JLDS Teaching Staff

Wendy Jahraus

Owner/director of JLDS and BDA, Wendy has been a dance instructor for 18 years, teaching all phases and levels of dance. She attended University of Wisconsin-Stout where she was a member and director of the University Dance Team. She also serves as Chair of the Rochester Dance Company.

Leila Friel

Trained with the Pennsylvania Ballet and was the director of the Forsythe Studio of the Arts. With over 35 years teaching experience, Lelia also worked with Ron Luddington -- top Olympic skating coach where she taught Ballet and Jazz technique to the skaters and helped to choreograph their competition routines. Locally, Lelia has been a guest choreographer for CDT and is the Ballet Mistress of the Rochester Dance Company.

Dawn Feickert Lenz

Attended Creighton University in Omaha where she studied dance and choreography, Dawn has a Master’s Degree in Education. Prior to her 11 years here at JLDS, Dawn taught for the ARCC Dance Program in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Dawn teaches the popular Mommy & Me and Clogging classes in addition to our regular curriculum.

Ellen Huston

Danced professionally with the Kansas City Ballet. She has a BA in Ballet from the Conservatory of Music--Kansas City and a Masters in Ballet from Indiana University. Ellen has taught Ballet & choreographed in Rochester for the last 16 years and will return for her 9th year to direct the ballet program at JLDS. Ellen is also the Artistic Director of the Rochester Dance Company!

Michon Donovan

Michon has been an instructor at JLDS for the past 12 years, teaching mostly Creative, Jazz, and Hip Hop classes. She also choreographs for local school theaters and the Dancing Dads of JLDS and BDA! In addition, Michon performs in RDC’s Nutcracker.

Joanie Mix

Joanie graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BFA in Dance. She has instructed Lyrical, Tap and Jazz classes at JLDS for the past 7 years in addition to performing and choreographing many original pieces throughout Minnesota. Most recently Joanie had the honor of performing at the Kennedy Center.

Sandra Domnick

Sandra grew up taking Ballet, Tap, Jazz classes at JLDS. She then moved away to attend Winona State Universitywhere she graduated with a BA in Athletic Training. Sandra just completed her RN training and will be working part-time at Mayo Clinic. She is also working toward a Masters degree in Education. This will be Sandra’s 7th year of teaching at JLDS where she enjoys teaching Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Conditioning classes.

Julie Benirschke

Trained in Classical Ballet at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts and the San Francisco Ballet School. She earned a BS in Ballet from Indiana University and went on to dance professionally with the Louisville Ballet and tour China with John Clifford and the Los Angeles Dance Theatre. She moved to Rochester in 2005 and began dancing and teaching at JLDS. Students recognize her as RDC’s Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker!

Robert Benirschke

Began his training in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz at his mother’s studio, the Chicago Academy for the Arts, and San Francisco Ballet School. He then attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where he received a BS in Ballet Performance. After college, he joined Louisville Ballet for one season and then toured with Los Angeles Dance Theater. He moved to Rochester in 2005 to pursue a Doctorate in Biochemistry and is married to fellow teacher, Julie Benirschke.

Courtney Holtegaard

Received her Nursing Degree two years ago from Winona State University and is currently working toward her Master’s Degree. Courtney studied Ballet, Tap, and Jazz classes at JLDS and was a member of the Century High School Danceline. Courtney also danced at Winona State and the Minnesota Conservatory of the Arts, performing in Swan Lake and the Nutcracker. She will be returning for her 4^th season as an instructor with JLDS and BDA.

Jennifer Mack

JLDS is excited and fortunate to have Jennifer back on staff again! Jennifer grew up dancing with JLDS and then attended UW – Stevens Point where she obtained a degree in Arts Management. Jennifer has been the Associate Artistic Director with the Rochester Dance Company and currently lives in Minneapolis where she is dancing with Continental Ballet Company.

Anuradha Dhumne

Originally from India, Anu will introduce JLDS students to Bollywood dance, the NEW dance technique that incorporates traditional Indian Folk Dance with American Jazz, Hip Hop, Disco moves choreographed to contemporary Indian and American music. Anu has been living in Rochester for the past 8 years where she has taught Bollywood and traditional Indian Folk Dance within the community.

Mary Moharter

Graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) with a BS in Marketing. Originally from Eagan, MN, Mary has been dancing for over 20 years. She has been teaching both competitive and non-competitive dance for 9 years and just recently became the Varsity Head Coach for Rochester Century’s Winter Danceline. Mary is now living in Rochester and will be getting married this fall. Welcome to JLDS!

Shannon Miller

Formerly known as Shannon Lund, Shannon is no stranger to JLDS. She studied all phases of dance at JLDS for 15 years before moving to Minneapolis to attend college, teach Hip Hop at the University of Minnesota, and for the past 4 years teach competition dance at a studio in Andover. Shannon is very excited to be back at JLDS to share with her students some fun moves and exciting new ideas!

Jamie Schembri

Grew up taking dance at JLDS before graduating from college with a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management, moving to New York to start a family, and becoming a certified children’s yoga instructor at Karma Kids. Jamie is delighted to once again be a part of the JLDS family and looks forward to sharing the joy of Children’s Yoga as well as the energy and fun of Creative Movement classes.

Erica Bryant

Originally from New York, Erica is now living in Rochester where she is the coach of John Marshall’s Hip Hop Team. Erica also attends Winona State University where she is majoring in Elementary Education. Currently, Erica is a fitness instructor at the YMCA, teaching the popular Zumba and Hip Hop classes. Welcome to JLDS, Erica!

Jennifer Anderson

Currently attends Winona State University where she is majoring in Elementary Education. Jennifer studied all phases of dance at JLDS for 12 years, and last year taught at BDA. Jennifer is excited to be back for another year.

Courtney Rishavy

Currently attending RCTC, Courtney has studied Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical at JLDS and most recently began competing in ballroom dance. She has competed in Las Vegas, and teaches ballroom in Minneapolis. You may recognize Courtney’s smile as she is part of the Miss MN USA pageant!