About Us

Dance–N–Magic is a family friendly dance studio in St. Paul, MN.

We offer lessons in Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Fitness, music, theater, and art. All of our lessons are age and developmentally appropriate. We offer private lessons, as well as group classes for toddlers, children, teens, and adults. All ages are welcome! Instruction is based on educational lesson plans to build life lessons and skills. Our classes are all inclusive and focus on FUN and building confidence! Kids love our high energy experienced instructors! Parents love our educational curriculum that keeps kids moving! Children love learning new skills and dances! Teens find a ton of enjoyment with our original choreography and personal attention to develop new skills! Adults love our flexible fitness classes and our FUN choreography and music! We strive to offer the best that dance programming has to offer! We are so confident that you will love our music, art, fitness, and dance lessons, that we offer every one a free trial class!

Our Dance–N–Magic philosophy is that dance should first and foremost be FUN! Learning DANCE to build confidence, skills, have FUN, and create MAGIC!

All of our Teachers are experienced, adult instructors. Most importantly, they have a passion for what they do! Every teacher comes from an educational and/or performance background. We also provide additional in–house training and continuing education. Instructors attend dance conventions and master classes to advance their teaching technique. We at Dance–N–Magic realize that a part of being a great teacher is to continue to be a student as well. Dance is constantly evolving, and so are we. All instructors are encouraged to keep learning new dance techniques, performance, and teaching skills.

We have one annual on–stage recital a year.

Our recital is usually in mid–June and show cases dancers from both our recreational and competition classes. We feature a family friendly hour long event including fun music, age appropriate costumes and choreography. The choreography is new and fresh each year, and makes sure to feature each dancer. The recital is highly encouraged, but not required.

Our Teachers

Anna Tilsen–Mogeni

Executive Director

My name is Anna Tilsen–Mogeni and I have been dancing Tap, Jazz, and Musical Theater since the age of 5, and teaching since I was 15. I think I have the Greatest Job in the world! That is why I started Dance–N–Magic, to be able to share my passion in an educational, family friendly environment.

Although I am originally from St. Paul, Minnesota; I went to college in Santa Rosa, CA to receive my dance certification with a teaching emphasis. It was there that I had the opportunity to study Hip Hop in depth while dancing with Fusion 415, which was a Hip Hop crew comprised of accomplished dancers who performed with many artists, including Janet Jackson. I love dancing so much, that I still perform and compete on adult dance teams. Teaching Dancercise Kids is one of my specialties. I have taught it in mobile programing around the Twin Cities under the direction of Tessa Pfeifer, the creator of this original curriculum, music, and teaching method. I have also been a lead teacher, event coordinator, curriculum developer, competition instructor, and teacher trainer for Dance Studios in the Twin Cities, until I had the wonderful opportunity to build my own, Dance–N–Magic. My husband, Cliff, and I have 2 kids. Our daughter, Kyah, is 7 yrs. old and loves to read! Our son, Joshua, is 2 yrs. old and loves trucks! One of my hobbies is volunteering at both church and with Girl Scouts!

Maria Fontana

Dance Instructor

My name is Miss Maria and I have been dancing since the age of 3. I started out in ballet, jazz and tap classes. I fell in love with ballet so I began to intensely study ballet 6 days a week. I studied with the Des Moines Ballet Company under the direction of Stephen Laurent and Martha Fasai. I have had the wonderful opportunity to dance in incredible roles in Nutcracker, Cinderella, Copellia, Swan Lake and Four Sisters.

I have had the honor to train with amazing teachers at Milwaukee Ballet Company: Jeanette Marvoka, Larry Long, and Basil Thompson. Also, I was blessed to train with David Howard at Steps, various instructors at Alvin Ailey Dance Center and Broadway Dance Center in NYC. I have been teaching ballet, Pointe, jazz, lyrical and tap dance for the past 13 years around the Twin Cities area. Along with dancing, I have done freelance artwork for Concord Jazz Label, Color Wheel Art Gallery, Courage Center, dance studios and Dance apparel shops. I am looking forward to working with Diversity Alive Theater Group. I am looking forward to learning new dance styles, new faces and growing with the Exciting–Amazing–New DANCE–n–MAGIC!!!!!

