Dana has been instructing dance and tumbling for over 20 years. Her background includes the instruction of various genres including Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theater and Pom. She has also instructed competitive teams through multiple organizations previous to opening Revel. 

Dana’s love for dance began at a very young age.  While beginning dance and gymnastics through the elementary ages, she made began dancing in middle school with the Menasha Park and Rec program. She continued with the Menasha program until placed on the middle school cheerleading and dance teams. Her passion for dance continued through the high school years where she danced on the Menasha High School dance team and was captain her junior and senior years.  While attending UW Oshkosh and earning a degree in finance, she also participated on the college dance team until obtaining a job with the Neenah Menasha Y as a dance instructor.

 During her time as an instructor at the Y, Dana learned to teach under the direction of Maeghan Johnson, the current Director of the Neenah Menasha Y, and assisted with developing a competitive program with students that went on to earn numerous awards and high honors. The studio was awarded the National Top Studio Award for the 2016 Rainbow Dance Nationals. The highest honor was when the studio also won the Starzmanship Award in 2017 which is given to studios that exemplify what it means to support each other and other dancers.  Dana takes pride in making sure that all students support and encourage each other as well as competitors and creating a welcoming environment for all.

 In addition to teaching dance and competitive coaching at the Y, Dana had the opportunity to choreograph and perform in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Appleton Performing Arts Center. She also had the opportunity to coach for the UW Fox Valley dance team.

Dana’s experience brought her the opportunity to return to the Menasha Park and Rec program to teach dance and then shortly after instruct the gymnastics program. Dana was  the Dance & Gymnastics Program Coordinator for the Menasha Park and Rec for 7 years. 

For several years Dana also had the privilege to join the City of Kaukauna Recreational Dance program. Over the years she introduced multiple new dance program concepts and program growth opportunities. During her time with the Kaukauna program she was also able to start a competitive program where students went on to obtain numerous awards.  

It has always been Dana’s mission to find ways to help students find their passion for dance and feel good about what they can do. She has been privileged and humbled to have the opportunity to work with so many programs to do that. She feels blessed and thankful for so many students’ lives she has been a part of. After many years and several communities of building program growth, the distant dream of opening a dance studio became a reality.  It was the opportunity to begin a venture in her own community of Sherwood that would open the door for Revel Dance Academy. The opportunity is beyond exciting and Dana cannot wait to begin instructing the students of Sherwood and surrounding areas.