GENESIS Dance Company is proud to present our Talented, Amazing & Nurturing Teaching Faculty!  Our teachers are so excited to bring dance education to our Genesis dancers and to cultivate and inspire new enthusiasm for dance in each one.  

Jessi Handberg Rustad is the Director and Owner of Genesis Dance Company in Maple Grove. For well over a decade, Jessi has been bringing the youth of the northwest suburbs dance “beginnings” and high level training in innovative and approachable ways. Genesis means “the origin or beginning” and so our name was chosen to welcome families into our studio to “Begin” a new dance journey full of memories, connections and enrichments.

Jessi has been an integral part of the dance community in the Twin Cities area for over 20 years. She grew up dancing and performing right in this very community and went on to complete her Bachelor’s of Performing Arts Degree in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University. She has worked in the dance industry regionally, internationally and locally as a performer and choreographer. Some of her accolades include work for Holland America Cruiselines & Stiletto Entertainment, tours with OCU’s American Spirit Dance Company, Musical Theater choreography for Four Communities Theater, Guest Choreography for the Minnesota Dance Team Association and the Miss DanceTeam USA pageant to name a few. She is also the Franchise Owner of our thriving sister dance program, Tippi Toes® Dance Twin Cities, which teaches dance to little ones ages 18 months to 5+ years at our studio location and throughout our community’s Daycare, School and Parks & Rec programs. She is also an active member of the Dance Studio Owners Association and the “Inner Circle” for dance studio owners globally.

Jessi’s approach to children and our programs relies heavily on her training and studies in Child Development and on an ongoing obsession with offering the benefits of dance, music and the arts for children. Her dance teaching and leadership style incorporates Imagery, Visualization and Exploration through movement and she guides our amazing staff in using these tools and concepts as they teach as well. GDC dancers are encouraged to be creative and open to what dance can show them and we know each dancer “Begins” an amazing experience when they step into our dance studios.

Kia grew up dancing and training as a competitive dancer in the Minneapolis area winning many awards both regionally and nationally and working with choreographers such as Ray Leeper, Keri LaGrand, and Alex Little. She was also a member and captain of the Maple Grove Dance Team, winning many state titles, as well as individual accolades including All Conference, All Star Athlete, Miss Dance Team Minnesota and 2nd Runner Up Miss Dance Team USA.

After high school, Kia then went on to begin her collegiate dance journey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with both and UW Dance Team and the UW Dance Program. Deciding to immerse herself in the world of dance, she then moved out to California, where Kia received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles with a focus on dance performance, choreography and movement training. While at LMU, Kia had the opportunity to study from all resident faculty and appear in works by Lauren Adams, Marjani Forte of Urban Bush Woman Dance Company, Ryan Heffington, Mike Esperanza of Bare Dance Company and the renowned Sonya Tayeh, to name a few. Choreographing and working for companies such as Project Tremelo and Ledges and Bones of the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas, Kia has also appeared on the ExCel Energy Center stage for international organization, WE DAY as a dancer with Shapeshift dance company of Minneapolis and has been seen as a back-up dancer for Rascal Flatts at the Kohls Center.

Kia is a teacher and choreographer for Genesis Dance Company in Maple Grove, lead choreographer for Kelle Company Costumes and is a movement specialist, training the body and mind to obtain longevity, mobility and strength through progressive functional fitness and dance training methods. She continues to expand herself as a freelance choreographer with the professional, contemporary company, Crash Dance Productions (CDP) of Minneapolis and as a director of the pre-Professional program CDP2.

Nick grew up dancing in Plymouth and trained in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, ballet, hip-hop, and modern. Over his years as a competitive dancer, Nick performed in pieces choreographed by Ray Leeper, Keri LeGrand, and Alex Little. After high school, Nick went on to pursue a Dance major at the University of Kansas where he performed in Twyla Tharp’s The Fugue. He then continued his dance studies at the University of MN & has become an in-demand master teacher around the metro area. For the past 4 seasons, Nick has been a Company Member of CRASH Dance Productions, a Minneapolis based professional dance company. This past season Nick won numerous choreography & high point awards for his Genesis Pieces!

Liz started dancing at Summit School of Dance in Plymouth, MN at the age of 7. It was at Summit where she developed a passion for all types of dance but especially with ballet technique. Liz nurtured this desire to learn classical ballet technique by attending summer ballet intensives which included study at North Carolina Dance Theatre in Charlotte, The ROCK School in Philadelphia, The Washington Ballet in DC, Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Cedar Island, NY, and most notably The Juilliard School in New York City. In 2004, for the start of her freshman year of high school, Liz moved to Boca Raton, Florida to study Classical Vaganova Ballet at the HARID Conservatory on a full scholarship. In 2006, she returned to Minnesota to enjoy her last two years of high school. Liz made the Wayzata Varsity Trojet Dance Team and was named Varsity Captain her senior year. In her two years on the team, the Trojets placed first and second at the State Tournament. Liz was selected as an All State Athlete and a member of the All-Tournament Team 2007-2008 and is pictured on the wall of fame in the halls of Wayzata High School.

