Dance Program
Program Manager:
Maggie Obst
Phone: 414-604-4951
Email: obstm@wawmsd.org
All is Dance Academy:
For any additional information regarding the All is Dance Academy, please email allisdance@wawmsd.org.
Diamond Twirlers Baton/Dance Program:
For additional information regarding the Diamond Twirlers Baton/Dance program, please contact the Diamond Twirlers' Director, Kathy Kugi-Tom at wawmdiamondtwirlers@yahoo.com.
All Is Dance Academy
All is Dance Information
The All is Dance Academy is a non-competitive dance program with a focus on creating an inclusive dance community where all are welcome to dance. It is a studio experience without the fees or commitment!
- INTRO: AGES 4-5
- LEVEL 1: BEGINNER - AGES 6+
- LEVEL 2: INTERMEDIATE - AGES 6+
- LEVEL 3: ADVANCED - AGES 8+
INTRO: AGES 4-5
LEVEL 1: BEGINNER - AGES 6+
LEVEL 2: INTERMEDIATE - AGES 6+
LEVEL 3: ADVANCED - AGES 8+
This level is for children who have preferably had some dance experience in the past but are also fast learners. This level includes a faster moving curriculum and involves movement taught from past levels. This level expects dancers to have some dance knowledge, be open minded to trying new things, have music coordination and to be able to memorize choreography.
COSTUME:
Families should anticipate an additional cost for a costume of approximately $45-$70 per class. Costume payments will be due at a later date after registration.
RECITAL:
Participants will perform at an end of the year recital scheduled for FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 and SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 at NATHAN HALE HIGH SCHOOL.
The rehearsal is scheduled for THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20.
ACRO: Learn the fundamentals of movement, timing and stunts. We will focus on flexibility, body strengthening and stunts.
BALLET: Let’s start at first position and go from there! Ballet strives to improve coordination, posture and muscle development. Learn basic ballet positions, steps and floor combinations.
HIP HOP: Hip hop includes a wide range of styles primarily isolations, popping, voguing, locking and breaking. Dancers learn strong movements that are low and grounded and focus on their center. Hip hop is known to be a very fun style of dance.
JAZZ/POP: This upbeat style of dance emphasizes proper body alignment and clean technique. We will include stretch and strength exercises and floor work. Dancers will work on musicality, turns, kicks and jumps.
LATIN STYLE - MINI MERENGUE: Try a variety of Latin dance styles that will focus on the steps and go from there.
LYRICAL: Dancers will learn a combination of several dance styles from Ballet to Jazz to Contemporary that they will apply to the words of songs to create the beautiful choreography.
MUSICAL THEATER: Learn choreography that is typically performed by theater performers for their stage act.
POMS: Participants will work on techniques that include leaps, jumps, turns and flexibility.
TAP: Participants will work on timing and rhythms of tap as well as learning basic combinations while working on developing their coordination and stamina.
All is Dance - Staff Introductions
Mariela Martinez
Mariela is one of the All is Dance Academy’s Ballet, Poms, and Jazz instructors. She started dancing ballet at 4 years old with the WAWM RCS Dance Program! Later on, she studied at Danceworks Inc., Milwaukee Ballet Company, and Mezclando Milwaukee Dance Company. Mariela started assisting classes at 15 years old and became a full-time instructor at 18 years old. She likes to occupy herself with multiple jobs but teaching dance remains her all-time favorite! Growing up in the program inspired her to become an Entrepreneur; Quince Choreography is where she is proud to share her Latino roots with all types of dancers! Mariela hopes that every student finds a love for learning new skills, dance routines, performing, making friends, and creating lifelong memories.
Bailey Leonard
Bailey is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, acro, poms, and musical theatre. She grew up dancing through the WAWM Rec Department and eventually became an assistant in 2017, and now teaches Ballet and Poms in the program.
Rachel Lockwood
Rachel Lockwood has been dancing with the WAWM Recreation Dance program since she was 5, assisted as a volunteer for five years, and began teaching ballet as a senior in high school. She currently teaches various classes in Ballet, Jazz, and Poms through the All is Dance Academy. She also has dance experience from her poms team in middle and high school, various dance styles through a dance group at Marquette University, and has taught ballet, poms, and tumbling at the Pewaukee Recreation Department. Rachel graduated with both a bachelor's and master’s degree from Marquette University in the field of education. She works full-time as a middle school science teacher at St. Leonard School in Muskego but still loves to come and work with the students at the All is Dance Academy each week.
Lisa Day
Lisa has grown up in the city of West Allis. Being the youngest of 12 kids, Lisa started in the Dance program at age 5, participating in Tap, Ballet, and Acrobatics, and later added Jazz and Poms. She's currently in her 30th year of being a dance instructor. She has mainly danced through the rec program but has attended the Dance teacher conference in Las Vegas to develop her dance knowledge.
Lynette Brenner
This is Lynette's 25th year with the West Allis-West Milwaukee dance program. Lynette has been teaching and assisting for over 12 years. Lynette likes teaching all different ages. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family.
