Meet our staff
Rebecca Gladhill
Rebecca began dancing at the age of 5 and continued dance education through college. She was employed with Art Linkletter Dance Studio in Phoenix, Arizona before moving to Minnesota in 1977.
In 1979 Rebecca created the New Prague Dance Co. with an enrollment of 80 students. The New Prague Dance Co. is proud of the hundreds of dancers who�ve received dance instruction over the years.
Besides managing the studio, Rebecca has choreographed over 20 musicals in the area and directed several productions for various churches and community functions. She is also a certified fitness instructor.
Rebecca taught the majority of the classes at the New Prague Dance Co. until 1994 when she was diagnosed with cancer. Health issues prompted hiring qualified instructors to handle more teaching responsibilities.
As the years have progressed, the business details are a full time job, but Rebecca still loves to teach dance classes. This year she is teaching eight classes a week. I especially love teaching ballet technique and find it's crucial for students who want to get serious about dance.
Rebecca is married to Phil and lives in Shakopee. Together they have three grown children and seven grandchildren.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to have a career I love and for the support and loyalty of the New Prague Community over the last 30 plus years. My hope is the studio will continue to grow and serve the community for many years to come."
Krista Kadrlik-Vanderveren
Krista Kaderlik is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin River Falls. She majored in Exercise and Sports Science with a
minor in Dance Education. She has been involved with dance for over 20 years and has taught dance for 5 years in both a private studio
and public high school settings. She danced at Monique's School of Dance for 8 years and Pat Peare's School of Dance for 6 years
competitively. She has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, baton, pom and dance line. While she was in high school she was a
member of the AVaires Dance Team and was also a member of the Advanced Dance Company at Apple Valley High School. Being in
that company she had the opportunity to perform at the National High School Dance Festival, Zenon Dance Company performances
and The Bloomington Center for the Arts. While in college Krista was a member of the UW-River Falls Falcon Dance Team and
Dance Theatre program. Krista has previously coached the dance teams at Hudson High School and Lakeville South. Krista is a
certified United Performing Association Nationals judge as well as a Wisconsin Cheer and Pom Association Judge.
She is very excited to be working with the students, staff and families of the New Prague Dance Company this year!
Kristine Brockhoff
Kristine Brockhoff (Miss Kris) lives in New Prague with her husband, Tim and four children. She has been teaching tap, jazz, ballet and Pointe the past 16 years for the New Prague Dance Company.
Kris received training from the New Prague Dance Company as a young dancer and went on to continue her dance training at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. She took classes in dance composition, dance history and improvisation as well as ballet, tap, jazz and modern.
Kris teaches the majority of classes at the New Prague Dance Company. Many which have won numerous awards in regional and state competitions.
She is proficient in technique and teaching proper terminology. Kris continues dance education by attending dance workshops in the Minneapolis area. All of Kris� dancers appreciate her talent, skill and ability to keep routines and choreography exciting and fresh!
Angela Charnstrom
Angela Charnstrom lives in New Prague with her husband, Allen, and two children.
Angela began her dance instruction with Brenda's School of Dance in Farmington, Minnesota, at three years of age. Early dance
focus included classes in tap, ballet and jazz. Throughout high school Angela competed in high-kick/jazz funk for the Farmington
High School dance team. Angela graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, where she danced on the Gustavus Dance Team and
also obtained a minor in dance, where courses of study included ballet and modern dance classes, choreography and dance history.
Angela will be teaching high kick/jazz, mommy and me, an alternative competition group and beginner adults.
Barbara Nyreen
Barbara Nyreen lives in New Prague with her husband Kris and three children, Jake, Callie and Isabella. As a young dancer, Barbara took many classes her 11 years at New Prague Dance Company.
She has been trained under Miss Rebecca in tap, ballet and jazz. After high school, she attended Alexandria Technical College and received a degree in Communication Art and Design.
While in Alexandria, she taught private tap lessons and was captain of the Alexandria Tech Danceline Team.
