The Company
Eddie Gasper
Founding Director
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 12. A late start considering his parents owned a local dance school. But ever since, dancing has been a huge part of his life. Matthew was asked by the Cleveland San Jose Ballet Company. Matt danced principal roles including, Nutcracker, Rodeo, Coppell, Swan Lake, and Blue Suede Shoes,. Matt moved to New York City where he studied dance and pursued a career in musical theatre. Theatre productions included Appleamondo’s Dreams, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof. Mr. Matt has also appeared in TV and Film: Center stage, The Drew Carey Show, Picture This, and Blue Suede Shoes. Matthew has taught round the United States as a Guest Instructor. Currently Matthew is in Fargo, ND as a Master Teacher with Gasper’s School of Dance and Performing Arts, North Dakota State University, and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Matt is working to propel not only GSDPA, but Fargo Moorhead Ballet as well, to national recognition, as the Artistic Director. Mr. Matt holds a Degree in Exercise Science as well and is a certified Personal Trainer.
Grace Duginski
Principal
GRACE DUGINSKI has been dancing for 10 years. She began with ballet at the age of three, and gradually expanded her repertoire to include jazz, tap, and contemporary. All while studying under the instruction of the Gasper’s. Grace is a junior at Moorhead High School, and is going into her third year of membership with the FM Ballet Company. She looks forward to another year of dance.
Mikal Kenfield
Principal
MIKAL KENFIELD began dancing at the age of four in her hometown of Missoula, MT. She studied at both the Garden City Ballet and the Missoula Dance Academy, and 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, Spooky Ballets, Dicken’s Danced, Firebird and Sleeping Beauty.
Liisa Locker
Principal
LIISA LOCKER was born and raised in South-East Michigan, where she took her first dance class at the age of six. She quickly increased her classes to include modern, Pilates, tap, jazz, pointe, and ballet. Liisa’s studies took her to Dance Gallery Studio, home of the Peter Sparling modern company, where she met Wendi DuBois. Ms. DuBois became Liisa’s main ballet instructor after coming to teach at Dance Arts of Chelsea in Liisa’s hometown. Liisa became involved with the Youth Dance Theatre of Michigan at age 8, and moved up the ranks to a position as First Company Soloist in high school. Through YDT, Liisa has had the pleasure of creating roles in Tchaikovski’s The Nutcracker with original choreography by Ms. DuBois; Five Dancing Princesses, after the story of Twelve Dancing Princesses; and Gershwin!, a contemporary ballet to the well-known tunes of George and Ira Gershwin. Throughout middle and high school, Liisa involved herself in numerous summer intensives, including those given by the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, the Kansas City Ballet School, and the Cecchetti Council of America. Liisa participated in the pre-professional teacher training classes given by Ms. DuBois, and she has taught ballet and pointe at YDT’s summer dance intensives. Liisa is currently a member of the FM Ballet, and is studying at NDSU for undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Physics.
Rachel Wells
Principal
RACHEL WELLS began dancing at the age of three in Detroit, Michigan with Miss Harriett’s Dance Studio and has not stopped since. Rachel found a home at Gasper’s School of Dance and the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet in 2007 and has enjoyed her focuses in contemporary ballet, classical ballet and modern ever since. She also has a background in tap, jazz and lyrical and loves learning new parts of the art form. Rachel spent the summer studying with the Colorado Ballet and hopes to continue studying dance after she receives her degree in history from North Dakota State University in the spring.
Meghan Cogdill
Soloist
Meghan Cogdill has been dancing since the age of four in the fargo moorhead area. This is her third year in the FM Ballet. She has preformed in many shows including Spooky Ballet, The Nutcracker,
and The Sleeping Beauty. In her spare time Meghan enjoys baking and traveling. She will graduate form Oak Grove this spring and continue studying nutrition next year at Concordia college.
Mara Brust
Corps de Ballet
Mara has been dancing since the age of three and began studying with the Gaspers in 2000. She has performed in numerous productions throughout the years and was with the FM Ballet company in its inaugural season. In 2007, Mara graduated Summa Cum Laude from NDSU with a B.A. in Journalism, Broadcasting & Mass Communication Technologies. She took a three-year hiatus from dance to earn a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law. Mara recently returned to Fargo to practice law with Conmy Feste Ltd. and is delighted to again be dancing with FM Ballet.
Kayla Dahlke
Corps de Ballet
KAYLA DAHLKE is a 2nd year student at North Dakota State University. She is originally from Eagan, Minnesota, and is majoring in radiological science. Beginning at the age of three, Kayla has danced her way through various levels and styles of dance. Starting at Nancy Radditz Dance Studio in Eagan, she then moved on to Studio 4 Dancers in Burnsville, Minnesota to begin her competion career at the age of 10. Kayla danced through all 4 years of high school and won 5 State titles with the Lightning Dance Team, at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota. After graduating Kayla was a part of the NDSU Bison dance team during her Freshman year of college, where they took 2nd and 4th place at the UDA National Competition. She is very excited to be back in the studio and part of the Fargo Moorhead Ballet Company
Alexa Puppo
Corps de Ballet
ALEXA PUPPO has been dancing under the direction of the Gasper’s since the age of ten. She has performed in several shows with the Fargo Moorhead Ballet company, including Savina the Gypsy, The Little Prince, Sleeping Beauty, and The Spooky Ballets. Alexa has been involved in Trollwood Performing Arts School’s productions at the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre including Into the Woods Jr. and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She is looking forward her third season with the FM Ballet company and is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the exciting productions and projects planned for this year. Alexa is currently a junior at Fargo South High School.
Camille Federowich
Apprentice
CAMILLE FEDEROWICH, is in her second year of training at Gasper’s School of Dance and has been dancing for a totally of nine years. In the past Camille has performed in the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, and multiple spring performances. She has also been given the opportunity to dance live in Disney Land. Besides dancing, she loves to draw, read, bike, box, skateboard, and write. Camille is 14 years young and celebrates her birthday on February 17. The classes she is currently taking are jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, company, hip hop, and is also a member of GSDPA 2011-2012 Competition Team.
Tia Stenson
Apprentice
TIA STENSON is a senior at Moorhead High School. She started her dance career at Bonnie Haney’s School of Dance and was there until middle school when she trained at Red River Dance and danced there throughout middle school. At Red River she was part of their Company (their competition team). As a Freshman she decided to study at Gasper’s School of Dance. For the past two years at Gasper’s School of Dance Tia has been a company member of the FM Ballet and a member of Gasper’s School of Dance Competition Division. Past performances include FM Ballet’s Spooky Ballet’s, The Russian Nutcracker, Hansel and Gretel, Dickens’ Danced, Firebird, and Sleeping Beauty. When she is not at the studio, Tia us reading, doing crafts, volunteering at Minn-Kota PAAWS, and refereeing soccer. After high school she plans to attend college and will study Anthropology/Archeology.