the country. |
 |
Jill Lile
Jill has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University and a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois, specializing in Ballet and Modern Dance. She also has a doctorate in Chiropractic care from Northwestern University. Jill has instructed for Ballet Omaha, Ft. Worth Ballet, Illinois Dance Theatre, and currently at Ballet Arts Minnesota. She was a former associate professor of Dance at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. |
 |
Adina Belanger
Adina began her training in Marquette, MI. She moved to New York after receiving an internship scholarship at Broadway Dance Center and continues to dance professionally as well as instruct there now. Following that program, she was honored to work with Wes Veldink in the BDC program. Since, she has continued in her career, appearing in the dance DVD, 'outer body experience', with choreographer Moronie, 'tangle', a play, directed by Tai Dang, 'shows with recording artist Genna Young in NYC, and BOB band in Washington, D.C. She has also appeared in episodes of TLC's 'audition series', ABC's 'Carrie Ann vs. Bruno :Dance Wars', and commercials for 'Second Skin Shop'. She was asked to join the contemporary jazz company 'Pushing Progress' with director Calen Kurka, where she enjoyed two seasons and performances at Alvin Ailey. |
