Nicole Elliott
Nicole began dancing at the age of 3, pursuing lessons in ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling. Her interest in dance continued with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point where she graduated with honors and a minor in nutrition.
During her studies she received several awards for “outstanding performance and achievement,” and also participated in several American Collegiate Dance Festivals. Nicole spent her summers during college continuing her dance education at the American Dance Festival and Indiana University. She had the privilege of studying with Sharon Kinney and Bill Evans.
After undergraduate schools, Nicole spent a year teaching at two dance studios in Wisconsin. In the summer of 1991 she moved to Eugene where she pursued a master’s degree in dance with an emphasis in injury prevention and rehabilitation for dancers. During her time at the U of O she taught undergraduate classes in ballet, tap and jazz and directed the Oregon Jazzline. Nicole taught dance for Sheldon Community Center for two years.
Nicole began with Hosanna Dance as a performer under the direction of Ashley Walters and Ed Staver. She began teaching at Hosanna in the fall of 1996 and has continued to add classes and formats as the studio grows.
Jennifer Knight Dills
Jennifer Knight Dills hails from the West Coast and has been dancing since the age of 15. She has performed extensively, in five Western states and the UK, as an independent performer and with modern, ballet and opera companies in California and Oregon. She has been featured in solo and leading roles in works of world—renowned choreographers Doris Humphrey, Valerie Bettis, Kay Bardsley, Gilbert Reed, Bryan Hayes and David Parsons. In 2000 she formed The Performers Project, and has produced her own work and that of guest dance artists and musicians in regional concert projects. She received her MFA degree in dance from the U of O, specializing in dance techniques, choreography, analysis and dance history. She has served on the faculty at the U of O and Lane Community College and has been teaching ballet, modern, jazz and ballroom dance freelance for over a decade. She has been on the Hosanna Dance faculty since 2002. Ms. Knight Dills accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of 11 and is a member of Emmaus Lutheran Church in Eugene.
Traci Housley
Traci Housley was born in Eugene. She has lived here all of her life except for two years when she and her husband moved to San Francisco. Traci is the mother of three children, Taylor age 14, Dawson age 11, and Avery age 7. Traci has been involved in dance since the age of 4, with most of her dance training with Dance Dynamics and Creative Institute of Dance in Eugene. Traci also has participated in a variety of musicals under the direction of Joe Zingo. She feels very fortunate to have found a studio where she can show children God’s love through dance. Traci and her family currently attend Eugene Christian Fellowship.
Kathryn Irsfeld
Kathryn began dancing at the age of 13. She studies tap, Irish, Jazz Ballet, Voice and Acting. She lives in Eugene, but has studied tap privately in Portland and Seattle. Currently she studies with teacher out of Los Angeles and with various tap choreographers across the nation. She has also studied with Charon Aldredge and Jason Bernard of the national touring company of Riverdance, and master tap teachers Debbie Doe, Chris Finn, Thommie Retter, and Mark Goodman. Kathryn studies Jazz with Karl Munt. She has won the Oregon State Fair talent contest and has toured the Pacific Northwest with the Eugene Ballet Company's Nutcracker. She has attended the American Theater Dance workshop in Long Island, Ny. She is in her fifth year on staff with Hosanna Dance Studio teaching both tap and jazz.
Aimee Brown
Aimee started studying ballet at age 8 under direction of Toni Pimble at the Eugene School of Ballet. She later added the interest of tap, studying at Musical Feet with Janette Frame. Aimee currently lives in Eugene with her husband, Kevin. This is Aimee’s second year at Hosanna. She feels blessed to be in an environment where individuals can grow physically and spiritually and the gift of dance can be enjoyed, shared and returned to the Creator.
La Chel Carson
La Chel Carson joined the staff of Hosanna Dance in 2003 as the studio business manager. La Chel recieved her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Oregon. She was a middle school teacher for two years and the Director of Children's Ministries at Grace Community Fellowship for 10 years prior to joining Hosanna.