Julie Engum-Korpal
Musical Theatre, Contemporary Modern, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz
Founder & Director of RSPA
In her young dance years, Julie studied at Turning Point Dance Academy in Stevens Point and was a member of the local company Point Dance Ensemble. Her performances included collaborations with UW-Stevens Point's 'Nutcracker’, as well as numerous community performances where she also choreographed work. In 2003 she had the pleasure of performing as Fantine in her high school's production of "Les Miserables" and was active in all aspects of theatre and music throughout her schooling.
Julie attended UW-Milwaukee and graduated in 2008, with honors, from UW-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance with an emphasis in Musical Theatre. While in Milwaukee, she studied under UWM's outstanding faculty, as well as numerous companies including the Milwaukee Ballet Company, Danceworks, Your Mother Dances and Wildspace Dance Company. Ms. Engum performed in many student and faculty choreographed productions, including work set by Luc Vanier, Janet Lily, Ed Burgess, Simone Ferro and Darci Wutz. Ms. Engum was cast as Rosalia in the University's premier musical theatre production of “West Side Story”, and Liz in “Cell Block Tango” from the musical “Chicago”. Julie’s talents were further recognized as she was cast to perform in New York contemporary choreographer Ron K. Brown’s premiere piece, and in Laura Dean’s recovered production of ‘Skylight”. She attended two American College Dance Festival conferences while at UWM.
Julie has been teaching dance and theatre since the age of 15 at numerous dance studios, high schools and theater programs Statewide. Julie moved back to Central Wisconsin in 2008 and began teaching locally which is when she fell in love with the Wisconsin Rapids community. After starting a musical theatre program in the area, she realized that her dream of opening an all-encompassing Performing Arts School was truly possible! With the help of her incredible family and friends; Miss Julie, her husband and her father began construction on the studio in the Spring of 2015. RSPA workshops and classes opened in the summer of 2015, and life has been an amazing ride ever since! In 2023 she began directing RSPA's very first Competition Team, and is so excited to continue to watch it develop and grow! Julie lives in Wisconsin Rapids with her husband and three children, and is overjoyed to share her love of the Performing Arts with her Community and students.
Jessica Foley
Tap, Jazz
Instructor
Miss Jessica is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. Professional performance credits include work at the Lawrence Welk Resort Dinner Theatre in Escondido, CA. She was a featured singer/dancer in the Welk Musical Christmas; Oklahoma,West Side Story, and CanCan (ensemble). Miss Jessica toured nationally with VEE Corporation as aJenny the Music Teacher' in Sesame Street LIVE's production of Everyone Makes Music.
In 2001, Miss Jessica returned to her hometown of Wisconsin Rapids to pursue her passion of teaching and choreography throughout the state. She currently specializes in Tap and Jazz. Non-studio choreography and teaching credits include the KIDS from Wisconsin (1998-2014), UWSP Musical Theatre and Dance Camp (02-03), Dance Faculty at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI (2003-2004), and numerous seasons with Point Dance Ensemble.
Miss Jessica has been a proud member of the Rapids School of Performing Arts faculty since its inception in 2015. She strives to instill strong technique, self-discipline, personal integrity and the desire for growth and improvement in her students.
Katie Minch
Piano and Voice Instructor
Instructor
Katie is thrilled to be on staff at Rapids School of Performing Arts.
Born and raised in Central Wisconsin, her musical studies began at the age of 10 with piano lessons from a local teacher. Throughout middle school and high school, she continued her studies by adding flute, oboe, and voice into the mix.
After graduating from Stevens Point Area Senior High in 2005, Katie continued on her musical journey at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. While there, she participated in several Opera Workshop courses, concerts, and recitals. In the Spring of 2008, she had the opportunity to study abroad in London, England, experiencing the different cultures and music the world had to offer and even having the opportunity to sing in Mitchelstown Caves in County Cork, Ireland!
After college, Katie took an opportunity to move to Florida to begin a career in Opera. On her first professional audition, she was accepted into the Palm Beach Opera Chorus. After completing her season with them, Katie decided to move back to the Central Wisconsin area and begin teaching. Katie also taught at the Central Wisconsin Children’s Theatre in Wausau, Wisconsin for five years. Katie still performs actively in the area and has directed, musical directed, and choreographed many productions throughout the area.
Kayla Dunn
Hip-Hop, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz
Instructor
Kayla Dunn is a BA graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. Dunn has studied under the direction of Joan Karlen, Jeannie Hill, Michael Estanich, Pamela Luedtke, and Jodi Flatoff. While attending UWSP Dunn performed in a number of faculty choreographed pieces for Danstage as well as student choreographed pieces for Afterimages, one being her own. Dunn also performed in an excerpt from Bob Fosse's "Rich Man's Frug" choreographed by Jeannie Hill for a UWSP outreach concert, Arts Bash. Kayla took many master classes offered at UWSP from choreographers Andrew Murdock, Bob Audy, Eddy Ocampo, Luc Vanier, and Mindy Meyers.
