about us

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / LEAD INSTRUCTOR

Jessica is originally from Oklahoma where at the age of 4 she began dancing at FGI School of Dance. Ms. Rooney has over 20 years of teaching dance experience. Jessica holds a B.F.A. in modern dance pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma; where she studied under Denise Vale of the Martha Graham Company and Austin Hartel of the Jose Limon Company and Pilobolus company. Jessica studied various teaching methods, ballet, show production, tap, jazz, Limon, Graham, Horton, and Cunningham. Jessica also holds an A.A.S. in Business Management from Oklahoma State University. She was a performer and choreographer for the Belleforte Jazz Dance Company and was also a member of the Modern Repertory Theater at the University of Oklahoma. She performed in many shows with various styles of dance. While in Oklahoma, Jessica ran the competitive company for FGI and developed a modern program for the studio.

Jessica is a very sought-after teacher and choreographer. She has taught at various colleges and studios throughout the Midwest. At another studio she created the competitive program, modern program and hip hop program and also helped the studio to grow in their other styles. She is known for being able to work with each individual dancer and help them to understand how their body moves. Jessica is able to help a dancer grow to their greatest potential as a technician and as a skillful artist. Many of her former students have received scholarships on the competition circuit, have gone on to dance careers and sought degrees in dance.

Jessica has won numerous choreography awards. Her choreography awards have ranged from solos up to large groups. Ms. Rooney has excelled in many styles of dance choreography. She is especially know for creating unique and interesting choreography.

Ms. Rooney is a fellow member of the Cecchetti Council of America where she has received scholarships for teaching. She holds her grades one through advanced certificates in the Cecchetti method. She currently teaches Cecchetti, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Liturgical, and Hip Hop. As a child, Jessica completed her student grades 1-4 in the Cecchetti method.

Jessica is also the mother of 4 wonderful children, who she has the pleasure of homeschooling.

INSTRUCTOR

Amy Hofer began dancing at at 8 in Sioux Falls, SD, studying classical ballet with Martha Peterson, Judith Szakats and Carolyn Westphal. She continued her study of ballet at the Boston Ballet School and with Terry and David Shields in Cambridge, MA, where Amy also studied modern dance with Julie Ince-Thompson and jazz with Adrienne Hawkins and John DeLuca. Upon returning to South Dakota, Amy attended USD with a Fine Arts/Dance Major. Amy has both attended and instructed at numerous dance intensives as a teacher and has had the opportunity to study with many world-renown ballet instructors over the last several years through the Cecchetti Council of America Summer Teachers' Seminars.

Amy has taught ballet for over 40 years, and has also been instrumental in that time in pioneering worship dance ministry in the Sioux Falls area. She is a past board member of the South Dakota Dance Network. Amy has guest instructed in CCA seminars in the midwest region, as well as in various studios in South Dakota and Iowa. Amy has also instructed several USASF Dance Worlds Champion Competitive Dance Teams and Sioux Falls area High School Competitive Dance teams in classical ballet over the last 10 years. Amy is certified in Pilates, and she has obtained her teaching certification through all Cecchetti Student Grades. Amy has special interest in pointe work and has spent many years developing pre-pointe to advanced pointe curriculae that emphasize strength and proper technique.

Amy and her husband Carey live in Sioux Falls, and she is delighted to be part of Artistry Dance Studio. When not teaching, she enjoys gardening, travel and hiking our beautiful state parks.

INSTRUCTOR

Emily joins us at Artistry Dance after teaching 8 years at Denise’s Dance Academy in Overland Park, Kansas. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Special Education. Having danced since age 3, Emily completed most of her training at Hill-Top Dance Center in Lenexa, Kansas, and after college moved to New York City to dance professionally. Emily has danced for The K.C. Symphony, K.C. Dance Theatre Company, The New Theatre Restaurant, and Spirit Productions. Some of her performances include The Wizard of Oz, The Nutcracker, Funny Girl, Le Grand Cirque, Spirit of Broadway, and Santa’s Christmas Spectacular. She is grateful to be sharing her talents and building new relationships here at Artistry!

Emily and her husband Adam live in Brandon with their son and daughter sidekicks Mason and Sydney.

INSTRUCTOR

Sami Tomshack is excited for a new year of dance! Sami has been teaching dance for 13 years, ages 3 through adults, and has taught many styles including ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, pointe, Broadway, and Adaptive (a class for dancers with disabilities). Sami studied Psychology and Pre-OT at Augustana University and has bachelor’s teaching degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. She is entering her third year as a Special Education teacher for the Sioux Falls School District and loves all the experiences she has had so far! Sami has been a life long learner of dance, passing multilevel ballet exams in Cecchetti, both as a student and a teacher. She has performed in multiple dance shows including performing as Clara and Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker as well as Alain in La Fille mal Gardee. In addition to performing in shows, Sami has done choreography for local studio productions, musicals at elementary schools in Sioux Falls and Augustana University, as well as mixed-abilities shows with LifeScape. Sami and her husband, Bob, are the studio’s tech team for shows and love to still be a part of the show but in a different way!

INSTRUCTOR

Ms. Jess Arends is from Sioux Falls. She enjoys teaching ballet, lyrical, modern, and jazz, as well as working with the competition team.

