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Our TDA Staff

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Kay Williams Prunty
Owner/Choreographer/Teacher
  • Opened The Dance Academy - Kay Williams Prunty, Worthington, MN 1996

  • B.A. Theatre/Dance - Dance Performance Emphasis, Luther College, Decorah, IA 1995

  • B.A. Public Communication, Luther College, Decorah, IA 1995

  • She won over 100 National & State 1st place Dance Championship titles

  • Miss Minnesota American Co-Ed 1989

  • Miss Minnesota American Pre-Teen 1984

  • Studied dance with Bernie Willadsen from 8-18 years old

  • Started gymnastics at 3 years old and held several school records for years at Worthington High School 

  •                                                       Teaches & Choreographs:

  • Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Modern, Musical Theatre, Pointe, Tap, Tumbling/Acro, Wedding (First dances, Father/Daughter, Wedding Party), Worship/Liturgical dances, and Gymnastics Floor routines.  Kay is the head coach of TDA's Competition Company.

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Kya Nickel
Choreographer/Teacher/Assistant Competition Coach
  • Student at Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN

  • Graduated from Minnesota West, Worthington, MN

  • Former TDA Student for 11 years

  • TDA Teacher & Choreographer for the Additional Ballet classes, Class Assistant/Substitute Teacher for several Combo Classes.  

  • Kya has been choreographing and teaching at TDA for since 2019

  • Captain of the Worthington High School Girls Hockey Team 2019-2020

  • Competed in Varsity Tennis, Hockey, and Track for Worthington Trojans  

  •  

  • Teaches & Choreographs:

  • Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern/Lyrical

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Jacquelyn Banegas
Choreographer
  • Jackie attends Minnesota State University Mankato.

  • Member of the National Champs - MSU Maverick Dance Team and Cheer Squad

  • Jackie graduated from Worthington High School with honors

  • Training in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap for 14 years

  • TDA Class Assistant/Substitute Teacher for 4 years

  • TDA Teacher/Choreographer  for Hip Hop, Jazz, and Lyrical for 2 years

  • Captain of the Worthington Trojette Dance Team 2020-21

  • Minnesota State high School Dance Team State Participant 2017

  • Honored to the All-State Kick Team in 2019, All-State Jazz Team in 2020

  • National Honor Society and Honors student

  • Outstanding TDA Senior Dancer 2021

  •  

  • Teaches & Choreographs:

  • Competition Solos and Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical for combo classes

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Sarah Baumgartner
Acro/Tumbling Teacher, Assistant Competition Coach

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B.S. in early Childhood Special Education and ASD at Southwest Minnesota State University, 2008

TDA Assistant Competition Coach since 2019

Dance Mom at TDA for 6 years

Mom of Eli, Kyra, Brynn and Leah

                                                                       Teaches: 

                                                               Acrobatics/Tumbling

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Shelby Kingery
Choreographer/Teacher
  • B.A. Biology - Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD- 2020

  • Associates Degree - Minnesota West, Worthington, MN -2017

  • Master Teacher for TDA Intensives - Jazz, Hip Hop, & Contemporary

  • Shelby began teaching & choreographing at TDA while in high school. 

  • Studied dance at TDA for 9 years

  • Captain of Worthington Trojette Dance Team, Jazz & Kick 2016

  • Minnesota State High School League  Dance Team Participant 2016 & 2017

  • Honored to the All-State 2016

  • Nationally Competitive  Figure Skater

  • Varsity High School Volleyball player at Worthington High School

  • Outstanding TDA Senior Dancer 2017

  • Teaches & Choreographs:

  • Competition Solos & Duets

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Lexi Larson
Yoga Instructor
  • Certified Yoga instructor at Yoga Alliance, 2019 to present

  • Owner/Photographer at Lexi Larson Photography, 2019 to present

  • Graduated from Avalon School of Cosmetology, 2014

  • Graduated from Minnesota West Community and Technical College, 2012

  • Danced with Kay at TDA for 

  •  

  • Teaches:

  • Yoga 

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Missy Larson
Choreographer/Teacher
  • First Grade Teacher at Southwest Star Concept, 2012- present

  • Education Degree from Dakota State University

  • Dance Team member in High School and College

  • Danced growing up 

  • Dance Mom at TDA for 7 years

  • Mom of Grace, Harrison, and Penelope

  • Teaches & Choreographs:

  • Acrobatics/Tumbling and Tiny Tot classes

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Allyson Meinders
Choreographer/Assistant Competition Coach
  • Attending the University of Iowa studying DANCE! 

