Kerri Jo Richardson-Watts

Owner and operator of Kerri's Dance Studio, Kerri has been involved in dance for over 25 years. Kerri started taking lesson in tap and ballet at age 3. For the next 18 years she added classes in jazz, hip hop, pom pon, ballroom, country western, musical theater, and swing to her repertoire. Kerri opened KDS in 1992 while still taking ballet and pointe classes at Beth Gaynes studio and Creighton University.

 In addition to teaching classes at KDS, Kerri has choreographed many musicals for The Bellevue Little Theater, the Bluffs Arts Council, and the Council Bluffs Childrens Theater.

In 1994 Kerri was nominated for the Theater Arts guild award for the choreography of the musical Sugar and has won several choreography awards from M.A. Dance and NDA Dance.

Kerri has choreographed routines for several area high school and college dance teams and served as the Pom Pon coach at Abraham Lincoln High School for 5 years. Kerri is also the director of the KDS competition team the Attitude dancers. The team, made up of app. 65 girls, competes locally and regionally several times through out the dance season. They have experienced great success and see nothing but more in the future.

 

Mindi Richardson- Mindi has studied dance at KDS, Marianne's Dance Studio, and Debbie Whitney Dance Studio for the last 18 years. As a soloist Mindi consistently placed in the top 5 at competitions such as Showbiz, Premiere 2000, Spotlight, and Talent on Parade. Twice Mindi has won the Most Entertaining award at Premiere 2000 and Talent on Parade competitions. Mindi has served as Pom Pon coach for Thomas Jefferson High School, where previously she was a member for three years. Mindi serves as assistant director to the KDS Attitudes competition team.

Jessica Woelhoff – Jessica is a certified fitness trainer/instructor and has a full dance background. Originally from Denison, Iowa, She studied dance at the age of 3 until 17. Later Jessica danced for the Iowa Western Reivers as well as competitively with Elite Dance and Cheer.

 

Allison Schutte- Allison is a product of KDS and has studied jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, and tap here at the studio for the last 6 years. Allison is also an accomplished clogger. She was a member of the Lewis Central dance team for 3 years and danced competitively through the studio for years. Welcome Allison!!

 

Chelsea Luth – Chelsea joins the KDS staff this season teaching Modern and children’s ballet. Chelsea has studied classical ballet since the age of seven through the Omaha Academy of Ballet and the Omaha Theater Company. She has studied jazz, tap, and modern as well and is a member of the Omaha Modern Dance Collective. Chelsea often travels to NY to continue her studies and you may see her dance on stage at the Rose Blumkin Theater in Omaha.