Meet Ms. Bryanna Gehrtz

We welcome back Ms. Bryanna to our GSD staff this season. Ms. Bryanna teaches lyrical, jazz, turns & leaps, ballet, gymnastics for the dancer, and is one of our Performance Team coaches. We love having Ms. Bryanna's peppy spirit at our studio.

Q & A with Ms. Bryanna

Q. What is your favorite part of teaching?

A. My favorite thing about teaching is getting to see kids get so excited when they finally learn something new they have been working on.

Q. What inspired you as a dancer?

A. I was put in ballet when I was young but it was the older dancers at the studio that really inspired me to keep dancing and grew my love for the art.

Q. Tips for our dancers?

A. My best advice for dancers is to take what you want from class. You get what you give, so if you show up on time, dress the part, and work hard, you will see results!

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Bryanna Gehrtz

Bryanna has been a part of the dance community since she was 4 years old. Moving around as a child exposed her too many different studios and styles which caused her to fall in love with the art. Bryanna has danced key roles in various productions including Simba in Lion King, Peter Pan in Peter Pan, Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, and most recently Pekoe in FMBallet's production of Aladdin.

Bryanna is a Student at NDSU and along with studying there has been a part of the NDSU cheer team for years, showcasing her passion for gymnastics and dance. This will be Bryanna's second year teaching with Gasper's and she is thrilled for the opportunity to meet her new students and spend the year dancing with them!

Meet Ms. Suzanne Spiese

Ms. Suzanne Spiese joins us again this season. Ms. Suzanne has an extensive background in teaching young dancers ages 3 - 8. She has a passion for this age group and loves sharing her 25+ years of knowledge with our instructors and with your dancers. We are so lucky to have her at our studio and teaching your dancers. Ms. Suzanne is also the Costume Designer for the FMBallet and runs her own dance costume business.

Q & A with Ms. Suzanne

Q. What is your favorite part of teaching?

A. My favorite part of being a teacher is to pass on my love of dance to my young dancers. I love seeing them try something for the first time. I want my classes to be a comfortable friendly place where the art form of ballet can be passed on to the next generation and that the dancers can feel excited about dancing and learning.

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Ms. Suzanne Spiese

Suzanne Spiese started dancing as a young child in Lisbon, ND. She later moved to Fargo to attend NDSU and began studying ballet, tap and jazz dance with Kathy and Eddie Gasper, then the FM Center of Dance. In Fargo she danced as a soloist with The Red River Dance and Performing Company under the direction of Kathy and Eddie Gasper as well as The Orchesis Dance Company at NDSU. During this time she also taught ballet and jazz dance classes at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

After earning degrees in Family and Consumer Science Education, as well as Clothing and Textiles, she moved to New York City for 3 years. There, she had the opportunity to take ballet, tap and jazz dance classes throughout the city. After moving back to the Minneapolis/St. Paul she completed her certification in Early Childhood Education and taught Early Childhood Education and lead Parent discussions with the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program in St. Paul.

Later she moved to Oakes, ND where she and her husband (Mike) owned Oakes Drug and she opened the Oakes School of Dance. She just celebrated her 22nd year owning and teaching at Oakes School of Dance.

Sue has 4 children: Abigail, Carley, Julia and Michael and a recent “empty nester”. She has choreographed 15 summers at The Lamoure County Summer Theater and most recently, two summers with The Oakes Theater Group.

In recent years she attended the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet teacher workshop, under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary as well at the Dance Life Teachers conference under the direction of Rhee Gold.

For the past 8 years she also has enjoyed costuming and making professional tutus for the FMBallet.

Meet Ms. Brittanie Carmona

Ms. Brittanie Carmona is a new instructor to our studio this season. Brittanie has traveled and lived around the United States training and teaching dance. She moved back to the Fargo-Moorhead area with her family to be closer to family. We love her passion and love for dance. She is a great additional to our dance family.

Q & A with Ms. Brittanie

Q. What is your favorite part about teaching?

A. I love when I see that spark of passion for dance for the first time in a dancer! Then it’s the biggest privilege to be able to help that love for dance grow.

Q. What inspired you as a dancer?

A. What inspired me (and still inspires me!) is learning from a wide variety of teachers who had so much joy for what they did! I’ve always felt the most myself while dancing & seeing people do what they loved for their career was so inspiring & helped make that dream a reality!

Q. Tips for our dancers?

A. Work hard, practice hard, and always find the joy!

Q. What is your favorite snack?

A. Anything chocolate & COFFEE!

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Brittanie Carmona

Brittanie was raised in Moorhead, MN, where she started dancing at the age of four. She studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, and hip hop at Valley Studio of Dance/ Dance Studio Elite, and competed across the Midwest in all dance genres. She also traveled and attended numerous dance conventions with well-known choreographers.

After graduating in 2005, she taught and choreographed for First City Dance Studio in Bemidji, Minnesota, then lived in Washington DC & Philadelphia where she worked with and learned from multiple choreographers and dance companies, including the Koresh Dance Company and Joy of Motion Dance Center under Helen Hayes for almost a year.

In 2007, Brittanie moved to Newport Beach, CA and furthered her training at Jimmie DeFore Dance Center, EDGE Performing Arts Center, and Millennium with incredible choreographers. She traveled and took many classes from Tabitha & Napoleon, Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels, Nick Lazzarini, Gil Stroming, Dee Caspary, Joe Tremaine, and more. She also choreographed production pieces for conferences and for the Imagine Foundation.

In 2014, Brittanie moved with her husband and baby daughter to Nashville and taught at Histown Dance Studio and Diamond Academy of Dance. She had the opportunity to work with dancers for multiple award shows & train backup dancers for well-known artists. She also helped prepare and choreograph for competitions, including nationals in Orlando, where we placed well and took home many first overall awards & platinum awards.

In January of 2016, she moved back to Bemidji, MN with her family where she taught and choreographed with First City Dance Studio. She worked with their competitive teams and won multiple platinum, first overalls, and choreography awards.

In September of 2016 Brittanie moved to Fargo with her husband and two daughters. She taught and choreographed for both competitive and recreational programs at Dance Studio Elite. She received many platinum, overall awards, and choreography awards at multiple competitions across the Midwest.