Gwen Piekarski
Gwen has been dancing for 13 years. She has experience in many different types of dance: ballet, poms, jazz, and acro. Gwen fell in love with ballet at a young age and has been doing ballet ever since. She loves reading, hanging out with friends, and dancing! Gwen is excited to assist through the All is Dance Academy to see all the different levels and inspire younger girls to continue their dance journey. As we get closer to the event, you will receive a list of all the staff volunteers from your school.
Asialina Grootemaat
Asialina is a sophomore in high school. This is her second year assisting and first time teaching the Musical Theater class. Asialina started dancing with the WAWM RCS Department at the age of 4 years old. She also was a part of the Novice Dance team at Miss Becky’s Dance Studio and a student at the Generation Dance Studio. With this being her first time teaching the Musical Theater class she is very excited! She started preforming in musicals and plays in fifth grade. Asialina is very excited to start the new dance year off and she hope you are too!
Emma Valcq
This is Emma's first year teaching with All Is Dance Academy, yet dance has always been a huge part of her life. She started dancing tap and tumbling at the age of 4 and it quickly became her childhood passion. Taking every class she could, she learned everything from tap to kick, and pointe to hip hop. Now as a mom of 2, she's so excited to help others grow their skills and learn how to use dance as a form of self-expression.
Karen Hansen
Karen grew up in West Allis and began Hawaiian dance lessons through the WAWM Rec Department, starting at the age of 5, and continued lessons until the age of 24. She became part of a Hawaiian Dance group called The Maile Lei Dancers and performed throughout the midwest. She also had training from Hawaiian teachers in Hawaii and the midwest. Karen has been teaching hula for the last 30 years and continues to performs with her hālau, or dance family, including Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee. Karen has taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade in West Allis for 35 years and recently retired. Teaching is a passion, along with baking, working out, and reading!
Diamond Twirlers Baton/Dance Program
Diamond Twirlers Baton and Dance Teams
- TINY TOT POM TEAM - AGES 4-7
- JUVENILE BATON TEAM - AGES 7-12
- HALFTIME SHOW TEAM - AGES 10-18
- JUNIOR BATON TEAM - AGES 12-18
- SENIOR BATON TEAM - AGES 14-25
TINY TOT POM TEAM - AGES 4-7
JUVENILE BATON TEAM - AGES 7-12
HALFTIME SHOW TEAM - AGES 10-18
JUNIOR BATON TEAM - AGES 12-18
SENIOR BATON TEAM - AGES 14-25
Diamond Twirlers Baton and Dance Teams Placement on teams may need to be adjusted based on skills and is the sole discretion of the director.
Youth Baton Classes
- INTRO TO HALFTIME SHOW - AGES 3-7
- INTRO TO BATON TWIRLING - AGES 4-6
- BEGINNING BATON TWIRLING - AGES 7-10
INTRO TO HALFTIME SHOW - AGES 3-7
INTRO TO BATON TWIRLING - AGES 4-6
BEGINNING BATON TWIRLING - AGES 7-10
In these classes, twirlers will exercise not only their physical abilities but work on developing their hand-eye coordination, rhythm, timing, poise, and more. Each class focuses on building on the fundamental tricks and skills of twirling leading into more advanced combinations as the twirler progresses.
Diamond Twirlers Coaches - Introductions
Kathy Kugi-Tom
Kathy Kugi-Tom has been serving as the director and coach of the West Allis Diamond Twirlers for the past 16 years. She is a registered judge and coach with the National Baton Twirling Association and has been actively involved with the West Allis Recreation Department for many years. Having been an alumnus of the Daley Debutantes, she twirled from a young age and started coaching baton and dance in her early teens. Kathy was a featured twirler for Nathan Hale High School and the West Allis Summer Lancer Band. She has a prolific record of coaching numerous state and regional winning teams, individual twirlers, and Badger State Pom Competitors.
RJ Tom
RJ Tom is a four-time National Strut Champion and an alumnus of the West Allis Diamond Twirlers program. He is currently serving as an assistant coach for the program, where he enjoys working on technical skills and marching techniques. RJ has extensive experience in solo, marching, and team performances, including winning the Baton and Regional duet championships multiple times with his sister Taryn. Over the 14 years he has been with the program, RJ has been a member of all our teams, and he looks forward to assisting wherever it is needed this season.
Bethany Klug
Bethany is a current member of the West Allis Diamond Twirlers. She is our newest assistant coach for our younger Pom and camp students. She has been a member of our group for a number of years and has competed in various State and Regional competitions for Baton, Poms and Dance. Bethany was part of our State Champion NBTA Junior High Pom Line and our Trio Pom State Champions. She comes with a dance background and is currently a Sophomore at Brookfield Central High School. She is involved in tennis and musicals at school. She enjoys engaging with our littles and helping them develop as dancers and twirlers.
Keagan Tom
Keagan Tom is a current member and captain of the West Allis Diamond Twirlers, where she has been serving as an assistant coach for three years. She has been a part of the group for 12 years and has earned several accolades, including the former National Flag Baton Championship and the current 2023 Waukesha County Junior Strut Championship. Keagan has won numerous NBTA Wisconsin State Pom Solo Titles and regularly competes at the State, Regional, and National levels. She takes pleasure in creating choreography and working with younger members of the team.