Jeanne Chelsen

Jeanne Chelsen, owner of Johnston Dance, is a life time member of the Chicago Association of Dance Masters and is certified to teach ballet, jazz, tap and pointe. She is a former student of her mother, Betty Dybdahl, and Beth Gaynes of Omaha, Nebraska. Jeanne attended business school before opening her own dance studios in Corning, Red Oak, Creston, and Carlisle. She has one of the most successful dance schools in Iowa. Jeanne continues her training at various conventions studying with master teachers from around the world.

Monika Peltz

Monika Peltz is a Des Moines native who has performed in the community and Midwest for 20 years. She trained and performed with Des Moines Ballet, Ballet Iowa, Iowa Dance Theater, and professionally with The Neuman Project. She has taught at Vine Street Ballet, School of Classical Ballet and Dance, and most recently, at Johnston Dance. Her emphasis in teaching is on technique, vocabulary, and consistency. Monika’s love of dance is evident in her high energy teaching style.

Jill DeWeerdt

Jill DeWeerdt has been dancing for over 23 years and is a former student of Jeanne Chelsen. She attended Iowa State University where she studied Child Development and Dance. While taking college classes in all areas of dance, Jill competed and performed on a local, regional and national level. She is trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Pointe. Her training also includes master classes and conventions. Jill has received her teaching certification through Chicago National Association of Dance Masters.

Jessica Jensen

Jessica Jensen is a University of Nevada, Las Vegas graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Studies. She has completed her certification through Dance Educators of America. She placed first in the Iowa State Drill Team Association solo competition in 2001. Professionally, Jessica has worked as a dancer for Royal Caribbean International, as well as several productions in Las Vegas including the Las Vegas Production of “Shag With a Twist” at the Aladdin Theatre. While in Las Vegas she also was employed by Gymcats Dance Studio as an instructor. She is also the Choreographer for the Storm Chasers, the Iowa Barnstormers dance team.

Katie Byam
	Katie Byam grew up in Sioux City, Iowa where she studied ballet, jazz, and pointe for eleven years. Throughout high school and college Katie was a member of the dance and spirit squads. She recently graduated from Buena Vista University with a degree in business management.

Mistie Metten
	Mistie Metten performed for ten years with the Sarasota Ballet. Originally from Iowa, she began her training with the Des Moines Ballet School and continued her studies with Robert Thomas and Miyoko Kato. Ms. Metten was an instructor for the nationally acclaimed program Dance The Next Generation, which was awarded the Coming Up Taller award and for Allison's Dance Center in Bradenton, Florida.

Dory Kyrias

Dory Kyrias started her dance training at the age of three. She is proficient in many styles of dance including tap, her first love, ballet, jazz, music theatre, modern, pointe and lyrical. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts she attended Oklahoma City University where she performed with the American Spirit Dance Company. Dory's most memorable experiences were performing for Casa Manana's 42nd Street at the Bass Performance Hall in downtown Ft. Worth and at the L.A. Tapfest with her students and Brownie Brown. For the last 15 years Dory has been teaching children from ages 2 1/2 to 76 all over the Dallas/ Fr. Worth area. Dory loves teaching her goal is to spread rhythm into every sole.

Front Office Staff

Tami Thompson is a small business owner, stay-at-home, homeschooling mom whose oldest daughter has been at JDA for eight years and her son will be starting his fourth year this fall. In her spare time, she enjoys fitness, reading, rubber-stamping and scrapbooking. She is also on staff for the Oskaloosa Color Guard in Oskaloosa, IA, and activity she has been involved in for over 20 years, having even marched in the Rose Bowl parade. Angi Moss is a busy mother of four children and very active in many outside activities including church, lactation education, childbirth education, and homeschooling. She is the office manager at Moss Family Chiropractic in Ankeny. Three of her four children are currently enrolled at JDA. In her spare time, Angi enjoys singing, scrapbooking, and reading.