Did you know all our IPAC instructors hold advanced degrees? Not only that, but all our instructors are also CPR, First Aid and YPAD certified. Each instructor brings a unique set of skills, achievements, and vibrant personalities to IPAC, and we are truly blessed to have them. Get to know them better through our Teacher Feature.
Dance Instructors:
Miss Ally graduated from MSU Mankato with a bachelor’s degree in private studio dance, as well as French, with minor studies in marketing and art history. Hailing from central Iowa, she embarked on her dance journey at a young age. She participated in many dance concerts during her time at MSU, including the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Miss Ally finds joy in attending performances, creating choreography, and nurturing young dancers’ passion for the arts. Fun fact: Miss Ally also serves as a dance teacher at Bethune Arts Elementary.
Miss Autumn holds a bachelor’s degree in dance from MSU Mankato. Her dance journey began at the age of four and she continued to develop her passion through high school, college, and even to Disney’s College Program. She adores all things Disney, cherishes time with her family and friends, and finds immense joy in performing. Fun fact: Miss Autumn has always loved to write and in high school she had a personal narrative published in a real book.
Miss Lauren Martin, our studio owner/director and dance instructor, has been at IPAC since 2011. She graduated from MSU Mankato in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in dance and minor in child psychology. Miss Lauren loves sharing her love for the art of dance, particularly ballet and contemporary, and revels in all things summer and warmth. Fun fact: Miss Lauren was the first Martin girl to be born in 42 years.
Miss Lauren S., a proud IPAC alumna, danced with us for a decade before transitioning into teaching in 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Science in ministry with an emphasis on children and families, along with a minor in dance from the University of Northwestern. She has training in various styles of dance including tap, ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary. She loves all things Disney, spending time with family and friends, and her puppy Mia. Fun fact: Miss Lauren loves exploring local coffee shops while traveling to new places.
Miss Miranda, another proud IPAC alumna, graduated from MSU Mankato with a Bachelor of Science in dance and a minor in marketing. She loves taking classes and creating choreography for her students. She is currently immersed in planning her upcoming wedding, adores her dog Winston, and enjoys personal training. Fun fact: Miss Miranda’s sister is currently one of her IPAC dance students.
Miss Stephanie graduated from MSU Mankato with a Bachelor of Science in dance and has been with IPAC since 2014. Her dance journey has taken her from coast to coast where she has had opportunities to work with local, national, and international companies and choreographers. She loves making memories with her family, spending time outdoors, and tacos. Fun fact: Miss Steph used to make and sell wallets from old plastic bags.
Miss Claire is a dance instructor with a Bachelor of Arts in dance from MSU Mankato. She grew up in Northeast Iowa and started dance in kindergarten at a small local studio. She studied several styles throughout the years including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, ballroom, and hip hop. She performed in dance concerts during college and with the MN Fringe Festival in the cities. She enjoys taking classes when she can, attending shows and concerts, and teaching yoga. Fun fact: Miss Claire loves pickles, cats, and movies.
Music Department:
Miss Pa holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from MSU Mankato. Beginning her piano journey at eight, she’s trained as a classical pianist but revels in playing a variety of genres including pop, world, and Disney. She loves trying new foods, spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her dog, Haikyu, and bunny, Keiko. Fun fact: Miss Pa was in a family band as a middle and high schooler. She would pick up the music by ear, letter notate the instrumental parts, and type up the lyrics. Her sister and her were on keyboards, her brother on bass or guitar, and her other brother on drums. Her dad sang and played guitar and her mom occasionally sang.
Miss Samantha teaches voice and piano at IPAC and is head of the music department. She has been with IPAC since 2014. She graduated for MSU Mankato with a Bachelor of Science in K-12 music education with an emphasis in vocal studies. She loves attending concerts and plays, spending time with her family, and reading. Fun fact: Miss Sam sang in many different languages including French, Italian, German, Bulgarian, and Latin. She can also play many different instruments and was a band teacher.
Mr. Jeremy is from the tiny town of Truman, MN. He received a Bachelor of Arts in classical guitar performance for UW Milwaukee and a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota. His passion for music began with the alto saxophone in his school’s concert band and eventually led him to picking up and teaching himself to play electric guitar. He loves sharing his love for music with his students, performing at local and private events, and his dog, Moose. Fun fact: Mr. Jeremy has performed in concerts in the Netherlands and Serbia.
Mr. Justin’s extensive music background includes a Bachelor of Arts in music with a voice performance emphasis, a master’s degree in speech-language pathology with an interest in voice and upper airway disorders, and a vocology certification from the National Center for Voice and Speech. He is actively involved in Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA), American Speech-language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and Asian Pacific Islander Speech-Language-Hearing Caucus. Fun fact: Mr. Justin does not like to eat fish. “Fish are friends, not food.” – Finding Nemo