Current Roster of Dance Artists
Emily Compaan
Emily Compaan is a California-born, Twin Cities-based dancer. She studied primarily ballet from the age of 3 up until high school where she discovered tap, jazz, and modern dance. In 2022, Emily graduated from University of Northwestern - St. Paul where she studied both mechanical engineering and dance. During her time at Northwestern, she was a member of their first student dance company (directed by Jolene Konkel) and was also involved in theatre productions, her favorite roles being a newsie in Newsies! and Tinkerbell in Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure. This is her first season with DanceCo and, as a dance teacher herself, she is very excited to be able to share the joys of professional dance with the next generation of dancers.
Cassie Edlund
Cassie Edlund (she/her) is a nationally recognized public speaker, storyteller, singer, and actor. With training in acting interpretation and vocal performance, Cassie has performed in choirs, operas, one-acts, musicals, and plays across the country, including venues like Orchestra and Carnegie Hall.
Some of her favorite theatrical roles include Lion in "The Wizard of Oz," Narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Mae Peterson in "Bye Bye Birdie," and Mayzie La Bird in "Seussical the Musical."
Aside from performing, Cassie holds a master's degree in public health from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Her deep-rooted passion for health communication, nurtured through her eight years of competitive speech and debate, has driven her to use the art of storytelling to raise awareness around topics like environmental justice, body image, maternal health, and mental health. In her free time, Cassie volunteers her time as a speech team coach at local high schools and performs with the Minnesota Valley Women's Chorale.
Jennifer Mack
Jennifer’s 20+ year career in dance includes receiving several notable roles, awards & grants for her work as a dancer/performer, choreographer, instructor, and adjudicator internationally in dance, theater, opera, music, and film. Favorites include: Alternative Motion Project (founding dancer), Collide Theatrical Dance Co., Continental Ballet, Curio Dance, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, James Sewell Ballet, Kim Robards Dance Co., Live Action Set, MN Opera, Offleash Area, St. Paul Ballet, Szeged National Ballet, Vox Medusa Dance Co., Deborah Thayer, Dwight Rhoden, Jodi Melnick, Rosy Simas, Vanessa Voskuil, and Aby Wolf. She holds a certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), a BFA in Dance, BS in Arts Management & International Studies with minors in Art, Music & Biology (Magna Cum Laude) from UW-Stevens Point under a Bukolt Scholarship.
She resides in North Minneapolis with her fiancé and 7-year-old daughter, who greatly inspire her. She believes dance can be a very transformative and powerful tool for individuals/communities to participate in and enjoys watching where it takes those who do.
Emily Pitts
Emily Pitts was raised in Minnesota, where she began training in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and hip hop. She received her pre-professional training from Minnesota Dance Theatre & School and began performing with the MDT company in 2019 through the present. Emily currently serves on the faculty of Minnesota Dance Theatre & School. She also choreographed and created works for student and professional local Twin Cities performances. Emily holds a B.S. in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development from the University of Minnesota.
Leeah Schuhwerck
Leeah Schuhwerck has enjoyed dancing since elementary school. She took that passion for dance to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and graduated in 2018 with a BA in Dance and a Fashion Studies minor. College expanded her excitement and knowledge of dance with training from Berit Ahlgren, Michel Kouakou, Carl Flink, Toni Pierce-Sands, Karla Grotting, Penelope Freeh, and Tina Wallum. Leeah choreographed and performed in her senior seminar showcase life as well as Sarah Howes’ Doctorate Vocal Performance Recital. Between 2017-2022 Leeah taught jazz, ballet, creative movement, tap, tumbling, Pilates, and HIIT at multiple locations. She joined the Christopher Watson Dance Company in 2022 where she performed in multiple pieces and helped with costumes for their concert ‘Resurgence’. Leeah is excited to be starting a new adventure with DanceCo for their summer 2023 season.
ZACHARY TUAZON
ZACHARY TUAZON (he/him) was born and raised in Tinley Park, Illinois. He received his initial training in ballet, modern and jazz under the tutelage of Brenda Langan and Diane King. He has also received training from the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He received his BA in Dance Pedagogy from Butler University where he performed works by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Susan McGuire, Derek Reid and Patrick Hinson. He has taught ballet and contemporary around the Twin Cities and is currently on the ballet faculty at Summit Dance Shoppe. Zachary was a member of MDT for the last nine seasons and now freelances in the Twin Cities.
Maria Vitelli
Maria Vitelli grew up dancing in the Twin Cities, training primarily at The Dance Center and Project 52 Dance Company. She is now pursuing a BA in Dance at Webster University. She has had the privilege of working with Maggi Dueker, Beckah Reed, Michael Uthoff, Dawn Karlovsky, Ashley Tate, Xi Zhao, and Jennifer Cudnik. Maria has performed in the Twin Cities with Dance Co, Pacific Midwest Ballet, Legacy Musical Theatre, Minnsky Theatre, and Minnesota Dance Collaborative. She recently spent the summer in Chicago at the Gus Giordano College/Pro Intensive, where she trained under Lauren Giordano, Saying Eugene Peabody, Jimmy Locust, and Kim Morgan Greene. Maria also has a passion for creating work, and her choreography has been featured at 9X22 Dance Lab and in Webster University’s Creations Concerts in 2022 and 2023.
