LiSa
Lisa Conlin trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet of Canada, New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, and was awarded a scholarship to Los Angeles, California. She danced professionally with Ballet of the Dolls Dance Company, Sweet Feet Tap Company, Keane Sense of Rhythm Tap Company, Continental Classical Ballet Company, OFF-LEASH AREA Dance Theater Company and with several independent choreographers. She also has performed in regional and national commercials, videos, musicals, print ads, runway shows, touring shows to Paul Taylor Dance Studio New York City and Macy’s Calvin Klein Dance Tour Show throughout the Midwest.
Lisa developed Conlin Choreography https://www.lisaconlin.com/ to create artistic projects for individual artists, nonprofits and organizations to give back to her community and beyond. She Co-owns LiRa Dance Theatre Company, Co-founded the RISE UP Artist Mentorship Program, Director of Balleraena’s winter productions, and serves on faculty at Balleraena, FORM Fitness Boutique, and DAPA.
Lisa was recently awarded the South Dakota Arts Council Artist Fellowship award for artistic excellence for her body of choreography 2021-2022, Sioux Falls Stage Best Dance Show 2021-22 and The Run Project Grant for her Blue Heaven show 2020-2021, recipient of the Live Music for Dance Minnesota Grant Program, received Outstanding, Encore, and Most Original Choreography awards at Midwest Dance Competitions and choreographed four full-length shows.
Lisa's passion is creating artistic connections with her students and watching her students grow and shine their bright lights for all to see. She thanks her dance teacher Judy Smith for giving her the love of dance at 4 years old. She and husband Mick are celebrating thirty-four years of marriage this year. Lisa loves traveling, watching her daughter Georgia dance in California and trying every latte flavor known to mankind.
Raena
Raena K. Rasmussen was put into dance at a very early age due to her “incredible force of energy,” as her mother has said. Today, she still has that incredible enthusiasm for life. She loves to spread joy throughout the world, and you can feel her love for children and dance in all she does.
Raena received her degree in dance with emphases in choreography, teaching, and performance. She has studied under many renowned choreographers and has danced In Bali, New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other cities.
Raena opened Balleraena Dance Studio in 2001, which is now in its third location. Along with Balleraena, she currently runs LiRa Dance Theatre Company with partner Lisa Conlin, Meraki Dance Competition and Convention, and Miracles in Motion with Bob Holm, where they create music and dance for the community and give back to organizations dear to their hearts.
Raena is married to her eighth-grade soulmate, Aaron, and has three children: Bentley, Paris, and Summit. When Raena is not dancing (which is not very often), you can find her hiking mountains all over the globe or eating ice cream.