Ekaterine Bezirgani
Artistic Director - Twin Cities Ballet
Teaches: Ballet (all levels)

Originally from the Republic of Georgia, Eka trained with the Moscow Academy of Dance and Moscow Academic Choreographic College, earning a Graduate Artist of High Ballet and Teaching Diploma. She also trained with the Tbilisi Ballet Academy School, acquiring the rank of prima ballerina with the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Eka has danced all over the world as a principle dancer and guest artist, performing an extensive repertoire including Odette/Odile from Swan Lake, Swanhilda from Coppelia, Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker, and the title roles in Giselle and Paquita. She has also danced principle roles in La Bayadere, La Sylphides, Don Quixote, Porgi and Bess, and Romeo and Juliet.

Since joining Twin Cities Ballet, she has produced The Nutcracker, La Sylphide and The Sleeping Beauty.

Lisa Henry
Artistic Director - Twin Cities School of Dance
Teaches: Tap, Jazz, Pre-ballet, and Latin jazz

Lisa graduated from Rockford College with a B.F.A. in dance. She owned her own dance studio in Sterling, Illinois for a number of years prior to joining Twin Cities School of Dance. While in Sterling, she taught all levels of dance and formed a traveling dance company that competed and performed throughout the local area and in Illinois, Iowa, and South Carolina. She also developed a competition to build confidence and self esteem which allowed students a chance to choreograph their own dance and perform it. Her philosophy on dance goes beyond pointing your toes. Miss Lisa believes that dance is a great way to build confidence in children and one of the best ways to stay active in your youth.

Lisa credits her self confidence and enthusiasm to having a wonderful role model. At least once every year her students will here the words of Lisa's late mother, "Confidence, you have to have Confidence". She is a very enthusiastic teacher with a love for the "little tiny dancers" and the spunk and drive to motivate the teen dancer. Lisa is offering an exciting new dance class this year, Latin Jazz! More recently, in her spare time she choreographs for her church. She is also employed at State Farm Insurance in the Financial Services area and has been with Twin Cities School of Dance since 1996.

Janet Hayslip-Streenz
Master Teacher
Teaches: Ballet and all levels of Tap

Miss Janet has been teaching dance in the Twin Cities since 1955. She is the Founder/Director of the International Show Troupe that performed in five European countries in 1993. Ms. Janet continues to expand her knowledge of dance by annually attending the Chicago National Dance Masters Training School and Convention. Many generations of Twin Cities' residents have benefited from Miss Janet's outstanding dance instruction.

Katie Jean Dahlseng
Teaches: Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet and Modern Ballet

Migrating from the state of New York, Katie Jean found herself dancing in the Midwest, after she received a BFA in dance performance from Northern Illinois University. Moving into the city of Chicago, Katie Jean worked with the Chicago Ballet, as an apprentice and later joined the Elements Contemporary Ballet as a company member.  She has most recently completed a season with Matter of Reaction Movement Project; and she continually explores her own choreography.

Katie Jean began teaching dance in 2004 and has taught in multiple Chicago studios and preschools. She loves the process and challenge of passing on knowledge, passion, and technique to others and looks forward to her first season with TCB.

Byron Reynolds
Teaches: Hip Hop, Funk/Jazz

A native of Pittsburgh, Byron came to TCSD with 27 years of dance experience, 14 of those as a professional dancer.  He taught previously in the Chicago area.  His professional performances include appearing in the movie “Save the Last Dance” and has worked with Pink, Genuwine, and Snoop Dogg as well as others.  He also danced with the Chicago Rush arena football team and was a finalist dancer in “Showtime at the Apollo New York”.

Karen Bryan
Teaches: Tap, Adult Ballet, Jazz, and Modern/Lyrical

Karen is a recent graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University where she minored in Theater Dance.  Karen has been dancing for 19 years and hopes to earn a Masters degree in Dance Education.

Johnette “Kamokunani” Palumbo
Teaches: Hawaiian, Polynesian dancing for males and females of all ages

A native of Honolulu, Hawaii Johnette “Kamokunani” trained with Myra Keko’olani in Hilo Hawaii beginning at the age of 4yrs old.  Graduated as Kumu Hula (Master Teacher) at the age of 12 yrs old.
Johnette “Kamokunani” teaches all levels of dance from Hawaii and Pacific Polynesian regions such as: New Zealand, Tahiti, Figi and Samoa. There are various types of Hawaiian (Hula) dance, one is a “Kahiko”, ancient dance, “Auana”, story (mele) dance and “Hapa Haoli dance”, all of which will be taught at Twin Cities School of Dance.  Also taught are Hawaiian implements (intermediate) and basic 101 on Hawaiian culture.