In the years 2000-2004, Barbara taught tap and Jazz dance classes and beginner classes for New Prague Dance Company. Now, she is currently enrolled in an advanced adult dance class at New Prague Dance Company and substitute teaches
for current teachers on staff.
In her spare time, Barbara likes to spend time with her family, bake goodies, quilt and sew hand bags.
Amy Ausen
Amy Ausen is sixteen years old and is a sophomore at New Prague High School. She has been dancing for nine years. She started dancing at Center Stage Dance Studio in Savage at the age of seven; taking tap, jazz and ballet. She joined the New Prague Dance Company at eleven years old. She has been in competitive dance for four years, and is in the "Diamonds" competition group, and loves to compete and perform at the recitals. She has experience in tap, ballet/lyrical, jazz and pointe. Amy is also a a member of the New Prague High School Dance Team.
Amy will be teaching the Jazz/Hip Hop classes. She is looking forward to having a fun year!
Amy's other interests include enjoying time with her friends and family, swimming, traveling, and going to movies.
Karissa Machacek
Karissa Machacek began her dance training nearly nineteen years ago. Throughout high
school, she studied ballet and performed in many productions as a member of Continental Ballet
Company's junior company in Bloomington, Minnesota. Her favorite ballets to perform include
Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker. She has also choreographed for
and danced in concerts and musicals at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where she
loves to lead people into worship through dance. Karissa recently graduated from Belhaven
University in Jackson, Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. At
Belhaven, she has enjoyed performing with their Dance Ministry Ensemble and in various
classical and faculty works, including an original solo choreographed by Ravenna Tucker-
Wagnon for her senior project. For the past two summers she has loved teaching ballet and
pointe at New Prague Dance Company and is very excited to continue to pass on her knowledge
and love of dance. Karissa teaches ballet and Pointe technique as well as "Bible Ballet" classes
during the year.
Amber Hoffman
Amber Hoffman is eighteen years old and is a senior at the New Prague High School. She has been
dancing on the floors of New Prague Dance Company since she was eight years old and will be going on
to her eighth year of competitively dancing for the company. Amber loves working hard during practices
to ready herself for her performances at competitions and recitals, which is what she looks forward to
most during the year. Amber has experience in tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical and cannot wait to teach
others the love of this performing art. Amber also loves music and the visual arts, as well as animals of
all shapes and sizes, enjoying nature's wonders, riding horses, baking, tending a garden, playing sports,
being hooked on a book, writing new creations, spending time with her family, and being a part of the
National Honor Society. This is her first year teaching dance classes and will be a part of a teaching team
with her sister, Ali Jo, and cannot wait to "break a leg!"
Ali Jo Hoffman
Ali Jo Hoffman is seventeen years old and is a junior at New Prague High School. She has been dancing
with New Prague Dance Company for eleven years and has been in competitive dance for eight years.
She is currently in the "Diamonds" competition group and can't wait to get started on another great
year! She is ready to work hard at classes to show her talent in the competitions and recitals, which is
the most exciting part of each year! Ali Jo has experience in jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical and can't wait
to teach her own classes this year, after taking two years of assisting! Ali Jo also enjoys participating
in many other hobbies, including playing the alto saxophone in the NPHS Band and Jazz Band, being a
captain of the school soccer team, involvement with the school softball program, and also enjoys taking
piano lessons. She likes to do well in school, being involved with extra-curricular activities, and spending
time with family and friends. Ali Jo will be team teaching with her sister, Amber, for the first time and
cannot wait to begin! Let's Dance!
Michael Lunder
Michael is 17 and will be a senior in high school this year. Michael started dancing in
6th grade for the middle school's pop choir "Music Express". He has taught dance for the New
Prague schools in many ways: Middle school pop choirs, High School pop choir ("Emotion"),
middle school musical, "Camp Rock", and he also taught a boys' hip hop class this past June.
Michael has studied hip hop for many years, and recently began studying jazz. He loves teaching
and performing in all ways, especially dancing. He will be teaching a hip hop/jazz class on
Fridays from 5-6 pm. Other interests of Michael's include sports, being with friends/family, and
traveling.
