Collaborators

Emma Kampmann

Emma Kampmann is from Elkton, South Dakota. She started dancing at Balleraena Dance Studio during her freshman year of high school and hasn’t stopped dancing since. Emma had danced with the LiRa Dance Theater Company for 6 seasons and now part of both RR Dance Collective and Conlin Choreography & Collaborators. Emma graduated from SDSU majoring in Psychology and Criminology and minoring in Mental Health Services. Emma is employed at Sanford USD Medical Center as a Diener/ Histology Aide. When not at work Emma likes to spend time at home sewing and working on her cosplays.

Gerogia Conlin

Throughout her years as a dancer Georgia Conlin has had the opportunity to dance and train all around the US including in Minneapolis, Kansas City, Tucson, New York, California, and Rochester. When living in South Dakota, she was a LiRa dance company member for five years. Georgia graduated college at Chapman University in Orange, CA in 2023 with a BA in Dance and a BA in Strategic and Corporate Communications. After graduating, she continues to choreograph for studios in the Sioux Falls area and is currently a teacher and choreographer at Bliss Dance Space in Rochester, MN.

Janice Gilbert

Janice Gilbert is an award-winning songwriter, performer, and music educator.  Gilbert grew up in rural South Dakota. Like most performers, she started singing at an early age, mostly in her church and community. Gilbert’s talent earned her the coveted spot of being the 2004 Dakota Star Talent Search winner at the South Dakota State Fair. As a result of this contest she won the opportunity to record with Chad Shank of the Minneapolis, MN based independent record label C-Sharp Productions. This turning point in Gilbert’s career inspired her to focus on songwriting and to become more involved in the music industry. In June of 2006, Gilbert moved to Nashville, TN where she taught music and wrote with many talented writers, often playing at various writers clubs in the Nashville area including the world renowned Bluebird Cafe. In 2012, she won the infamous cafe's 30th Anniversary Songwriting Contest and an Epiphone guitar for No One Has to Go to Be Gone, written with David Graham and Vaughan Daniel. During her tenure in Nashville, Gilbert wrote, co-wrote, recorded, and released three full length albums. In June 2013, Gilbert returned to her roots in South Dakota and continues to play her original music at various venues and events, most recently headlining at Levitt at the Falls for the 2024 "Sounds Like Summer" Country Concert Series. She writes music using her experiences growing up in the Midwest combined with the craft she learned during her time in Nashville.  Gilbert finds inspiration in the people in her life, most notably in songs like Summer, Stay With Me, written about her son. Gilbert says "I just want to write music that people connect with. We have more shared experiences than we realize and if I can use music and storytelling to connect us with one another, I have hope that we can close the distances between us." Gilbert is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Sioux Falls NSAI Chapter Co-Coordinator, and a member of the Midwest Country Music Organization. Gilbert has had several songs signed to single-song publishing contracts as well as had her songs recorded by several independent artists.

Kristen Jost

Kristen Jost is a lifelong dancer who trained at the Turning Pointe School for Performing Arts in St. Clair Shores, Michigan with focus in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. Kristen continued dancing in college and was co-director of Frelon Dance Company at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After college, she went on to become a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation and is currently employed at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Since 2018 she has been a ballet, pointe, and tap teacher at Balleraena Dance Studio (with a few interruptions for her two children, Mila and Otto). In addition to choreographing competition dances, she has also been a guest artist at Meraki Dance Competition and Convention. She was a member of LiRa Dance Theatre Company for five years and now is excited to be a part of both RR Dance Collective and Conlin Choreography & Collaborators. She also looks forward to making her debut in the Goodnight Theatre Collective’s performance of ‘Singing in the Rain’ this year. Kristen loves that she can continue her passion for dance through teaching, learning, and performing, alongside her rewarding career and amazing family.

