We provide students with a positive, qualified, artistic staff, many of whom have earned Fine Arts Degrees in their field. Our staff is trained to nurture and encourage the individual. Through process, presentation, and performance we teach our students to refine an eye for excellence. Through encouragement, mentoring, and team-building, our students gain confidence, friendships, and positive experiences.
Christa Anderson-Hill
Director
Christa Anderson-Hill has been teaching dance for 25 years. For 12 years Christa was the Director of Tonka DanceWorks through Minnetonka Community Ed. In fall of 2018 Christa merged her two programs Tonka DanceWorks and CREO into one. CREO, is the result of a deep longing to collaborate with artists outside the medium of dance and to give artists a space to express their faith. Her approach to dance begins with the Vagonova Syllabus in ballet, and a Limon style of modern dance which focuses on breath and freedom of movement. With strength and breath in place all the rest comes naturally.
As a child, Ms. Christa danced locally at Hopkins Dance and Carole Bradley Studios. She earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota. She has danced at the Kennedy Center and performed on stages from Italy to India. She was a member ofthe Eclectic Edge Ensemble as well as Joe Chvala and the Flying Foot Forum and ToBakni. She studied and taught through Youth With A Mission in Lakeside Montana. She has also performed original choreography by Doug Varone, Shapiro and Smith, Zoe Sealy, Joe Chvala, Karis Sloss, Hannah Stillwell, Jolene Konkel, Willor Bluge, Karen Rivet, Leslie Daily, Carole Bradley, and Reginald Yates.
Christa is the creator and choreographer of original children’s ballets: The Companion: The Story of Ruth and Naomi, Esther: For Such a Time As This, The Tales and Tails of Folks and Fairies, and A New Song. Her work, Enticed, was performed live by the Saint Paul City Ballet to George Mauer’s original score. Currently she choreographs for the Living Word Christmas Show and for many area musicals.
Kelsey Charlotte
Kelsey Charlotte is a choreographer and mover based in Minneapolis. She graduated with a BA in Dance from Gustavus Adolphus College. During her time at Gustavus her work was recognized by The American College Dance Festival in 2012 for her solo choreography as well as performing in the 2014 ACDFA Gala.
Kelsey attended Accademia del’ Arte in Arezzo, Italia in 2013 where she studied under Giorgio Rossi, Rita Petrone, Ashai Lombardo, and Mark Allen, and other artists in Italy and Germany. She is now an undergraduate recruiter for the dance program.
Other notable work has included Stephen Koplowitz, D.I.G. (Dancers Investigation Group) Sacramento, CA, SEVEN DANCE which she co-founded in 2014, and Children’s Theater Company. Her teaching background includes ABT ballet teacher certification, Northland School of Dance, Genesis Dance Company, Zenon Youth Program, Prairie School of Dance and recently, Ashland Productions. Kelsey currently dances for STRONG Movement, Jagged Moves, and Christopher Watson Dance Company. This is Kelsey’s first year with CREO Arts & Dance.
Jeneca Todd Frederiksen
School Principal
After seeing her first ballet, Jeneca enrolled at Clytie Adams School of Ballet where she performed in yearly recitals as well as various roles in nine productions of The Nutcracker. During her high school years, Jeneca also had the opportunity to tour and perform in New York City, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic with the Davis High Dance Company. In her senior year, Jeneca was elected as a semi-finalist in the statewide Sterling Scholar competition.
Jeneca studied Dance Education at Brigham Young University where she also performed in modern/contemporary companies including Kinnect, dancEnsemble, and Contemporary Dance Theater. Through these companies she was able to teach creative movement and modern classes to over two thousand students and work with choreographers such as Donald McKayle, Bebe Miller, and participate in the American College Dance Festival.
Since graduating Jeneca moved to Minnesota with her husband and served as the school principal at CREO for four years before relocating to Bloomington, Indiana from 2016-2018. Jeneca is excited to return to CREO once again!
Julia Moser-Hardy
Events Manager & Pointe Principal
Julia trained for thirteen years at Neta Barker School of Ballet in her hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts, and continued with Modern and Improvisation at St. Olaf College where she received her Bachelors degree in Dance and Psychology, two fields that she feels see people as whole beings. Julia has had the opportunity to perform choreography by Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater, Alexandra Beller/Dances, SEVEN DANCE and has danced in the Minnesota Fringe and several other performances with independent choreographer Jolene Konkel. Julia is currently a company member with Alternative Motion Project and is looking forward to another wonderful year at CREO!
Linda Muir Finney
Linda Muir Finney holds a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Ballet from the University of Utah. She has danced for Ballet West, the Susan Warden Dancers, and Brosseau Danceworks where she also served as Associate Director. She has held faculty appointments at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Kent State University, Queens College and at the University of Minnesota. In 2007, Linda received both the Chicago regional Youth America Grand Prix award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year as well as the Dance Teacher Magazine award for Studio Teacher of the Year.
Amber Opdahl
Amber grew up taking dance at Kay Marie & Carol’s School of Dance. She was a Mound Westtonka Pop Singer and has served as a dance team coach in the district. She is a loving mom of two and has been with Tonka DanceWorks and CREO since the beginning, serving as the office manager for Tonka DanceWorks for many years. She is inspired by how Tonka DanceWorks and CREO has grown to reach so many students across the West Metro and looks forward to continuing to be a part of the next step of CREO’s journey in Minnetonka!
Betsy G. Nelson
Office Manager
Betsy (Gaasedelen) Nelson is a dance artist, educator, and proud Minnesotan. She earned her BA in Dance and Exercise Science from St. Olaf College and is currently performing as an Apprentice with Collide Theatrical Dance Company. She has also performed professionally with Jolene Konkel, Minnesota Opera (Heidi Spesard-Noble), Curio Dance, Rhythmically Speaking, and more. During the school year Betsy also serves as a choreographer for the Jugheads Youth Juggling Company, and as a study guide writer for The Ordway (Education Department). She is thrilled to be entering another season with the outstanding students and staff at CREO! Ephesians 3:20-21
Allyson Perchyshyn
Allyson began dancing at the age of three and it has stayed a strong passion of hers ever since. Throughout the years she fell in love with jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, and aero. When she was thirteen, she began Ukrainian Folk Dance and now she dances with Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in New York. Teaching dance is her favorite job because she can share her passion and love for dance with others. Through CREO Allyson has performed in several faith-based performances including the Living Word Christmas Show. Allyson also teaches senior fitness with Centrex Rehab. She is excited for the fun year ahead at CREO’s new Minnetonka location.
Sheridan Vik
Sheridan grew up with a strong passion for dance and missions. After training at the Creative Arts School of Ballet in Indiana under the direction of Ms. Pam Talarico, Sheridan went on to pursue missions through Youth With A Mission (YWAM). In her second year with YWAM Sheridan studied various dance forms, dance history, and composition in the School of Dance Studies program under the leadership of Sherisa Brands. This connection enabled Sheridan to perform with various Minnesota artists including the program’s founder Jolene Konkel, and perform at Project Dance New York and other venues nationally and internationally. She is excited to learn, grow, and be a part of CREO’s staff again this year!