DIRECTOR/OWNER RAMONA JACOBS is in her 27th year as director of the Fergus Falls School of Dance. She received her BFA in Ballet & Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. She has choreographed numerous community productions & taught in summer MAX programs, served both as juror & mentor for the Lake Region Arts Council. She is a recipient of three LRAC grants. Ramona has continued her education at the Int’l Ballet Teacher workshop at Vail, the American Dance Festival, The Royal Winnipeg & National Ballet School (Toronto) Teacher workshops, New York City, the Int’l Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS, Dance Educator’s Coalition workshops, & the Cecchetti Council of America’s teacher workshop. She lives with her husband Chuck Christianson & two friendly cats & is an avid flower gardener & always has plants to give away.
MARY PETTIT received her BA in Dance/Dance Therapy from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, MN and her MS in Physical Education/Administration from UND. This year marks her 17th year at FFSD. In addition, she trained and performed professionally in Chicago & Baltimore. Her choreography credits include over 35 musicals. She was the Founder & Director of the Reif Center Dance program in Grand Rapids, MN from 1989-94. She has served as a Juror & Mentor for the Lake Region Arts Council, and guest choreographer at the Reif Center, ND Ballet Company & A Center for the Arts. Mary attended teacher workshops at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Tappin’ in the Twin Cities, Joel Hall Jazz in Chicago, the Giordano Jazz workshop, the Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago Dance Connection, and the MN Dance Educator’s Coalition. Mary has received choreography awards in the Chicago area. Mary’s family includes husband Bill, son Joey, daughter Hannah, son-in-law Dane and grandchildren Gabriel and Clare.
VALERIE SOHL obtained a B.S. Degree in Music Education from MSU, Mankato in 1988. She has worked as a Private Voice/Flute/and Piano Instructor, a Licensed In-Home Child Care Provider, and a Public School Music Teacher. In 2007 she became a Certified Fitness Instructor specializing in Senior Fitness and Yoga, in 2009 received her Arthritis Foundations Certification, and in 2011 completed training in Parkinson’s Awareness. Valerie is currently employed at Mill Street Assisted Living as Wellness Instructor/Activities. Being very passionate about awakening creativity and imagination in children, Valerie has enjoyed facilitating numerous Expressive Arts Programs and is very much looking forward to her 7th year of teaching at FFSD.
KIRSTEN DANIELSON is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with a degree in Computer Science and is a full-time computer programmer for the City of Fergus Falls. She has been dancing since she was three. Kirsten most recently attended the Stevens Point Tap Festival in WI. She and her husband Lee reside in Fergus Falls with their son Clay. Their son Eben, daughter Olivia, and son-in-law Luke will all graduate from college this spring. Kirsten’s favorite pastimes are photography & playing with her grandson, Levi.
SUZANNE LAFOND started dance at FFSD at age 7 where she took class for 12 wonderful years. She has taught ballet, modern and jazz at FFSD previously and is excited to be rejoining everyone there! She has attended workshops at the ND Ballet Company, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Jazz Dance World Congress, International Peace Gardens and was a dance major for a year in Stevens Point WI. She is currently working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Work at MSU Moorhead.
Student Teachers
 Daria Chamberlain |  Kati Enderson | |
 Kaitlyn Neville |  Taylor Olson |  Rachelle Wigtil |