Ms. Jess began her dance training in Russian Ballet technique at K-Dance with Christine Kirk, in Sioux Falls. She received her Physical Therapy Assistant Degree at St. Catherine's University in Minneapolis. During her 7 years in Minneapolis, she continued to study Russian Ballet technique at Ballet Arts of Minnesota, now known as Minnesota Dance Theater. Ms. Jess returned to Sioux Falls in 2006 and began her training in Cecchetti Ballet as well as teaching. She completed her Cecchetti student exams, Grades I-II, as well as her Teacher’s Grade I-IV exams. Jess also has STOTT Pilates Certifications in mat, reformer, and chair.

Ms. Jess is currently working as a Physical Therapist Assistant, Pilates and dance instructor. She has a special interest in training dancers with proper technique to avoid injuries, as well as rehabilitation for current injuries. Ms. Jess is passionate about integrating these skills to enhance a dancer’s mindful movement, while learning the art of dance.

INSTRUCTOR

We are so excited to welcome Tina Eichers to the Artistry Dance Studio family!

With over 20 years of professional choreography experience, Ms. Tina brings an incredible depth of experience to our studio.

Her choreography credits include The Disney Channel, Radio Disney Tour, TGK from The Guardians featuring B5, and many more.

She has also performed as a backup dancer for artists including Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Hilary Duff, Jennifer Hudson, and many more!

We can’t wait to see the impact she makes in our studio and the dancers she will inspire along the way.

INSTRUCTOR

Emelia is grateful to be able to share her love of dance at Artistry! She just recently graduated from the University of South Dakota with her Elementary Education degree. She is eager for the upcoming school year and will be teaching Kindergarten for the Sioux Falls School District. Dance has been a very important part of her life since the age of 5. Emelia has had training in all forms of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and pointe. She has performed in multiple dance shows including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Coppelia. She can’t wait to share her passion with others!

INSTRUCTOR

Ella started dancing when she was four years old and has trained at a variety of studios over the years. Ella has studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, musical theater, hip hop, hula, baton twirling, and gymnastics. She has seven years of experience teaching ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary, ages 3 through advanced. In her ballet training she has tested through Cecchetti grades I through VI. She is also certified in Brain Compatible Dance Education Foundations, Early Childhood Development, and Elementary. In 2022 Ella moved to Texas to join Ingredients Professional Dance Company, in 2023 she danced with professional company Ballet 5:8 in Illinois, and in 2024 she made her debut with local professional South Dakota Ballet's 5th season. Ella loves passing on her love for dance to her students and watching them grow to be artists of their own. 

INSTRUCTOR

Leah started dancing at 4 years old and graduated from Living Art Dance studio after 14 years. Throughout her dance journey, she has loved being involved in all aspects of the performing arts. She has choreographed for musicals, plays, and her sideline cheer team, while also being a member of her high school’s performance dance team and working as an assistant instructor at Clark Dance Studio. Leah has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Modern, Contemporary, Pointe, Hip Hop, and Irish. She has also completed her Grade V Cecchetti Exam and the Teachers Grade I Syllabus. She is so excited to join the Artistry Dance family and continue sharing her love of dance with her students!

Leah is currently a student at Augustana University, where she is majoring in Exercise Science and Strength & Conditioning with a minor in Spanish!

INSTRUCTOR

Micah-Anne is excited to share her love for dance! She started dancing at three years old and over the years she has studied in various styles, starting to compete in the 7th grade. She has performed in numerous Nutcrackers and other ballets. Micah-Anne has had several years as a teacher assistant and co-teaching in various styles. Artistry Dance Studio has been such an impactful part of her life and she can’t wait to share her passion with all the dancers.

She is currently a student at Augustana University majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in American Sign Language.

INSTRUCTOR

Zander has been dancing for 14 years. She danced competitively for 6 years and was part of the Lincoln High School Dance team for 4 years. Passionate about learning as many dance styles as possible, Zander has studied ballet, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, modern, pointe, lyrical, musical theatre, tap, funk, and Irish step.

She is currently studying at SDSU and was previously at the University of Iowa majoring in dance.

INSTRUCTOR

Gianna is thrilled to be back with Artistry Dance for another year! A Rapid City native, she began dancing at just three years old and immediately fell in love with it. From there, she explored a wide variety of styles, from ballet to musical theater, with contemporary remaining her personal favorite.

Gianna began competing during her freshman year of high school and quickly discovered an even greater passion for performance. In 2023, she had the incredible honor of being selected with her team to perform the opening number for the Radio City Rockettes in New York City. Experiencing the dance world beyond the Midwest was an unforgettable opportunity and one she continues to cherish.

Outside of the studio, Gianna is taking classes at Southeast Tech as she works toward becoming an ultrasound technician. She also loves spending time outdoors and hiking whenever she gets the chance. Gianna is passionate about dance and is so excited to share her love of movement, performance, and growth with her students this year!

INSTRUCTOR

Virginia is excited to start her teaching journey at Artistry! She has been dancing since she was 5 and started dancing competitively when she was 13.

Virginia has experience as an assistant teacher and teaching at dance camps in the summer. Virginia’s favorite styles of dance are Ballet and Contemporary. She also has experience in numerous dance styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Pointe, Lyrical, Tap, Musical Theatre, and Jazz.

Virginia is excited to combine her passion for dance with her passion for teaching and cannot wait to see her students grow as dancers while she grows in her own dance journey!