FACULTY
Kelanie Murphy
School Director
Kelanie Murphy began her formal dance training at Judith Svalander School of Ballet. Kelanie developed her love of classical ballet, jazz, character, modern and tap studying with teachers including Judith Svalander, Julie Fiore-Hirsch, Greg Begley, Altin Naska, and Christina Luzwick. She performed with Judith Svalander Dance Theatre and was introduced to the world of professional dance with many opportunities to perform throughout Chicagoland. Kelanie spent summers training at Kansas City Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and taking classes at Lou Conte Dance Center and Ruth Page Center for the Arts.
Kelanie continued her training at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance receiving a Conservatory Ovation Award, a Chancellor’s Scholarship and the Anita and Gary Robb Scholarship. Kelanie studied with Paula Weber, Mary Pat Henry, DeeAnna Heitt, and Ronald Tice with a dual emphasis in ballet and modern. While at UMKC, Kelanie danced with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company for three seasons and the Kansas City Ballet as a supplemental artist for four seasons.
After graduating magna cum laude with a BFA in dance performance, Kelanie joined the Minnesota Ballet, where she danced for four seasons, then Madison Ballet where she danced for three seasons before moving to Omaha to dance with American Midwest Ballet.
Some of Kelanie’s career highlights and favorite stage memories have included dancing Ann Reinking and Dylis Croman’s staging of Bob Fosse’s Trumpet Solo from ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’; Frank Chavez’s ‘Stormy Monday’ from Eva; Erika Overturff’s ‘Love Me or Leave Me’; Gerald Arpino’s ‘Confetti’; as Titania in excerpts of Peter Anastos’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream; the principal role in George Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie; the Ice Fairy in Allen Field’s Manhattan Nutcracker; the Arabian pas de deux in W. Earle Smith’s The Nutcracker; the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop Fairy and the Snow Queen in Erika Overturff’s The Nutcracker; and dancing with her mentors Paula Weber and DeeAnna Heitt in Mary Pat Henry’s Solemn Vow.
Kelanie’s love of teaching started at a young age while in the teacher training program at Judith Svalander School of Ballet. After years of assisting classes, Kelanie began teaching ballet and character at the age of 16. Since then, Kelanie has been on faculty at Minnesota Ballet School, the School of Madison Ballet and Monona Academy of Dance. Kelanie also spent three summers working as a counselor at New York State Summer School of the Arts under Daniel Ulbricht, Jenifer Ringer and Amanda Edge, and two summers teaching and dancing at the Ballet Institute of Atlanta under Jaime Robtison, before teaching locally in Nebraska and joining the American Midwest Ballet School faculty.
In addition to teaching and dancing at American Midwest Ballet, Kelanie has directed the YAGP Solo Program; she directs the American Midwest Ballet Summer Intensive; and she is a rehearsal assistant for the company. Kelanie loves to choreograph and her work has appeared in Minnesota Ballet’s “Celebrity Dance Challenge”, YAGP Ensemble Finals, and in American Midwest Ballet’s Going Solo and Momentum.
Claire Goodwillie
Associate Director
An Omaha native, Claire Goodwillie trained at the Omaha Theater Ballet School, where she had the opportunity to perform in professional ballet productions from a young age. Her training was supplemented with summer intensive programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Ballet Austin. While in high school, Claire began performing company roles in the corps de ballet and joined the company as an apprentice upon graduation. A year later she became a founding company member of Ballet Nebraska, now American Midwest Ballet.
Throughout her fifteen-year performance career with AMB, some of her favorite roles include Rat Queen, Dew Drop Fairy, and Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker; Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Cleopatra in Cleopatra; Gift of Courage in The Wizard of Oz; and Zulme in Giselle. Additionally, she has enjoyed performing in works of various styles created by many choreographers, including Erin Alarcon’s Whipped Cream!, Bricolage, and That’s Where It’s At, as well as featured roles in Erika Overturff’s Rhapsody in Blue, Sweet and Low-Down, Go West!, and The Diner. In addition to enjoying her stage career, she has also served behind the scenes as a rehearsal assistant for both the professional and student rehearsals for AMB productions for several years. In addition to her role as Associate Director of AMB School, Claire continues to assist company and student rehearsals.
Claire has taught classes in ballet, jazz, pointe, tap, modern, and contemporary/lyrical at several studios in Omaha and Lincoln, including the AMB School. Besides teaching in a variety of styles, she has taught students of all ages, working with preschool children, adult students, and all ages in between. When live AMB performances were put on hold during the pandemic, Claire choreographed Pithos, a short work for the company’s Going Solo series.
Outside of the studio, Claire graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Nonprofit Management. As Associate Director of AMB School, Claire combines her education with her performance and teaching experience.