Throughout college Dunn worked outside of the studio, choreographing competition routines for high school dance teams in the style of Pom, Jazz, Kick, and Hip Hop. Dunn also choreographed Musical Theatre pieces for her high school's production of "Bye Bye Birdie" in 2014 including "The Telephone Hour" and "The Shriner Ballet." Along with these choreographic experiences Dunn was asked to create a hip hop piece for Pointe Dance Ensemble, a youth company, in 2014 and again for the 2018 production.
During Dunn's Senior year of college she was asked to be a member of the Transcribing Dance Company, under the direction of Charys Hess, and is now in her sixth year with the company. Dunn has performed with the company annually as well as at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Air Project's Project Dance Them Free 2013, and Saint Michael's Hope is Building campaign.
Recently, Dunn co-directed The Nutcracker, Jazzed Up and has been asked to accept the title of Director for future Nutcracker productions. Dunn has been involved with The Nutcracker since the Stevens Point productions began in 2013, creating the Transformer routine, staging the Battle Scene, and assisting in rehearsals for Sugar Rum Cherry.
Above all things, Dunn enjoys teaching and has been teaching for 14 years in the styles of ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop. She is excited to continue sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with her students. In 2023 Miss Kayla excitedly started RSPA's very first Hip-Hop Program for our regularly scheduled classes and Competition Team!
Tara Koch
Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary Modern
Instructor
Tara Koch is a 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts and Dance. She co-presented a research project based on peer evaluation through dance at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) in 2005 and student directed and choreographed for the 2006 season of Afterimages. Tara's choreography was presented at the American College Dance Festival (ACDFA) in 2007. She has 19 years of teaching experience in a variety of ages as well as styles of dance. Tara presented at the Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (WAHPERD) convention in 2008 and was elected the middle school/high school dance chair for the following year.
For 11 years Tara was the community coordinator for a non-profit health coalition in her hometown entitled Be Healthy in Pittsville (Be HIP!). That program reached hundreds of students during the summers encouraging artistic growth and increased physical activity through dance. Tara is Mat Pilates certified through NETA and a Zumba certified instructor. She has choreographed for the Auburndale High school show choir for the past 8 years and enjoys choreographing father daughter and first dances for weddings. Along with her passion for dance Tara is a reading interventionist at the Wisconsin Virtual Academy where she also conducts a virtual dance club.
Tara is so passionate about dance and continues to share that passion with the students at RSPA!
Jenna Dove
Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz
Instructor
Jenna Dove graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Dance and Journalism, and a minor in Communications. While at the University, Jenna performed at the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA), and performed the works of such choreographers as George de la Pena, Alan Sener, Deanna Carter, and Louis Falco, several of which featured her in ballet solos and duets.
As a dancer, Jenna has had the opportunity to dance professionally at corporate events, parades through downtown Minneapolis, and at a MN Twins game. She has also performed in a corporate music video for Thomson Reuters and has been in several national commercials as a dancer for the company, Big Lots. She was a member of the Minneapolis Jazz company, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, for 3 years from 2014 until 2017.
As an instructor, Jenna was the Associate Director for the Waconia Show Choir for 3 years which combined her love of dance, singing and acting. She currently teaches tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, gymnastics and musical theatre to dancers of all ages, and choreographs for musicals and musical theatre camps.
Jenna moved to Wisconsin Rapids with her husband and is a proud mom to her three children. She is so excited to teach at RSPA where she hopes to share the joy of dance with her students.
Alicia Beyer
Ballet, Tap, Jazz
Instructor
Alicia began dancing locally at a young age, studying under Miss Jessica and Miss Julie. She had the exciting opportunity to work with many guest artists and choreographers from all over the nation while studying all disciplines of dance and Musical Theatre. Alicia performed in many annual performances, recitals and Community Productions during her High School career. Ms. Beyer was also a student assistant for three consecutive years with a variety of dance styles.
Alicia studied Child Life and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, where she received many recognitions and academic awards. She received the Leadership Award in 2019 and two scholarships for academic excellence and work within the community. Alicia traveled abroad with the University as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and was the Vice President of the University Council of Family relations while at UWSP. She graduated in 2020 with a Bachelors of Science Degree and a Business Administration Minor. Alicia currently is the Office Education Assitant at McKinley Elementary in Stevens Point. Miss Alicia enjoys working with children and is looking forward to continue pursuing her love of dance and teaching while at RSPA where she has been teaching since 2015.
Desk Staff
You'll see these three dance moms behind the desk Mon-Thurs during our office hours. Sherry is a former RSPA mom of 2, Chelsey a current RSPA mom of 2 and Kali an RSPA mom of 3! All three of these women and their performers have been members of RSPA since 2015 when we opened. They are a huge part of our team and are here to answer any questions you or your child might have. Their experience and knowledge of RSPA is what helps this ship run smooth. We're so lucky to have them!
Chelsey Mazurek Sherry Marzofka
Kali Mayek
Desk Staff