The Company
Eddie Gasper
Founding Director/Choreographer
Eddie Gasper came to the area as Director/Choreographer at Minnesota State University, Moorhead. He has been commissioned by the New York Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company, worked through the League of Regional Theatre, and was guest artist/instructor in various universities and organizations. Eddie was also Bob Fosse’s assistant for over a decade, working with him on and off Broadway and in Hollywood. In London, he choreographed at the Palladium for the BBC’s Talk of the Town. On Broadway, he choreographed Fig Leaves are Falling, with Barry Nelson and Dorothy Loudon, and appeared as lead dancer in Can Can, Sweet Charity, West Side Story, Irma la Douce, Music Man, and Guys and Dolls. Eddie has directed night club acts for Juliet Prowse and Jedy Carne, and has also directed Ginger Rogers, Phil Silvers, Donald O’Connor, Agnes Moorhead, Kathryn Grayson, and Howard Keel, to name a few. He has had the pleasure of working under the direction of Jerome Robbins, Agnes DeMille, Michael Kidd, and Onna White. Locally, Eddie was former co-artistic director/choreographer for the Red River Dance and Performing Company from 1978-1995 and directed the main-stage musical at Trollwood Performing Arts School from 1981-1991.
Kathy Gasper
Founding Director/Choreographer
Kathy Gasper has an impressive classical background complimenting her appearances on the Broadway stage, television, cabarets, regional theatres, and summer stock productions. Kathy has been a soloist and principal dancer with the Milwaukee Ballet, Weisbaden Ballet, Illinois and Chicago Ballets, the Florentine Opera, and the Chicago Opera Ballet. She has been an instructor/guest artist at several universities and has produced creative “in-school” programs that are applied today in Michigan, Florida, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Kathy’s professional musical comedy roles include Lola in Damn Yankees, Gladys in Pajama Game, Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, Gypsy and Dainty June in Gypsy, Ado Annie in Oklahoma, and Miss Hannigan in Annie. She has been privileged to have studied and performed under outstanding choreographers Lupe Surrano, Luigi, Jamie Rogers, Madame Clistove, Ellis DuBoulay, Peter Genaro, and Ron Fields. She was assistant choreographer for the Doc Severinson & Brothers and Sisters night club act at the Plaza Hotel in New York and Hawaii. She has also choreographed summer stock productions, industrials, commercials, and major dance works for several performing groups, including the Merion Cole Ballet. Kathy was the former artistic director of the Red River Dance and Performing Company in Fargo, ND, and choreographed and was the director of the dance department at Trollwood Performing Arts School from 1981-1993.
Matt Gasper
Artistic Director/Choreographer
Matthew Gasper has been dancing since the age of twelve. Under the direction of Kathy and Eddie Gasper, he honed his talents as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. At the early age of 18, he choreographed his first musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Immediately after high school, Matthew joined the Cleveland San Jose Ballet Company, the fifth largest company in the United States at the time. He quickly worked his way up from trainee to soloist, dancing principal roles including Nutcracker, Rodeo, Coople, Swan Lake, and Blue Suede Shoes – a ballet set to the music of Elvis Presley. In 1999, Matthew moved to New York City to work with dance legends like Luigi and Denis Nahat, and to begin his career in musical theatre. He quickly secured roles on- and off- Broadway, including Appleamondo’s Dream, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, and others. After suffering a knee injury, Matthew moved to Los Angeles, teaching and choreographing with regional dance and theatre companies in California. Currently Matthew lives in Fargo, ND, as Artistic Director of Fargo Moorhead Ballet and Master Teacher at Gasper’s School of Dance and Performing Arts. His goals are to continue to build on the reputation of the school and the dance company established by his parents Kathy and Eddie.
Mikal Kenfield
Principal
Mikal began dancing in 1987 in Missoula, MT, where she studied at both the Garden City Ballet and the Missoula Dance Academy. She appeared in numerous productions, including Coppelia, La Boutique Fantastique, and The Nutcracker. Upon graduating from high school, Mikal moved to Moorhead to attend Concordia College, receiving her degree in Social Studies Education in 2003. She has been dancing in the Fargo-Moorhead area since 1999 and found a home with the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet in 2006. Her background is largely ballet and jazz based, and she loves taking class to broaden her dance knowledge and technique. Mikal has coached and choreographed for the MSUM Dance Team, and choreographs Concordia’s Welcome Show each year. While a member of the FM Ballet, Mikal has performed in Tubby the Tuba, Peter and the Wolf, the Spooky Ballets and Gasper’s Christmas Show, as well as several shows for the Fargo Theater’s Classic Film Series. Mikal is excited to have found a home with the FM Ballet Company and is thrilled to continue dancing and learning.
Liisa Locker
Principal
Liisa Locker was born and raised in southern Michigan, where she took her first dance class at the age of six. Through the years, she has had the pleasure to train with Laura McCarthy and Nancy Giles of the Cecchetti Council of America, and joined the Youth Dance Theatre of Michigan under Artistic Director Wendi DuBois. With YDT, Liisa performed in the classical ballets The Nutcracker and Five Dancing
Princesses, and in the contemporary ballet Gershwin!, all choreographed by Ms. DuBois. Liisa currently attends NDSU and teaches at Gasper’s School of Dance and Performing Arts. This is her fourth season with the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet.
Rachel Wells
Principal
Rachel Wells has been dancing since the age of three, starting in Detroit, Michigan at Miss Harriet’s Dance Studio for seven years. Since her move to Fargo, Rachel has danced with several area studios, but moved to Gasper’s School of Dance & Performing Arts to focus on ballet and modern technique. Rachel is excited for her third season with the FM Ballet, and the continuing opportunity to perform in the company. Rachel is looking forward to adding to her favorite community performances with this year’s season. Previous favorites include Dracula (FM Ballet), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trollwood Performing Arts School), and Pippin (North High School). This year, Rachel is a sophomore at NDSU studying history: when she’s not eating, sleeping, or dancing that is!