Upon graduating from Wayzata High School, she continued dancing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on their Division I Dance Team. She cheered and competed all four years of college for Wisconsin, placing as a top 10 dance team at national competitions each year. Liz traveled around the United States to support the Wisconsin Badger sports teams which included participating in two Rose Bowl Parades.  

After the University of Wisconsin Dance Team, Liz’s time dancing was not finished. She performed professionally for two seasons with Crash Dance Productions in Minneapolis, MN. In addition, she coached one season of Wayzata Junior Varsity dance team, where the team placed first in all meets but one.  Liz continues her passion for dance through working with dancers of all levels. Liz truly believes that ballet is the foundation of all movement and her goal in teaching is to form strong, confident dancers with solid technique to make them the best performers and true competitors.

Taylor has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She grew up training as a competitive dancer in the Maple Grove & Plymouth area and at Genesis Dance Company, winning many regional and national awards. Besides being a Genesis Alumni, Taylor is also a proud alumnus of the Wayzata Trojet Dance Team where she participated and medaled in the State High School League Tournament, was a part of the choreographraphy committee, awarded most improved dancer and was captain of the team her senior year. Outside of teaching and attending the University of Minnesota where she is pursuring her degree in child education, Taylor is also a member of Crash Dance Production’s contemporary, pre-professional program where she continues her passion and love for dance, performance and choreography.

Mia grew up dancing in the Plymouth area her entire life and has an extensive background in many varying dance styles and was very accomplished in her Competitive Dance years competing locally and nationally with her studio. Mia is a previous dance student of Jessi’s and was a member of the Wayzata Trojet Dance Team and the National champion University of Minnesota Dance Team. We are so excited to have Mia onboard - you will see her coaching and cleaning various groups and solo/duet/trio dances

Michelle began her dancing career at age 3 with tap and ballet. From ages 11-18 she moved to competitive dance, winning many high-point and over-all awards in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop and musical theater styles. This included both regional and national competitions.

She continued her study of dance throughout the United States and overseas, in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Amsterdam. Michelle has worked with Vanessa Williams with Walt Disney Productions and appeared on Broadway in the new Gerswhin musical “Crazy for You.” She has also traveled with Rocco Altobelli and danced for Polaris. Past work also included choreography for numerous studios as as Lori Line’s Christmas Shows.

Michelle has now been teaching professionally for 20 years, including such styles of dance as jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, hip hop and musical theater. She has won many awards including those in the categories of high-scores, overalls and entertainment and choreography. Many of Michlle’s trained dancers have gone on to cheer for the Timberwolves and Vikings, won Miss Teen Dance Team Minnesota, danced on the U of MN dance team and appeared on Broadway and Walt Disney World stages.

McKay is a graduate and Alum of Genesis Dance Company and is currently finishing up her college degree at Mankato State University this year. McKay has jumped onboard with us for the role of Competitive Company Coordinator and is teaching at GDC in technique, coaching and solo/duet/trio capacities. Can’t wait to see all the awesome things she has planned for us this year!

Morgan started dancing at the Aberdeen Parks and Rec dance studio in Aberdeen, SD and started teaching as a dance assistant in 2012 at her dance studio. In the summer of 2017 she began teaching my studios’ camp classes. Last year she joined our Genesis and Tippi Toes® team to work with our dancers in various programs, styles and age levels. Dance has shaped her into the person she is today and instilled a love of movement, an appreciation for music, and has inspired multiple trips throughout the world.

She’s always been a natural teacher and remembers helping her peers learn choreography, or working with them to get better at a step or combo. She loves that dance teaching allows her to see the same changes in her students as they become more confident in their bodies and with their surroundings. When she’s not dancing she enjoys a good book, walks with her puppy, traveling, and spending time with friends.

Lily is a new face to the GDC program, she grew up dancing in various styles in Nevada and has recently moved to Maple Grove from Fargo, ND. She will be the face at our Welcome Desk several nights per week to help with questions and will also be teaching in our clubGen dance program in different classes and styles. Lily’s specialty is Tap but she is versed in many styles! We are excited to have Lily onboard!

Tony is a past dancer from Genesis and he is currently in school in the metro area and performing with various dance companies and dance shows in the area. He specialized in Tap dance but is trained in many different styles. You will see him assisting with our Tap classes on Thursday nights and at GDC events throughout the season! So Happy to have you back, Tony!