Heather Kempen
Heather is the Assistant Director of the Nancy Dianne Studio of Dance, Ltd. She began her dance training here at the age of three and during her fifteen years as a student of the Studio, she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Tumbling, and Modern Dance and participated in the Student Teaching Apprenticeship Program. In addition to her participation at the Studio, Heather also furthered her dance education by attending classes at Milwaukee Ballet School and Danceworks Milwaukee. She continues to attend Dance Masters of Wisconsin (DMW) and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) Workshops and Conventions throughout the year.
Heather graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in May of 2000, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. At the U of M, she had the opportunity to study with teachers such as Lise Houlton (former American Ballet Theater dancer and Director of the Minnesota Dance Theatre), Cathy Young (former member of JAZZDANCE and renowned Minneapolis Jazz choreographer), and Modern dancers/Choreographers Paula Mann and Erin Thompson. As a part of the University Dance Theater, Heather performed in Jose Limon’s “There Is A Time”, set by Carl Flink and Emilie Plauche of New York city’s Jose Limon Dance Company, and understudied Paula Mann’s “Mad Rush” as a part of the University Dance Theatre’s “Women At Work'' concert.
Heather has been a member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters since 2002. She passed her Certified Dance Educator Exam (CDE) through this organization in 2006. Heather is also a member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin where she was voted to serve as the DMW Educational Director in 2022 and Vice President in 2023. In 2016, she successfully completed the ABTⓇ Teacher Training Intensive in Detroit, becoming certified in the Pre-Primary thru Level 3 of the ABTⓇ National Training Curriculum.
