Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Pointe
Jackie began her dance training in Southern California, studying in the areas of Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Acrobatics. After many years of studio training and competing, Jackie went on to pursue strictly Classical Ballet at Riverside Ballet Arts Company and then continued her dance training focusing on Ballet and Modern, at the California State University of Fullerton. There she received her bachelor’s degree in dance, graduating Cum Laude, and also serving as the President of the Dance Association 2002/2003. Jackie has been teaching dance for over 25 years, working with dancers of all ages and all levels, and has also choreographed for award winning competition teams. From 2008 to 2016, she owned her own dance studio in Orange County, California leaving only to focus on her growing family. Jackie is pleased to be directing Dance Arts Iowa and having a blast sharing her joy of dance with the students.
Any comments, questions, or concerns should be addressed to Jackie. Please reach out to her at 319-205-1234 or [email protected].
Tap, Ballet, and Contemporary Ballet
Miss Courtenay has fifteen years of experience in Tap and Ballet from the Carousel Dance Studio in Clinton, IA. She danced with the Gateway Contemporary Ballet Company (a pre-professional company) in 1991 and was a founding member of the Pizzaz Tap Company in 1987-1989. Miss Courtenay has choreographed numerous shows such as The Baker’s Wife (2004), Hair (2003) at Cornell College and Is There Life After High School? (1995) at the University of Northern Iowa. Miss Courtenay also participated in numerous performances including The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, A Tribute to Fred Astaire, Godspell, and Annie. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Secondary Theatre, Speech, and English Education, University of Northern Iowa (1995) and from the University of Iowa with an MBA (2019). She serves as Treasurer for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre, for which she has directed recent productions of Peter and the Starcatcher (2023) and Jesus Christ Superstar (2025). She is also the Secretary of the Iowa Community Theatre Association.
Hannah Day 
Irish Step, Lyrical, Dance Teams, and Ballet
Miss Hannah grew up dancing at DAI, starting at the age of five, and began choreographing and teaching dance classes at fourteen. She was a student of Ballet, Contemporary Ballet, Irish Step, Jazz, and Lyrical, competed on dance teams, and was a member of the Maolisa Irish Step dance troupe. She enjoys creating a fun & positive atmosphere for each of her students!
Musical Theatre
Miss Jill is the Executive Director for NewBoCo, an entrepreneurship and computer science education non-profit, located in Cedar Rapids. Dance has been a part of her life from her very early years to college, which then turned into an opportunity to choreograph for high school and community theatre musicals in her adult life. She has choreographed more than 26 musicals for area high schools, including the MVHS musicals for the past 13 years, as well as assisted with local productions.
Brynn Lynner
Hip Hop, Jazz, Dance Team, Pre/Pre, Tumbling
Miss Brynn has danced with DAI since preschool and now is in her second year of teaching. She was a student of many dance genres, including Ballet, Tap, Musical Theater, but Jazz and Hip Hop were her favorite. She is also an assistant coach for the Mount Vernon High School cheerleading team. Brynn loves watching her students dancing and having fun and is excited to see them perform!
NOTE: This biographical information is only a summary of the teachers’ skills and accomplishments.
You must be logged in to post a comment.