Prairie School of Dance

Quality Instruction in a Wholesome Environment

Contact Us
952-829-9436
Your Account

 

Menu
  • About
    • About Prairie School of Dance
    • Staff
    • Studio Locations
    • Testimonials
    • Open Hours
    • Close
  • Classes
    • Class Information
      • Summer 2019
      • Fall 2018/19 Class Schedule
      • Fall 2019/20 Class Schedule
      • Close
    • Classes by Genre
    • Classes by Age
    • Performing Arts Program
    • Close
  • Events
    • She Said Yes
    • Spring Recital
    • Performing Arts Showcase & Tickets
    • Recreational Christmas Show & Party
    • Performing Arts Christmas Show
    • Parent Observation Week
    • Photo Week
    • Open Houses
    • Community Performances
    • Close
  • PA Calendar 2019-2020
  • Recreational Student Calendar 2019-2020

Meet Miss Rachel!

October 20, 2014 by Prairie Admin

D6C_6649_pp

We are so happy to have Miss Rachel Johnson sharing her love for dance and life with our students at Prairie School of Dance!  Take a few moments to learn about some of her amazing experiences and interests.

Where did you receive your degree? Gustavus Adolphus College

How long have you been teaching dance and what class(es) do you teach?
I am in my second year of teaching. At PSOD, I teach Creative Dance, Ballet/Tap/Jazz classes and Jazz/Hip Hop classes.

What is your favorite style of dance?
My favorite style of dance is modern — though I also really love tap, and I think tap is my favorite style to teach kids.

Where is the coolest place you have ever performed?
In the summer of 2012, I  received a scholarship to perform in Spoleto, Italy with site-specific choreographer Stephan Koplowitz. He had set work on Gustavus students the previous winter/spring and had invited those of us who worked with him to join him in Spoleto for the LaMaMa Spoleto Umbria festival in June — basically a Fringe Festival. Spoleto is a town about an hour and a half northeast of Rome, and I went there by myself. I danced (and ate, explored, and tried to speak Italian) with several other Americans — and one Italian — for two weeks in preparation for the performances. Since it was site-specific, we rehearsed mostly where we would be performing, for hours under the very hot Italian sun. There were three places I danced in the town. One was within a giant dome-shaped sculpture by Michele Manzini in a city park, another was in front of the duomo in Spoleto, and the other was under/around another huge sculpture by Alexander Calder as the center of a roundabout right in front of the train station. In front of the train station was probably the coolest since we always had people watching us rehearse (and then perform) while waiting for the train. Since it was in the middle of a roundabout, there were constantly cars zooming all around us which was a very disorienting experience. I remember people shouting out their windows, “bello! Bello!” which means beautiful in Italian. We had two days of performances, morning through evening at the different sites, and our work kicked off the festival. It was two of the best weeks of my life and by FAR the coolest place I have performed. It was an amazing experience.

340577_10151211891301011_1864871152_o

Photo Credit:  Stephan Koplowitz

What is one thing you were taught and will always remember?
 “Squish the orange”. My ballet teacher used to say it to remind us to control our releves when we would lower to flat feet with straight legs. I’ve found myself saying it when I teach now, too.

How has dance impacted you?
Dance makes me have faith in myself, in my friends, and in people in general. I have danced since I was 3 years old, and being in dance encouraged me to express myself, which has made a huge impact with who I am today.

What inspires you?
Tea, a good conversation, and a place to write good ideas down.

10306309_872240446136915_7553824311295016025_n

 

What brings you joy when you’re not at Prairie School of Dance?
I am an extrovert and a very relationship-oriented person, so being around those I love brings me the most joy. Besides great company, I enjoy cooking, camping, being out and about in Minneapolis/St. Paul, taking dance classes, watching Friends reruns, and laughing at all the weird things my dog does.