Rebekah Merriman

Rebekah Merriman grew up in Beresford, SD but has called Sioux Falls home since 2004. She started dancing at the age of 10 and continued to dance in to high school, focusing on jazz and tap. Rebekah continued her growth as a performer at the University of Sioux Falls where she graduated with a degree in Communication Studies and Theatre. She fell in love with theatre while at USF and has been a very active member of the local theatre community since her graduation. In the last 15 years Rebekah has choreographed over 40 musicals including West Side Story, Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia and Chicago. Rebekah taught at Balleraena Dance Studio for seven years as well as danced with and choreographed for LiRa Dance Theatre Company. She also works as a Biblical counselor at New Haven Ministries.

Tony Bartholomaus

Tony graduated from Winona State University with a degree in Dance and Dance Production. Tony was a founding member of Shelter Repertory Theater in Duluth, Minnesota under the artistic direction of Kim Nofsinger. Tony has been a guest choreographer with Zenon Dance in Minneapolis, Winona State, and The Minnesota Conservatory For The Arts. Tony has performed in and had his choreography showcased at the American College Dance Festival multiple times. Tony has performed with LiRa Dance Company the last 6 seasons. Along with performing in their annual ballets with Artistry Dance, he is excited to lead the creation of a new dance company in Sioux Falls called The Sioux Falls Dance Theater. He’s very grateful for the opportunity to continue his work with Lisa Conlin and the Conlin Choreography Company.

Kelsey Freidel-Nelson

Kelsey Freidel Nelson began dancing in high school, where she served as cheer captain during her junior and senior years. She continued dancing at the University of South Dakota and competed at four national championships during her college career. In April 2008, her team earned first place in college hip hop and second place in jazz at the West Coast Championships in Los Angeles. After college, Kelsey’s passion for dance led her into coaching, teaching, and choreography. She has assisted with coaching and choreography for the USD Dance Team, served as the sideline cheer coach at St. Thomas More High School and assistant dance coach and choreographer at Vermillion High School, and launched the inaugural cheer and dance program at Mount Marty University. Kelsey was a certified SDHSAA Cheer and Dance Official from 2011–2021 and was named the 2015–2016 NFHS South Dakota Competitive Spirit Squads Official of the Year. She joined Balleranea Dance Studio as an instructor in 2015 and served as a competition team coach from 2014–2017. She has taught hip hop and jazz at VADO for the past two years and has also choreographed performance pieces for VADO over the years. Kelsey continues to study dance and choreograph for studios and dance teams throughout the region. Her performance experience includes eleven years as a company member with LiRa Dance and Theatre Company and Conlin Choreography in Sioux Falls. Beyond teaching, judging, and coaching dance, Kelsey serves as AVP for Strategic Partnerships at Halda. She lives in Vermillion, South Dakota, with her husband, Joey Nelson; their five-year-old son, Vik; their dog, Libby; and their cat, Murphy.

Madeleine Titze

Madeleine Titze is a classically trained ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop dancer. She danced and choreographed with the LiRa Dance Theatre Company for the last 11 years. Before moving to South Dakota, she danced professionally at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, as well as in the Las Cruces Chamber Ballet in Las Cruces, NM. She went to college at Gonzaga University, where she was the captain of the school’s hip hop dance crew, the Bomb Squad. She is an executive coach and organizational  consultant with Bridges Consulting.

Sydney Bartunek- Sydney Bartunek began her dance training at Judi's Dance Studio in Yankton, South Dakota, where she built the technical foundation and love for performance that continues to shape her artistic journey today. She later performed with the University of South Dakota Dance Team and the Sioux Falls Storm Lighting Girls before continuing her work with professional adult dance companies, LiRa Dance Theatre Company and Conlin Choreography. Beyond the stage, Sydney serves as a Senior Communications Specialist for the Sioux Falls region at Sanford Health. She is also the founder of Move to Heal, a nonprofit created to expand access to dance, movement and creative expression for young people throughout the state. Sydney lives in Sioux Falls with her partner, Greg, and their two sons, Cal & Leo. Whether performing, creating or collaborating, she remains committed to lifelong artistic growth and to fostering meaningful connections through the arts. For Sydney, dance is both a discipline and a lifelong source of inspiration, one that continues to shape how she creates, connects and experiences the world.

Rachel Person

Bio coming soon!