Erin Alarcón
Junior Company Director
Erin Alarcón is the Ballet Master at American Midwest Ballet, and is the Director of the AMB Junior Company.
Erin began her training in Hackettstown, NJ, at North Jersey School of Dance Arts, where she performed with the New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet and worked as a teaching assistant. She then went on to earn her BA in dance performance from Mercyhurst University graduating manga cum laude.
While at university Erin was coached by many wonderful artists including Laura Alonso and Bruce Marks. She also spent time training in The Netherlands under the direction of Valerie Valentine She continued her pedagogical studies by teaching the open dance classes at Mercyhurst. In addition to American Midwest Ballet, Erin has performed professionally with both SoMar Danceworks and Ballet Concerto.
At American Midwest Ballet, Erin has performed both principal and soloist roles in various classical ballets and contemporary works. In addition to her dancing, Erin has choreographed several works for the company including the full length ballet The Wizard of Oz. Erin has taught dance and choreographed throughout the Midwest during her years with the company and enjoys sharing the love of dance with her students and watching them discover who they are through their art.
Asiha Braasch
Asiha Braasch is a children’s and teen’s ballet and jazz instructor at AMB School.
Born and raised in Bellevue, Nebraska, Asiha began ballet training at age three and started competing at regional and national levels by age eight. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2014 with a degree in Accounting and Finance and has continued to teach dance since graduation.
While trained primarily in the RAD method of ballet technique, Asiha pursued many different dance styles including tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. She performed in Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, led her high school dance team as captain her senior year, and was a Universal Dance Association (UDA) all-star. Asiha was a Prime Dance Team member for the Omaha Beef indoor football team for five seasons.
Nora Carr
Company artist Nora Carr is a ballet and jazz instructor at the AMB School, and the Assistant Director of the AMB Summer Intensive.
Nora grew up dancing in Burnt Hills, New York. She trained under the direction of Darlene Myers at the Northeast Ballet Company, as well as with Marcia Dale Weary at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She spent summers at intensives with American Ballet Theater, Miami City Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
Nora received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. After graduating she was invited to join American Midwest Ballet and has been dancing with the company since 2017. She has been teaching locally in Nebraska for several years and is a student rehearsal assistant for AMB productions.
Ryan Christopher
Former company artist Ryan Christopher is a ballet and pas de deux instructor at AMB School and danced with American Midwest Ballet for thirteen seasons.
A former baseball and football athlete, Ryan trained at the International Youth Ballet School and Performing Arts Conservatory of Texas. He danced professionally with Ballet Ariel and Boulder Ballet before coming to American Midwest Ballet.
In his spare time, Ryan is a professional costume and prop designer with a nationwide clientele.
Casey Kelley
American Midwest Ballet company artist Casey Kelley is an Omaha native, a ballet and modern instructor at AMB School, and works with the Performance Ensemble students.
Casey began his classical dance training at Motion 41 Dance (now AMB School), where he had the opportunity to perform in professional ballet productions at a young age through Ballet Nebraska. Casey received additional classical training from Omaha Academy of Ballet and attended summer intensives with Ballet West and American Midwest Ballet.
Throughout the past five seasons with AMB, Casey has performed several soloist and principal roles within the company. In addition to performing, Casey has also choreographed pieces for the AMB Junior Company, and is a Guest Artist throughout the United States.
Leah Kressin
American Midwest Ballet company artist Leah Kressin is a ballet, pointe, and conditioning instructor at AMB School.
Leah began her pre-professional training at San Elijo Dance and Music Academy on merit scholarship. She then went on to study dance at California State University Long Beach where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in dance. She has trained with City Ballet of San Diego, collaborated with Ballet Collective San Diego, and attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theatre and Escuela International de Flamenco Manolete.
Leah has additional training in modern (release technique and Limón technique), jazz, flamenco, and house dance. She previously taught ballet, pointe, variations, and creative movement at San Elijo Dance and Music Academy and other studios throughout Southern California before joining American Midwest Ballet in 2021.
Kogan Larsen
Company Artist Kogan Larsen (Murphy) has danced professionally with the company since 2015, is a ballet and pointe instructor at AMB School, and works with the Performance Ensemble and Solo Program students. In addition to these roles, Kogan is also the American Midwest Ballet Community Engagement Coordinator where she connects her passion of dance and people together through the Discover Dance program.
Kogan began her dance training in Crystal Lake, Illinois at Judith Svalander School of Ballet. She then continued her training as a trainee for the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. Kogan was heavily involved in the Miss America Organization, placing in the top 5 multiple times, winning talent prelims and the Overall Talent award in both Illinois and Nebraska.