 
Have you created a pre-performance regiment/routine or a tip you’d like to share?I always spend a lot of time jumping to get warm and a lot of time in lunges because my hip flexors get really tight. Also, if possible, I always hug somebody really tight about a minute before I go onstage — it helps with my nerves. 🙂

 

 

Filed Under: Arts/Entertainment, fitness, Get to know your teachers, Performing Arts, recreational division Tagged With: dance blogs, dance Eden Prairie, Dance School Eden Prairie, Dance Teacher, Dancer interview, Fun Activities with Friends, Hip Hop, jazz dance, Meet your teacher, Prairie School of Dance Staff, Rachel johnson, Tap Dance Eden Prairie, teacher profile, Twin Cities dance school, Twin Cities Dance studio

Meet Mr. Matthew!

October 7, 2014 by Prairie Admin

We are so happy to have Matthew Keefe on our staff this year!  

Headshot MatthewFinally, a man is on staff! 🙂 Matthew brings years of professional dance experience to our dancers and teaches with so much charisma and clarity!  Read on to learn more about our talented Saturday ballet technique teacher!

Where did you receive your degree? 

I have a Master’s Degree in Dance Performance from the University of Iowa.  I was allowed into the graduate program based on professional experience, I don’t have a bachelor’s degree, though I did two years of undergraduate study at the University of New Mexico with a focus on Economics.

How long have you been teaching dance and what class(es) do you teach?

I’ve been teaching dance for over 20 years in one form or another.  I’m teaching ballet and pointe for PSOD, but I also teach modern, jazz and other dance classes, as well as do speaking engagements and other arts-related work.

What is your favorite style of dance?

The kind that moves!  😉  Actually, I like all dance, but I do have a favorite kind of dancer — the kind that move with a connection to their center and gravity.  You see them in all kinds of dance.

Where is the coolest place you have ever performed?

The Joyce Theater in NY (twice!).

What is one thing you were taught and will always remember?

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.  Meaning, among other things, if you’re a polite, likable person you’ll go farther in life than if you’re a whiner.Epaulle

What inspires you?

The things I see the things I hear the things I think about…I try to find it wherever I can.

What brings you joy when you’re not at Prairie School of Dance?

My daughter Olive, wife Brittany…and our house which is finally done!

Have you created a pre-performance regiment/routine or a tip you’d like to share?well, this is a little wierd…I used to run backwards in a figure 8 before performances to warm up.  It seems strange but rolling through your feet that way was a great way to warm them up and in the figure 8 you got all the different impact angles of the ankle as well.  It was very effective, though it always got strange looks from people.

You can also learn more about Matthew by visiting his website: http://www.matthewmoves.com

Trampoline crop

 

Filed Under: Arts/Entertainment, Blog, Dance, Get to know your teachers Tagged With: ballet, Ballet teacher, dance blogs, dance Eden Prairie, Dance School Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie Dance school, get to know your teachers, Matthew Keefe, Prairie School of Dance, Prairie School of Dance Staff, teacher profile, Twin Cities dance school, Twin Cities Dance studio

Performing Arts B3 Event!

September 23, 2014 by Prairie Admin

Our Performing Arts students gathered on Saturday for our B3 Event: Belts, Books & Buddies!  The students got their ballet belts, dance books to journal in, and a buddy to support and encourage during the year.  With the beginning of the new year, the dancers made goals and spent time getting to know more about the dancers in their classes and the dancers older and younger than them in the program.  Dance builds beautiful communities and this day was not short of fun and the fourth B, BEAUTIFUL BONDING! 🙂

Enjoy these photos and videos.

What is a PSOD dancers’ year goal?

Listen & Watch here!
Student’s Dance & Life Goals!

PA B3 Event

We look forward to watching you reach your GOALS!

 

Filed Under: Arts/Entertainment, Blog, Dance, Performing Arts Tagged With: dance blogs, dance Eden Prairie, dance goals, Eden Prairie Dance school, faith based dance school, Fun Activities with Friends, goals, Grace Church, Prairie School of Dance, Twin Cities dance school

DANCERIZE your Bedroom

September 14, 2014 by Prairie Admin

We are very affected by the spaces we live, work, sleep, and play in!  What dancer wouldn’t love to be surrounded by dance inspiration in their bedroom?!

Check out these great ideas to “DANCERIZE” your dancer’s room!

DIY BALLET BARRE
Click here for a tutorial on how to make your own barre.  Use an old handrail!