Cassidy Berglund
Soloist
Cassidy Berglund is 16 years old and lives in Twin Valley, Minnesota. She has been dancing for 7 years and this will be her 4th year at Gasper’s School of Dance & Performing Arts. She has performed in numerous productions with the Gasper’s including Tubby the Tuba, Carnival of the Animals, Spooky Ballets, Christmas Holiday, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This summer she spent two weeks dancing at the International Music Camp. Her favorite things to do are dance, listen to music, travel, sing, act, and laughing with friends. Her goal for this year is to improve her dancing; and she would love to someday travel to New York City and see some Broadway shows! This is Cassidy’s 2nd year dancing with the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet company. She is thrilled to be a part of the company and is very excited for this season!
Grace Duginski
Soloist
Grace Duginski is 14 and a freshman at Moorhead High School. She has been dancing for 10 years, and this is her first season with the FM Ballet. Grace began dancing at age 3, and now studies ballet, jazz, pointe, and tap. She also enjoys assisting with a beginning tap class. She served as the dance intern/Choreographer’s Assistant for Gooseberry Park Players’ production of “The Pinafore Pirates” in July 2009, and was Assistant Choreographer for Horizon Middle School’s production of “Annie” in February 2009. When she’s not dancing, Grace enjoys hanging out with her friends, listening to music, reading, theatre, and photography. Enjoy the show!
Sarah Johnson
Soloist
Sarah Johnson is a senior at Fargo South High School. This is Sarah’s 4th year dancing with the FM Ballet Company. She has performed in many shows with the Gasper’s including The Little Prince, Spooky Ballets, Tubby the Tuba, Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of the Animals and Christmas Holiday. The last two summers Sarah has been involved in Trollwood Performing Arts Main Stage Musicals; including, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Wiz. She has also performed at the Plains Art Museum, Spring Dance Recitals, Choir Concerts, and with the Gooseberry Park Players. Her dance training includes jazz, ballet, pointe, and tap. Sarah is honored to be a part of the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet Company.
Kelsey Kolars
Corps de Ballet
Kelsey Kolars started dancing classical ballet at the age of 12 with a company known as Ballet Minnesota (a.k.a. Classical Ballet Academy) located in St. Paul, MN. Along with Ballet Minnesota, Kelsey has participated in summer intensive programs with RWB (Royal Winnipeg Ballet). Over her 5 ½ years of dancing she has preformed in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, and small summer performances such as “At the Museum”. Currently she is a company member with Fargo-Moorhead Ballet and is attending NDSU where she is double majoring in Environmental Engineering and Math Education.
Natalie Litcher
Corps de Ballet
Natalie Lichter began dancing ballet, tap, and jazz when she was seven at Nancy Pasley’s Dance Studio in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She continued her dance training at Dance Etc. in Grand Forks where she danced for the Company during her senior year of high school. Her passion for dance followed her to Minneapolis, Minnesota where she completed four semesters of jazz and ballet training. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nutrition Science. She now works at MeritCare in Fargo and aspires to go to graduate school. She is excited for her first year with the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet Company and is looking forward to what this year will bring.
Meghan Cogdill
Apprentice
Meghan Cogdill is a sophomore at Oak Grove Lutheran High School. She has been studying ballet, jazz, and tap classes at Gasper’s School of Dance and Performing Arts for the past 5 years. Meghan has performed in a number of shows including The Nutcracker, The Little Prince, and Tubby the Tuba. When Meghan isn’t dancing, you can find her playing volleyball or spending time with friends. She loves to travel and enjoys playing saxophone, piano, and guitar. Meghan is excited for her first year with the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet Company.
Alexa Puppo
Trainee
Alexa Puppo is a freshman at South Campus II. She has been dancing for 9 years and has been dancing with Gasper’s School of Dance & Performing Arts for 5 years. This is her first year in the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet company. She has performed in the Spooky Ballet for the past 3 years and has performed in the FM Ballet’s Children’s Ballet since 2004. Alexa has also been in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Into The Woods at FMCT. Other then dancing, Alexa enjoys acting, singing and writing. She is really excited for this upcoming season with the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet.
Laura Reynolds
Trainee
Laura Reynolds is a freshman at Fargo North High School. She has been dancing for 7 years and has performed in previous shows with Gasper’s; however, this is her first year in the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet Company. Outside of dance, Laura enjoys singing, musical theatre, playing the violin, track, and spending time with her friends. She is very excited to have the opportunity to continue her love of dance through participating in the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet this year.
Chantel Sheppard
Trainee
Chantel Sheppard is a freshman at Moorhead High School. She is 14 years old and started dancing at Gasper’s School of Dance and Performing Arts when she was 11. She has been involved in many productions the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet and Gasper’s; Spooky Ballet, Tubby the Tuba, Carnival of the Animals, and Christmas Holiday. She has also performed in the musical Annie at Horizon Middle School and the Pinafore Pirates with The Gooseberry Park Players. Her dance training includes ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and tap. She is very excited and glad to be a part of the Fargo-Moorhead ballet for the first time this season!
Tia Stenson
Trainee
Tia Stenson is a sophomore at Moorhead High School. She has been dancing for 12 years. Tia started dancing at Bonnie Haney’s and continued her training at Red River Dance, she finally arrived at Gasper’s School of Dance and Performing Arts this past year. A week before Christmas Holiday 2008 (Duke Ellington’s Nutcraker) she tore her ACL during an indoor soccer tournament and was out from dancing until August. Tia also enjoys writing, playing soccer, and doing crafty things. One day she aspires to becoming a best-selling author.