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MIDWEST MODERN DANCE CO

 

 

Kathleen Lafrenz is Artistic Director of Midwest Modern Dance and M.A.D. Dance Ensemble, Midwest Academy’s student dance company. Kathy holds a BA and MA in Dance from the University of Iowa. Kathy also directs a liturgical dance group at her church, Edwards Congregational. She teaches classes in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, modern. She has been on the Iowa Arts Council Artists Roster and still remains active in the Iowa Dance Collective. She offers dance and drama workshops in area schools. Kathy is well known for her choreography in community theaters and high schools. Such shows as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Damn Yankees, Annie, and All Shook Up are just a few of her accomplishments. She has directed shows like Charlie Brown, Jungle Book–the musical, The Secret Garden, and Winnie the Pooh. She also performs in community theatre. Fiddler on the Roof, Singing in the Rain, and Little Women are a few of her credits. She has 2 children. Brent, a 2007 graduate from the University of IL with a BA in Theatre/Acting and Kailan who is a theatre major at Western IL University. In her spare time (yea right) Kathy likes to read, sew, and work in her gardens and play video/computer games.

 

Indira Dominguez (teaches - Advanced Ballet, Jazz IV, Jazz II, Latin Rhythms, Adult Ballet)was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City at age 5 with her parents Eva, Fernando and siblings, Iudira and Jr. She has danced since an early age and began her modern dance training as a senior in high school, but her passion for dance was born long before then. She graduated from Ithaca College this past spring with a B.A. in science. She danced throughout her college career focusing on salsa, modern, and teaching Hip hop at a local community school of music and fine arts. Indira moved the Quad Cities with her wonderful boyfriend Brian who attends Palmer College. She joined Midwest Modern Dance this fall. She loves her job at the Friendly House working with the youth Program. Indira also loves playing text twist, sewing, and choreographing.

 

Juliet Hunt is a resident of Moline and has been a member of Midwest Modern Dance Co off and on since 1993 and 2 children later she is back dancing with the company. She loves being a preschool and music teacher at Kindercare in Rock Island. She also enjoys working with the Quad City Music Guild, Miss Blackhawk Scholarship Program, and spending lots of time with her family outdoors. She is an avid fan of video games and sci-fi movies.

 

Blaine Chesley is 21 years old and goes to Scott Community College. She has taken formal dance classes for the last year and a half, but began dancing at church in a liturgical dance troupe with Kathy Lafrenz 5 years ago. She has been dancing with Midwest Modern Dance for almost 1 year. Blaine is also a certified Zumba Instructor after doing Zumba for 3 years. Blaine loves dancing and plans on "doing it a long time".

 

Phillie Brooks Morris recently moved back to the Quad Cities from Monterey CA where she was stationed in the US Air force as an Arabic Linguist. She took classes, taught dance classes, and performed with M.A.D. and Midwest Modern Dance till her enlistment in the Air force. Since her return she has gotten her Certification as a Nursing Assistant. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and her two pit-bull puppies –Tequila and Patience.

 

 

 

M.A.D. DANCE ENSEMBLE

 Molly Ruhnke is 13 years old and a 8th grader at Smart Intermediate School. She has taken dance classes at Midwest Academy since she was 3. This is her 4TH year in M.A.D.

Hydiatu Konneh is 13 yrs old and started dancing when she was 3. She has fun at dance and joined MAD Dance Ensemble 4 years ago. Hydiatu is in 8th grade. 

Shalana Atwell is a 8th grader at Geneseo Middle School. She has danced with M.A.D. 4 years and takes classes in tap, ballet, and jazz . She plays Oboe in her school band and sings in the choir.

McKenzie Gamble is 13 years old and is a 8th grader at the Bettendorf Middle School. She has danced at Midwest Dance Academy for 6 years and has been in M.A.D. Ensemble for 3 years. She plays flute in her school band.

Maddie Greenan is 13 years old and is an 8th grader in Moline IL.  She danced in MAD Dance Ensemble for 2 years. 

Mickey Sloat is 13 years old and is in 8th grade in Davenport IA.  She joined MAD his summer and we hope she continues to dance with us this fall in between her other theatre performances.