Welcome to UDA. We are very excited to meet you and look forward to dancing with you this year. The goal of our dance staff is to provide dance instruction with professionalism, care and passion.
Laura Tollefson, Recreation Coordinator
I am honored to be the Recreation Coordinator for Unity Dance & Acrobatics since 2021. I have over 15 years of experience and knowledge in dance, as well as an associate’s degree from FVTC in Marketing. I danced with the Appleton Parks and Recreation dance program since the age of 4 and received a scholarship at age 8 to dance at Makaroff's School of Ballet. I began teaching dance in 2007 and have gained experience in judging dance competitions, coaching high school dance teams, and choreographing for local theater companies. I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful program where I can share my passion for dance with our community. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and four children.
Katie Raether
This is my 15th year teaching at UDA! I also took lessons through the Park and Rec when I was 5 years old. I love to watch my students grow and accomplish their goals. I get excited when they master a trick or routine they've been working hard on. My husband and I have four amazing children and a dog named Bella. I enjoy the outdoors and fitness.
Danielle Braun
This is my 5th year teaching at UDA. I went through the UDA program when growing up so it’s great to be back as an instructor! I started my dance journey taking tap, and then extending to ballet/jazz/lyrical/ and hip hop. I’ve danced competitively as well as continuing dance during my collegiate career. I have choreographed several musical productions including The Wizard of Oz, Singing in the Rain, and Cinderella. When I'm not dancing, I teach choir at Einstein Middle School. Let’s dance it out this season together at UDA!
Hannah Ceccon
This is my 9th year teaching with UDA! I grew up dancing at Unity Dance and Acrobatics taking ballet, jazz, lyrical and pointe. I am very excited to see what this year brings in our new location! Outside of dance, I work for the Appleton Area School District as a paraprofessional. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and my dog, Ashka, as well as listening to live music. I can’t wait to dance with everyone this season.
Brooklyn Billington
I am very excited to be a part of the Unity Dance & Acrobatics family! This is my third year with UDA. I have been dancing since the age of three and found it to be one of my greatest passions. I have experience in the styles of jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, Polynesian, hip-hop, waltz, and even was the dance director in two junior musicals. Outside of dance, I enjoy performing in community theater, I am pursuing a degree in teaching, and I have more than ten years of percussion experience. I look forward to sharing my love of dance with the students!
Theresa Riesterer
I am very excited to be back for my second year teaching at UDA. This year I will be teaching ballet, lyrical, jazz, acrobatics, modern, and pom & kick classes! I have been dancing with UDA since I was little and have assisted for 4 years. Outside of teaching dance, I also teach mathematics at Ashwaubenon High School. I am looking forward to helping each of my dancers grow!
Emily Beyer
This is my first year being back as an instructor at UDA! Before I graduated, I was a dancer here for 7 years, although I have been dancing since I was 2 years old. During my time here as a student I also had the pleasure of being an assistant and instructor. I have been trained in numerous genres, such as jazz, ballet, and lyrical, but tap is my favorite! Outside of dance, I teach 2nd grade in Oshkosh. I love reading, drawing, painting, and spending time with my friends and family. I am so excited to start a brand-new chapter in my dance and teaching journey and cannot wait to see what this new year brings!
Alyssa Brown
This is my third year working at UDA! I have been dancing since the age of three and started at Unity when I was five. I am currently taking jazz, hip hop, modern, and acrobatic classes. Outside of dance I’m a senior at Freedom High School. I am looking forward to spreading my passion for dance this year!
Ava Haak
My name is Ava and this is my third year working at UDA. I’m 18 years old and in my first year of college. I love performing and being on stage. Dance is one of my greatest passions and I’ve danced at UDA from ages 3 to 17, performing every genre UDA has to offer! In my senior year I was in 8 dances along with being an assistant & instructor! UDA has helped me become the person I am today so I will forever help out with the dance studio! A fun fact about myself is I just got a new puppy named Coco & I received a scholarship to dance professionally at a top 5 school in NYC!
Natalia Hesselman
This will be my first year working at UDA. I’ve been dancing since I was four and started at UDA when I was six. My first year I only took ballet but since then I’ve added tap, lyrical and pointe. Outside of dance I love to write, draw, read and do theater. I’m a junior at Appleton West High School and Renaissance School for the Arts. I’m so excited to share my love of dance with everyone!