The Studio
Dance ‘n’ Fitness is located in the heart of downtown Northfield, Minnesota. We are located at 311 South Division Street (directions).
The Director
My name is Colleen Day, and I am the owner and artistic director of Northfield’s Dance-n-Fitness. I hold a B.S. degree in Dance Education from the University of Minnesota and have owned and directed Dance-n-Fitness for 15 years.
I have instructed dance/fitness classes to all ages for 29 years. I have performed with the Mayo High School Spartan Spirits for three years and was their choreographer for one year. I was with the University of Minnesota danceline for two years, the University of Minnesota dance repertoire concerts, and spent a year as a Vikings cheerleader. I’ve performed in the Superbowl, I’ve been in the Zenon dance company, I’ve taken tap classes from Savion Glover and Gregory Hines. I’ve met Baryshnikov, my instructors at the U of M were either students of Julliard or pioneers of modern dance, I’ve danced as an alumni Viking cheerleader at the Vikings games (as recent as 2008), and I’ve taken many ballroom and swing classes. I also take yoga and funk fitness classes and have instructed and performed at various studios, schools, health clubs, and events in the metro and surrounding areas
I love other activities and sports too and I believe dance complements all sports! Don’t stop moving… it keeps you young. Keep on dancing. Anyone can do it!
The Instructors
Emily Ban
Emily Ban is a sophomore at Carleton College and a member of Carleton’s Semaphore Repertory Dance Company. A native of New York City, Emily studied ballet with former New York City Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet principal dancers for twelve years. For the last six years, Emily has enjoyed experimenting with jazz and lyrical and has developed a strong passion for modern dance and choreography. She is thrilled to share her love of dance and her adventurous spirit with the students of Dance-n-Fitness this fall!
Linda Doran
Linda graduated from Saint Mary’s College of Winona with a degree in Band and Classroom Music. She started the Irish Dance program at Dance-n-Fitness in the fall of 1998, and is excited to be returning for its 12th season! Linda performs with the Mooncoin Ceili Dancers and studies with Scoil na d’Tri Irish Dance Academy. She also calls the monthly Third Saturday Ceili Dance in Saint Paul.
Kara Harvey
A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kara Harvey began her ballet training with Jennifer Boren in Albuquerque, and continued under the guidance of Shir Lee Wu, founder of the Columbus Youth Ballet; Kay Sandel, founder of Classical Ballet school in Oklahoma City; and Patricia Hoffman and Holly Marble, founders of Ballet Society of Colorado Springs. She also studied at summer intensives including Tulsa Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet/Ballet Society of Colorado Springs, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. On scholarship at the University of Oklahoma School of Dance, she graduated with honors, earning a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy in May 2009. As a member of Oklahoma Festival Ballet, OU’s resident ballet company under the artistic direction of Mary Margaret Holt, her credits include roles in Serenade, La Bayadere, Rodeo, Oklahoma! Dream Ballet, the Nutcracker, and Les Patineur — in addition to performing in OFB’s 2008 tour to China. Kara is starting her first season with the Continental Ballet Company in Bloomington, MN.
Kami and Kira Kirchberg
Kami and Kira Kirchberg are seniors at Northfield Senior High. This is their second year of teaching dance at Dance-n-Fitness. They will be teaching beginning Irish step dancing this year. Kami and Kira have been dancing for eleven years and have danced on many stages including The Grand Theater in Northfield, Carleton College, the Landmark center, and Harriet Island for the Irish festival. Kami and Kira are very excited to start a new and exciting year of dancing!
Becky Logemann
Becky Logemann is a junior at St. Olaf College pursuing a degree in Spanish Education. Becky began taking dance classes at Heidi’s Dance Studio in Wausau, WI and continued for 15 years. The styles include Jazz, Tap, Lyrical and Hip Hop. She began teaching at the age of 17 at Heidi’s Dance Studio. She has continued to teach at Dance-n-Fitness and taking dance classes at St. Olaf College. Dancing has a special place in her heart and is ecstatic that she is able to share her joy and love with the Dance-n-Fitness community.
Kjirsten Santaferraro
My name is Kjirsten Santaferraro, but most people call me “KJ.” I’m a Senior Psychology major at Carleton College. I have danced for 16 years during I’ve enriched my dance vocabulary with nearly 20 styles of dance. I trained with the Minnesota Dance Theater & School for 12 years where I received training in a variety of disciplines, with an emphasis on classical ballet. I participated in various workshops and performances with MDT, including Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy, Minnesota’s longest running arts production. I also studied dance in North Dakota for one year with a former member of Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet. At Carleton, I have been a member of Whoa! Hip-Hop dance company for the past 3 years. I have participated in a variety of summer intensive programs with such acclaimed companies as the American Ballet Theater, Ballet Austin, and Alonzo King’s LINES ballet of San Francisco.
At Dance-n-Fitness, I teach ballet and hip-hop. I love teaching because the students are so lively and so eager to learn! I consider it such a blessing to have the opportunity to share my passion with others, and I enjoy being able to inspire progress and have fun at the same time!
Ting Ting Yang
Ting Ting Yang (pronounced “Young”) just graduated from St. Olaf College in the spring of 2009 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. She will join Dance-n-Fitness with fifteen years of dance experience and will teach Advanced-Beginning Jazz/Tap, Advanced Jazz/Tap, Showstoppers/Superstars Tap, and all levels of hip-hop this year. Ting Ting first began her passion in dance right here at Dance-n-Fitness when Colleen Day opened up the studio. Ting Ting also has a wide-range of experience in various dance forms, from classical ballet to tap, lindyhop to freestyle hip-hop, and Chinese traditional dancing to Hawai’ian hula. In 2003, Ting Ting helped create a breakdance (hip-hop) crew to promote the culture and style of hip-hop as a positive form of body language and art, and is aimed towards the youth to openly express their attitude and style through this form of dancing. The crew, called Lost Boyz Crew (LBC), is still active today and performs publicly in various locations around Northfield. Ting Ting Yang is very excited to return to Dance-n-Fitness and is looking forward to this great year!
Erica Zell
My name is Erica Zell. I’m currently a junior at Northfield High School. I’m on the Northfield Hiliner dance team. We compete in High Kick and Jazz. This year at Dance-n-Fitness I am teaching the high kick/jazz class. In the past I have taught beginning ballet and tap.
I have studied dance for 13 years. I have performed in 11 dance recitals and numerous ballets. I also participated in the Dance-n- Fitness showstoppers competitive dance team. I have attended dance camps specializing in high kick and jazz, as well as studied at Shattuck/St Mary’s summer dance academy focusing on ballet and tap.
Dance is a fun way to stay fit. It provides a way for self-expression. I have enjoyed meeting new people and working with them in my dance classes. In my spare time I like to dance, play tennis, and swim.