aboutus
Yackel Dance Studio is a full-service dance studio that specializes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and Hip-Hop by professional teaching staff. Yackel Dance Studio is offering 20 classes for recreational dancers to choose from as well as National Champion Competition Teams. Currently, Yackel Dance has eight competition teams. Yackel Dance Studio offers classes for beginner to advanced students ages 2 through 18. All of our dancers perform in our Spring Recital each year.
At Yackel Dance Studio it is about so much more than dance. Yackel Dance Studio is a safe family environment where dancers can come and be treated with respect by their teachers and all teammates. The dancers learn what it means to be apart of a team and how to treat others with kindness and be there for one another in a positive way. The dancers also learn that hard work and dedication will go a long way in all aspects of their life. We hope by the time a dancer graduates they can look back on their dance experience and be happy they will always have positive dance memories to take with them. Yackel Dance Studio has alumni who have gone on to open up their own dance studios, become dance teachers themselves as well as continue their dance education on dance teams such as The University Of Minnesota, University Of St. Thomas, Mankato State University, Winona State University, University Of Iowa. Many of our alumni have also gone on to major in dance from dance programs such a University Of Minnesota, University Of Iowa, University Of Arizona, and UMD to name a few.
Denise Yackel Founder
Beth Yackel Wasley Owner
Denise Yackel has been teaching dance for 48 years. She began dancing at the age of five. She attended the University of Minnesota after graduating from South St. Paul High School. She has studied dance with countless professionals from across the country. Denise has instilled a true love of dance and many life lessons in hundreds of children and adult's lives.
Beth began her dance training at the early age of 2 at Yackel Dance Studio. She grew up learning and growing from her mom Denise Yackel as well as attending many dance conventions each year. She was a competitive dancer from age 6 to 19. She is a graduate of South Saint Paul High School and attended the College Of St. Catherine. Beth began choreographing and teaching at the studio when she was 15 years old. Teaching and choreographing is her number one passion. She is always striving to be better each year and to give her dancers new challenges and ideas. She considers all of her dancers her family and really works to instill great morals in all of them. She believes that learning how to be a respectful, hardworking, and classy individual is so important. She leads by example and holds her older dancers to a very high standard in being strong leaders to the younger dancers. She continues to attend at least three dance conventions per year. She just recently attended the Dance Teacher Summit in NYC taking seminars and classes from all the top people in the industry. Beth has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, musical theatre, and lyrical. Beth has won numerous choreography awards for her pieces. Beth is so excited to start a new chapter in her life with taking over the studio and watching her two little girls grow up with dance in their lives. Her goal is to continue to keep Yackel Dance Studio a safe, happy, and fun environment for dancers to learn and grow as dancers and as people. Beth teaches tap, jazz, lyrical, and ballet to all of our Company Teams. She is so thankful for the amazing studio her mom has built over the past 50 years!
Meet the Team
mpany Instructor
Jenny Rodriguez - Company Instructor
GUEST FACULTY
Melissa Lobes
Derrick Schrader
Our dance instructors are experienced, well trained, and educated in the dance field. They are also experienced in dealing with children. We want all of our students to have fun while being challenged to become accomplished dancers. We require discipline in a friendly environment.