Sara Schmitt

Dance Instructor

My name is Sara Schmitt and I have lived in Minnesota my entire life. I began dancing at three years old and have loved it ever since. I am currently in my 26th year of dance classes. I am experienced in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Lyrical. I have been teaching dance for over fourteen years and I love it. I also work as an Early Learning and Special Education Paraprofessional for Independent School District 197.

Elajae’ Golden

Dance Instructor

I moved to Saint Paul, MN when I was 10 months from Hammond IN. I’ve been dancing for 5 years, I graduated from Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artist. I am self taught, I taught myself Hip Hop dance by just watching dance movies and YouTube videos. That’s when I discovered my love and passion for dance so I continued my journey by going to an performing arts school, where I also was trainned in Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Modern, Afro-Modern and West African. My dream goal is to become a TV star dancing in dance movies and commercial work. Being an instructor at Dance-N-Magic is a great way to pass on my knowledge and love for dance to my fellow students.

Kelsey Setter

Dance Instructor

I have been dancing since I could walk, driving my parents insane and they decided to put me into real dance classes. I have trained at dance studios in the Twin Cities and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. I have had the privilege of working with some amazing dancers and choreographers such as Luam, Shane Sparks, Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Courtney Miller Jr., and many others.

Cheng Xiong

Dance Instructor

My B-boy name is B-boy Technica. I have been dancing for about 5 to 6 years now. I am currently majoring in dance at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Being a dance major, I am learning many dance techniques such as Ballet, Modern, African, and Jazz, though there will be many more dance techniques to come. Besides learning these awesome dance styles, my favorite and the one I’m best at is Hip Hop, but strictly B-boy/Breakdance. Because of having such a huge interest in Hip Hop and B-boy, I am also in a dance crew called Motion Crew. We do choreography of all a sorts of Hip Hop styles. My dance crew has won 1st place at the annual Hmong New Year competition 3 years in a row! We too have placed 1st at many more competitions. My crew also auditioned for America’s Got Talent. I am a really intense dancer, and am really into technique; both teaching and learning it. So be ready to work hard when in my class!

Cathy Patterson

Office Manager and Teaching Assistant

My profession of choice is Human Resources and I’ve been in that field for just over 9 years. I have a large amount of customer service and office administration in my background as well. I’ve been a student at Dance n Magic, in the adult classes since 2009. While my passion is tap dancing, I have also enjoyed the hip hop and variety dance classes. Additionally, I was enrolled in ballet, tap and jazz lessons from elementary through high school and a 4 year member of my high school dance team. I will be participating on the Adult Competition TEAM this year as well.

I will be in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the evening as well as Saturdays and some Sundays. I’ll be available to help with class registration, size shoes, order dance wear, process tuition payments, and help to answer questions you may have about the studio and classes. I will also be assisting with classes, when needed. I am also the Volunteer Programs Manager – please inquire about volunteer opportunities!

Lasha Tilsen-Toles

Office Assistant and Teaching Assistant

I graduated from Rasmussen college with an Early Child Care Provider degree in 2000. I have been a foster care provider and have worked in daycares. Lasha studied Ballet from age 5 – 7. At age 15, I started learning breakdancing. I have always had a love for hip hop. I moved to California at age 18, where all I found was extra jobs. I am now a mother of 3 and a massage therapist that works with infants, children and adults. With my love for kids and dance, I will help assist instructors and be in the office on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Sundays to help with all questions you may have.

Hannah Osen

Teaching Assistant

I am an assistant teacher at Dance-n-Magic. I’ve lived in St Paul my whole life and go to Highland Park Senior High School. I started tap and jazz when I was 2 ½ and stopped in 4th grade. 2 years ago I started tap and jazz again along with ballet and lyrical. I have also taken pointe. I am a first year member of the Senior Hip Hop TEAM and a second year member of the Tap/Jazz Competition TEAM. I absolutely love dance and working with small children!

Our Location

Our St. Paul facility on Selby Ave.

features a family friendly cozy atmosphere. It houses our main office and dance wear store. The large dance room features a large mirrored wall, custom double ballet barres, large windows for lots of natural light, and a sprung dance floor to prevent injury. Our second dance room features a large mirrored wall, large windows, a sprung dance floor, the perfect space for small children. Our lobby has a comfortable viewing area with toys for siblings, and free wi–fi. A camera is linked to the second studio so parents can view their students via a TV in the lobby. Off–street parking is available. It also features an attached, fully enclosed, private playground.

Dance N Magic

About Us

We have one annual on–stage recital a year.