Since retiring from the pageant world she has choreographed many solos and opening number routines for young women competing. Kogan also spent many years teaching various styles of dance in Nebraska City, Nebraska, and acted as Artist Director of Recital.
Megan Lynch
American Midwest Ballet company artist Megan Lynch is a children’s ballet, jazz & tap, creative movement, adult ballet, and conditioning instructor at AMB School.
Originally from Winona, Minnesota, Megan began her pre-professional training at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts and Ballet Blake. She holds a BFA degree in ballet from the University of Utah, where she received the Outstanding Senior Award.
Megan has spent summers training at Ballet X, Kansas City Ballet School, the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Austin. She has taught at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Burklyn Ballet, and locally in the metro area, is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique, and is a member of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts Education.
Amber McMichael
Amber McMichael is originally from Alma, Colorado and is a creative movement, children’s pre-dance, ballet, jazz, and tap instructor at AMB School.
While trained primarily in the Cecchetti method of ballet technique, Amber also has training in multiple dance styles including lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap, and modern from The Spirit of Dance and Colorado Ballet Academy. She has performed in The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and several original productions.
Amber began teaching ballet and tap through student teaching and choreography programs and has been teaching young dancers since 2012.
Shirley Nickel
“Miss Shirley” is usually the first friendly face you see at the front desk. She joined the staff of Motion 41 in 2009 and was instrumental in transitioning to the AMB School in 2019.
Her education and background in administrative work, coupled with many years as a dance mom, drives her concern for students, instructors, and parents.
A genuine love for all forms of dance enhances the experience for the entire AMB family. Miss Shirley has been a certified fitness instructor for 40 years. She loves chocolate and spending time with her grandson.
Jacque Robinson
Denver native Jacque Robinson is a tap and jazz instructor and works with the Performance Ensemble and Solo Program students at AMB School with over four decades of combined performing and teaching experience.
With a dance career that began in 1976, Jacque earned membership in Actors’ Equity Association at the age of nine. She trained in tap with such greats as Gregory Hines, Al Gilbert, Jason Samuels Smith, Chloe Arnold, Avi Miller and Ofer Ben, Harold “Stumpy” Cromer, Germaine Salsberg, Robert Reed, Tony Coppola, Patrick Roddy and Roxanne Nielsen. Her professional experience includes Annie, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, and many more.
After moving to the Midwest in 2001, Jacque taught dance and musical theater in Omaha, eventually opening her own studio. Jacque taught for many years at Motion41 Dance and other studios throughout the community. She has also taught at tap festivals in New York, Missouri, Colorado and Nebraska.
Jacque is also an accomplished jazz dancer and instructor with training from Gus Giordano and Cleo Parker Robinson. She has also attended teacher training seminars at Alvin Ailey, Joffrey Ballet, Traditions in Tap, and Finis Jhung in New York City.
Katerina Schweitzer
Company artist Katerina Schweitzer is a ballet and pointe instructor at AMB School and works with the Performance Ensemble and Solo Program students.
Katerina began dancing at her grandmother’s studio in New York at age three. She continued her training in Vero Beach, Florida in both RAD and Vaganova methods.
Katerina studied at Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Academy (GKA) while concurrently earning her high school diploma and an AA from Indian River State College. At GKA, she trained under legendary ballerina Gelsey Kirkland and other renowned teachers.
Katerina joined American Midwest Ballet in 2017 after one year at GKA’s studio company. She previously taught at Motion41 Dance and other studios throughout the area.
Amaris Sharratt
Former American Midwest Ballet company artist Amaris Sharratt is a ballet and pointe instructor at AMB School.
Amaris began her training in Tucson, AZ at the age of ten. She has extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and lyrical dance forms.
Amaris spent her summers training on scholarship with the Ballet Arts school of Ballet Tucson, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Houston Ballet. Before coming to AMB in 2014, Amaris has danced professionally with Milwaukee Ballet 2, Nevada Ballet Theater, Hope Stone Dance Company, and Sandra Organ’s Earthen Vessels.
Whitney Woods
American Midwest Ballet company artist Whitney Woods has been with the company since 2014 and is joining AMB School this year as a jazz and contemporary instructor. Whitney also shares our dancers’ hard work, talent, and joy with the world as the company’s Social Media Coordinator.
Whitney began her dance training at the age of two at the California Dance Theatre in Westlake Village, CA under the direction of Kim Maselli. While at CDT, Whitney trained pre-professionally in ballet, jazz, musical theater, lyrical, and contemporary.
Whitney trained at the Summer Intensives for the Kirov Academy of Washington D.C., ABT NYC, Houston Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet, and joined the Joffrey Ballet’s trainee program in Chicago, IL at age seventeen where she continued her dance education.