Our Instructors
Ted Blessing
Ted Blessing, a San Diego native, has worked professionally in the dance community for many years under industry greats. Under instruction of such teachers and choreographers as Sonya Tayeh, Tessandra Chavez, Travis Wall, Sarah Reich, and Jerry Mitchell, Ted has studied extensively tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and modern. Ted has been lucky enough to teach in multiple arenas and is currently the season choreographer at the Lincoln Community Playhouse and at the UNL Glen Korff School of Music.
Cassandra Bruyette
Cassie has been dancing since the age of two. She was a part of the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company for nine years performing in the Nutcracker. Cassandra has also done many shows at Pinewood Bowl and the Lincoln Community Play house. She was a member of the NWU Gold Rush Dance Team for four years, and was captain for two years. She is looking forward to another great year at HJ Dance!
Ellie Cetak
Ellie Cetak was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, and has been dancing since she was three years old. Ellie was a part of the HJ Company for 12 years before graduating. Ellie was also a member of the Lincoln East High School Apollonaires. She is currently studying Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Kansas. Although she can’t be a yearlong teacher, Ellie loves coming back in the summer to teach!
Emma Conradi
Emma Conradi is from Minnetonka, Minnesota and has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying Speech-Language Pathology. In Minnesota, Emma danced competitively for 10 years at Just for Kix. before joining the Minnetonka High School Dance Team the “Skipperettes”.
Jamie Fortenbury
A native Nebraskan, Jamie began dancing at the age of 5 and competing by age 7. She danced on the Papillion LaVista High School dance team for 4 years and was captain her senior year. She attended UNL before pursuing her passion, cosmetology. While at UNL Jamie began teaching at Divas Dance, later moving to HJ Dance. She has received awards for outstanding choreography from regional and national competitions including Showbiz, Primetime, & Mark of Excellence. Jamie currently owns and operates her own business out of Bella Mia Salon in Omaha, NE, and is excited to be returning for her 12th season at HJ dance.
Karmi Jay
Karmi Jay has been dancing at HJ Dance since its opening in 2010. She was a member of the HJ Dance Company for thirteen years, winning numerous regional and national titles and accolades. Karmi Jay was a Noble Prodigy Assistant for two years with Artistic Dance Exchange where she had the opportunity of dancing alongside professional teachers and choreographers. She is a graduate of Pius X where she was a Thunderette for one year. She also attended Lincoln East and was an Apollonaire for two years. Karmi Jay participated in the LMBC Nutcracker for eleven years, dancing numerous roles including Arabian Queen, Spain, Snow Princess, and more! Karmi Jay is attending Midland University on scholarship with the Warriors Dance Team. Although she is busy, she is excited to teach at the studio she grew up in!
Lauren Larson
Lauren began dancing at the age of four and was a competitive dancer for 10 years. As part of the HJ Dance Company she earned many regional and national titles as a soloist and team. She was also nominated for the “Perfect 10” Award by her peers at the studio. In high school she was on the Lincoln East Apollonaires Dance Team and held multiple leadership roles. Lauren graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2020 with a degree in microbiology. While at UNL she was a member of the Scarlets Dance Team for three years. As a senior she had the opportunity to attend ProAction Dance in Las Vegas, a choreography intensive for professional and college dance teams. She is currently studying Dentistry at UNMC College of Dentistry and will graduate in 2024. Lauren has always loved being a part of the HJ Dance family and is looking forward to a fun year of dance!
Camilia Pinto-Prada
Camila Pinto-Prada was born in Maracay, Venezuela and started dancing at the age of 12 in Clermont, Florida. She’s performed ballet, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and jazz for both competitions and community performances. She’s been in multiple groups such as the East Ridge Dance team, NHS, and HOSA. Camila was a member of the HJ Dance Company and the “Perfect 10” recipient in 2024. She is currently enrolled University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a Biological Systems Engineering major.
Kelsey Ronspies
Kelsey has been dancing since the age of four, and she was a member of the HJ Dance Company for seven years. Kelsey has been trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary and tap. Kelsey was also a three-year member of the Lincoln Southwest Emeralds Dance Team, and was Captain her Senior year. She was also a member of the Lincoln Southwest Varsity Choir and Show Choir. Kelsey received numerous regional and national titles during her years as a competitive dancer, and was nominated for the “Perfect 10” Award by her peers in 2017 at HJ Dance! Other accolades include 2017 Nebraska State Dance Class A “Kick Line” Champion and the 2017 Nebraska Achievement Scholar Award. Kelsey is attending UNL and she is majoring in Elementary Education. Kelsey is excited to share her passion with others and to continue to be a part of the HJ Family!
Gigi Haase Sothan
Gigi’s love for dance began at the age of 3. As a dancer, she earned several scholarships including a Full Summer Scholarship to 3rd Street Dance Co. under the direction of George Alexander and Roland Dupree. She attended the University of Arizona where she was a member of the dance/pom squad and later graduated from UNL with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in early childhood. She went on to teach Kindergarten and 2nd Grade at a title I school in Lincoln for 7 years. In the world of dance, Gigi has won numerous choreography and costume awards both regionally and nationally for her work with her jazz company STORM. She also owned and operated a studio for 11 years. She has choreographed musicals including “The Wiz”, “Into the Woods”, “Les Miserables”, and “Once on this Island”. After 25 plus years of teaching Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Tap, Modern, and Contemporary styles/technique to all ages she continues to judge for dance competitions such as Mark Of Excellence across the country. Her goal is to encourage dancers to love dance as much as she does. Though her main “gig” now is helping clients buy and sell houses as a Licensed Realtor for Giving Realty, she continues to keep the passion of dance in her life and is looking forward to an awesome season with HJ Dance! #OnceADancerAlwaysADancer!
Kelsey Wathen
Kelsey was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She has been dancing since the age of the 3. Kelsey has coached gymnastics for four years. She is currently a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying elementary education. She has a passion for being a positive role-model to children and strives to create rich relationships with her students to guide them in their growth and love for dance!