Dance Summit 2025

Katie Groven

Sessions: Strength & Flexibility

Owner and Creator of Dancer Fitness

Katie Groven is an ACSM certified personal trainer and two time world champion dancer. She is the creator of Dancer-Fitness.com where she combines her 25 years of dance training and her fitness expertise to crack the code on improving skills, endurance and flexibility using strength training. 

Her signature strength training process called STRENGTHNIQUE is used by dozens of national and state champion teams all over the world.

Wynter Ruggles

Sessions: Contemporary, Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, and Floor Work

Wynter Ruggles is a passionate rising artist originally from Lindstrom, Minnesota. As a graduate from Kaleidoscope Dance Studio and Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, she has spent nearly 15 years dedicated to pursuing a career in the arts. Wynter is soon to be a Junior student in the BFA Dance Lab at Bennington College, a program currently being built from the former University of the Arts program. While in school, she has performed and collaborated with artists such as Sidra Bell, Shayla-Vie Jenkins, Jesse Zerit, and Gary Jeter. Outside of this curriculum, Wynter has trained with A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham, Peridance, Hothouse, Concepts the Company, and StrongMovement.

In addition to pursuing her own education, she has spent 5 years dedicated to teaching and sharing her passion with those in her community. Wynter strives to create atmospheres that are thought-provoking, transformative, collaborative, and curious. She seeks to generate change in the communities she inhabits through the interplay of minds and bodies.

Ashli Salokar

Sessions: Ballet & Hip Hop

Owner of Treehouse Dance Project in Chisago City, MN

Hi! I’m Ashli. I began my dance journey at Kaleidoscope Dance Studio when I was 5 years old and was blessed to be supported by loving and open-hearted instructors who planted creative seeds in my world. I was allowed to assist, teach, and choreograph at a young age, which granted me the freedom to experiment and find my way as a choreographer and teacher. Throughout high school, I danced as a member of the Chisago Lakes High School dance team where I served as a captain for two years and eventually returned as a coach in 2022.

I am currently continuing my dance studies toward a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. I now own and operate a dance studio in Chisago City, Minnesota, teaching all ages and levels in various styles of dance! Beyond dance, I am a lover of nature, movement, and overall wellness. Dance offers me infinite ways to connect with myself and express myself creatively in an ever-changing world, a gift I strive to share with other dancers. I’m driven to provide a dance education grounded in strength, community, and passion. 

Ariel Kingslien

Sessions: Technique & Contemporary

Ariel Kingslien is a 10+ year competitive dancer with a deep love for all things dance. While she trains in many styles, contemporary is her favorite—though jazz funk holds a special place in her heart. Over the past couple of years, Ariel has begun choreographing and discovered a passion for creating movement as much as performing it. She’s committed to a future in dance and takes every opportunity to grow, from conventions and pre-professional companies to dance team clinics. Ariel brings together all these experiences to shape a unique, expressive style that’s truly her own.

Bella Chauney

Sessions: Musical Theatre, Jazz & Intro to Latin Dance

Bella Chauny is an actor/singer/dancer from Lima, Perú. She started her professional dance career as a member of the Arturo Chumbe Dance Company, where she performed on local TV shows for a year. Her journey then took her from the stages of Perú to Buenos Aires, and finally to Webster University here in the United States. During her career she has embraced a range of roles, including:  Lizzie in Lizzie the Musical, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Roxy in Chicago and Sandy in Grease. Her work extends to film as well, with credits in Shifting Tides (Dir. Ricky Fishbeck), I’m Here (Dir. Haroto Fujimoto) and He Saw the Devil (Dir. Griffin Wiebelt). And most recently she’s been working as a dancer in Six Flags Hot Rhythm Nights directed by the broadway legend Luis Salgado. 

Kole Nelson

Sessions: Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Jazz & Contemporary

Kole Nelson who was most recently performing Newsies at chanhassen dinner theatres, began dancing at a young age. After his early graduation from high school he moved to the city to pursue his career in dance. Represented by Caryn Model and Talent Agency, Kole is a dancer, instructor, and choreographer in and throughout the midwest region. He has performed in several productions, his most recent works include: “White Christmas” at the Ordway, Old Log Theatre Productions: “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “Best little Whorehouse in Texas” recent dance captain in the Old Log Theatre’s production of “The Wedding Singer”. “Grey Skies Blue” with Shapeshift theatrical dance, which most recently played at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. He can be seen in Music Videos for various artists such as: Har Mar Superstar, Vie BoHeme, Little Scream, and BFFB. He aspires to be a talent agent and working choreographer. “there is no greater joy than inspiring others and helping them to reach new heights” He now lives in Tennessee and directs a competitive dance program in that region!