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
Meredith Day
Company & Recreational Instructor
Meredith started dancing at the age of 3 and was a competitive dancer for 15 years graduating from Spotlight Productions in 2011. She has trained in ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, musical theater, and hip hop and has won many regional and national titles in her dance career as well as dance convention titles around the United States. One memory that stands out to Meredith during her dance career is when she traveled to Dallas, TX to participate in Worlds with her fellow teammates. Meredith taught her first solo during her senior year and started teaching dance classes in 2011/2012. Her passion for dance is shared through teaching. Meredith started teaching at Yackel in 2013 where she teaches and choreographs for Company competition teams, solos, and specialty groups. She has been recognized for her choreography as well as overall achievements at regional and national competitions. Meredith had choreography recently recognized for the Industry Dance Awards. Her choreography continues to be at the top of MN's amazing talent and we are so proud to have her as our lead Company choreographer.
Danielle Maas
Company Guest Ballet Instructor
Born and raised in Plymouth, MN, Danielle started dancing at the age of 2. She was a competitive dancer at Larkin Dance Studio in Maplewood, MN until the age of 15, and did additional ballet training at Minnesota Dance Theater in Minneapolis. While dancing in Minnesota Danielle traveled monthly since the age of 9 for further ballet training to New York City and Las Vegas. She attended the summer programs of School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater in NY. She gained a great amount of her training by working privately with mentors such as, Francois Perron director of Manhattan Youth Ballet in New York, Susan Jaffe from ABT, Tara Foy from the Royal Ballet, Karin Averty from the Paris Opera Ballet, and Elizabeth Parkinson from Joffrey. She then moved to New York City at the age of 15 to continue her ballet training. She attended Manhattan Youth Ballet (formally Studio Maestro) under the direction of Francois Perron, for 3 years, and in 2008 became a member of The Company of MYB. Danielle has also attended the Youth American Grand Prix regional and finals competitions for 3 years and has placed in the top three in both classical and contemporary divisions at multiple regionals and also being invited to compete in the NYC finals all 3 years. Danielle's recent performances include those with Imagination Entertainment, The Company of Manhattan Youth Ballet, and the Broadway Dance Center’s 25th anniversary gala in NYC. You may have also seen her in TV shows, “Royal Pains” on USA, “Kings” on NBC, and "Mobbed" and "Glee" on Fox, along with the 2012 "Back to School" commercial for Scheels. She has also done print work for Leos dancewear, Katrina wear, and Donna international magazine. Now living in LA she works as a professional dancer signed with MSA dance agency and Diaz Management Group. Danielle has been teaching at various studios across the US since the age of 16. Many students and teachers have given extremely positive feedback in reaction to her teaching approach. She has a very unique way of connecting with the students and getting their fullest ability out of them. With her wide range of training, she offers a great class for both the classically and competitively trained dancer.
Grace Hildrum
Company & Recreational Instructor
Grace has been dancing since the age of 2, Grace has always had a strong love for dance. She danced competitively for 13 years with the last 6 of those years being at Yackel Dance Studio. She has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, musical theater and hip hop. Throughout her years dancing at Yackel, she also spent her time as a teacher assistant - which is where she discovered her strong passion for teaching. Upon graduating high school in 2020, she joined the Yackel staff where she now teaches and choreographs for both Recreational Classes and Company competition teams. Grace is currently attending the University of St. Thomas studying Exercise Science and plans to attend graduate school to obtain her Doctor of Physical Therapy. She loves being a part of the Yackel family and is so excited for what is to come!
Drew Geck
Company Tap Instructor
Bio Coming Soon!
Lindsey White
Company Instructor
Lindsey Rose is a professional dancer, yoga teacher, and meditation teacher. A lifelong dancer, she has been practicing yoga for 12 years and passionately teaching dance for 15 years. While she currently resides in Minnesota, she has
trained dancers all over the country in her mindful dance technique called "The Lab." This is a specialized class that melds the mindfulness and breath awareness of yoga, with the rigorous physicality of dance. Using this training, she
encourages dancers to approach movement they have been doing for years with a completely different awareness than ever before. It has lead to many life-changing breakthroughs for numerous dancers. Lindsey dances with Crash Dance Productions based out of Minneapolis and also leads their “CDP2” pre-professional dance program. She has danced with companies across the country including Contemporary Dance Wyoming, Poetry In Motion, and Kybele Dance Theater. In the past year, she has been working with high school and college dance teams to
train their minds for performance and overall well being. Known as "the dance guru" she truly holds the greater good of all of her students at heart. We are so lucky to have Lindsey on staff working with our Company dancers
weekly. She brings so much knowledge to our dancers and staff.
Alyssa Sutton
Company & Recreational Instructor
Alyssa began her dance journey at Yackel Dance at the age of 3. She graduated from Yackel in 2018 after 15 years of competitive dance. She’s trained in all styles of dance including Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Ballet, and Musical Theater. Alyssa began assisting Beth when she was 12 years old and has loved it since. She’s always had a passion for dance and also helping/teaching others. One of her most favorite memories was winning Miss Masquerade in 2015 and having an unforgettable senior year with her teammates. She began her teaching career her senior year in high school. She teaches both Competition and Recreational teams including specialty groups, duo/trios, and solos.
Jenny Rodriguez
Company Yoga/Pilate/Acro Instructor
Bio Coming Soon!
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.