  • Several Regional and National Dance Championship titles. 

  • Choreographer, Teacher, and assistant for 2 years.

  • TDA Competition Choreographer for 1 year, Team member for 2 years.

  • Studied Dance at TDA with Kay for 13 years. 

  • Outstanding Senior TDA dancer, 2022

  • Teaches & Choreographs:

  • ​Competition Solos & Duets

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Bailey Ahlquist
Teacher/Choreographer/Social Media Manager

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  • Bailey has been a Teacher and Choreographer for Pre-S/K classes and Turns, Leaps, & Jumps

  • Senior at Worthington High School, Worthington, Minnesota

  • TDA Student for 13 years. Member of our TDA Competition Company.

  • TDA Class Assistant/Substitute Teacher Combo Classes for 1 year.

  • Bailey is also involved with several school activities​ including Varsity Trojette Dance Team.

  • She is an active Abana (ADFA- All Day Fore Africa) Ambassador.  

  • Teaches & Choreographs:

  • Acro/tumbling

  • M6:30 K-2nd grade ​Combo Class

  • Turns, Leaps, & Jumps - (TLJ)

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Mitzi Williams Goheen
Bookkeeper/Accountant
  • B.S. Accounting & Finance - Mankato State University, Mankato, MN 1984

  • Minor in  Computer Science - Mankato State University, Mankato, MN 1984

  • Retired in 2017,  but works part-time at H&R Block, Bloomington, IL and TDA!

  • Senior Accountant for Taylor Corporation, Mankato, MN 2003-2017

  • Accounting Manager for Christensen Farms, Sleepy Eye, MN 1999-2003

  • Controller and Consultant for Artsource, INC., New Berlin, WI 1997-1999

  • Accounting Team Leader; Accounting Supervisor & Consultant  for Weyerhaeuser, Austin, MN 1993-1997

  • Accountant/Controller for KAAL TV, Austin, MN 1985-1993

  • Accounting Technician, Accountant Intern, Mankato State University, Business Office, Mankato, MN 1983-1984 

  • Austin High School Cheerleading Coach, Austin, MN 

  • Basketball cheerleader at Mankato State University, Mankato, MN

  • Football & Wrestling Cheerleader for Worthington High School

  • "Dance & Pagent Sister" to Kay. Mitzi  traveled, supported, and did make-up & hair for Kay

  • "Dance Grandma" to her sweet granddaughter.  Again, doing make-up & hair when needed!! 

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Amber Nielsen
Front Desk
  • Studied Business & Computer Science at Minnesota West

  • Court Operations Clerk, Minnesota Fifth Judicial District 2014-present

  • Worthington High School Cheerleader and danced with TDA in adult classes

  • Besides front desk, Amber has taught Tiny Tot/Mommy & Me classes

  • Dance Mom 

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Mark Prunty
Front Desk and Handy-Man

B.A. Mathematics - Luther College, Decorah, IA

B.A. Secondary Education - Luther College, Decorah, IA

High School Coaching Endorsement - Luther College, Decorah, IA

Math teacher at Worthington Middle School, Worthington, MN

24 years as Head Wrestling Coach at Worthington High School 

Coached --- State Champions, -- State Place Winners, --- Team State Participants

Been Kay's  biggest supporter and best friend since 1992 and Husband since 1995

Has danced every year in the DANCE DAD's dance from 2004 to 2019 with their children 

Helps teach partner dance classes: Salsa, Two Step, Swing, Ballroom

TDA's Handy Man!  

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Class Assistants

 

  • Bailey Ahlquist  

  • Elizabeth Anderson      

  • Danica Behnke

  • Maelie Holt

  • Jocelyn Horn

  • Cassie Schulz

  • Kyra Visser

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