35598bdd35dafe03eba235ba7d42090a

BEDDING

ac93f9c4f62d3a2d39d7b69b05c10f39

http://www.visionbedding.com/Dance-Away_Bedroom-rm-13447
http://www.landofnod.com/i-heart-bedding/f12836

 

DANCER CLOCK
f283a0d9df7f1f07e953a544c501c004
http://fab.com/product/wall-clock-8-ballerina-356916

 

I HOPE YOU DANCE ART QUOTES

il_570xN.430277447_6u8l
https://www.etsy.com/listing/124348688/word-art-dance-quote-i-hope-you-dance

PERSONAL DECALS

4ad9ff73d218e15eae324d4e7c19021c
https://www.etsy.com/listing/69368733/ballerina-dancer-personalized-name-24×18

 

You can even paint the walls PSOD Lavender! Check out this great PSOD inspired bedroom of one of our dancers!

photo-11

DECORATE POINTE SHOES

269669cb60940bc168d18b11241c29da

86f4de0139d92d83fda400020c3eabed

Enjoy your new dance inspired room!

Filed Under: Arts/Entertainment, Blog, Dance, Health and Wellness Tagged With: birthday gifts for dancers, christmas gifts for dancers, dance blogs, dance Eden Prairie, dance room, Dance School Eden Prairie, dancer bedding, dancer bedroom, dancer clock, dancer gifts, dancer presents, Dancer space, dancing bedroom, DIY dancer barre, kids bedroom, lavender, Twin Cities dance school, unique dance themed bedroom

Performing Arts Banquet ~ A wonderful community!

July 21, 2014 by Prairie Admin

This year we hosted our 1st annual Performing Arts Banquet at Grace Church.  It was a wonderful way to CELEBRATE all that these students have accomplished over the past year.  We saw tremendous growth in their grace, discipline, and confidence on stage.  They learned to work together, to be outside their comfort zone, to help each other with quick backstage costume changes, and to cheer each other on in the studio. We honored students with awards for Most Improved, Most Respectful, Hardest Worker, Most Dedicated, and Most Teachable. It is a joy to see these dancers grow and to see the community that dance fosters.

We are so grateful for our supportive parents that spend many hours driving their dancers to and from class, rehearsal, and shows.

banquet photo booth collage

We are so thankful for our staff that loves, challenges, and inspires these young ladies to be their very best!

banquet 2

We are so thankful for students that work hard, show enthusiasm in the classroom, and share in our love for dancing!

banquet 3

The Performing Arts Program is a wonderful community of families, students, and teachers.  With gratitude, we say thanks to this past year and excitedly look forward to the 2014-2015 Dance Year! We are gearing up for our Performing Arts Auditions, Aug. 4-8th 2014!  We are excited to see new faces and to see our returning students.  It’s going to be a sweaty week of fun!  If you are interested in joining our Performing Arts program for the 2014-2015 dance year, please contact us for audition details.  You can also register for the Performing Arts Assessment Intensive online here.

 

Filed Under: Arts/Entertainment, Blog, Dance, Performing Arts Tagged With: ballet dance, celebration, Dance, dance blogs, dance Eden Prairie, dance studio, faith based dance school, family, Fun Activities with Friends, Grace Church, jazz dance, Jazz Dance Eden Prairie, memories, performing arts, photos, Sacred Dance, students, Tap Dance, teachers, Twin Cities dance school

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Quality Instruction in a Wholesome Environment

Welcome to Prairie School of Dance; a faith-based dance studio located in Eden Prairie, MN, offering Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Sacred, Hip Hop, Pointe, and Musical Theater, for ages two through adult. We offer both a Recreational and Performing Arts division. Our mission is to provide quality dance instruction in a wholesome environment while celebrating the beauty of each dancer and the joy of dance.

PSOD Performing Arts Showcase 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZOippVgaDQ
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Dance Office

11000 Blossom Rd
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
(952) 829-9436

 

Prairie Lutheran Studio

11000 Blossom Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
(952) 829-9436

Grace Studio

9301 Eden Prairie Rd
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
(952) 829-9436
During classes you can
reach a receptionist until 9pm at:
(952) 224-3157

Copyright © 2019 · Minneapolis Web Design by BizzyWeb · Log in