Our Instructors
Katie Roell
Owner | Ballet Instructor | Artistic Director
Katie began her dancing career at Northern Michigan Dance Academy at the age of three. During her time at Northern Michigan Dance Academy, Katie participated in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Spooktacular, and many others in which she performed the roles of Odette, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Snow Queen. She danced with the studio until she graduated in 2011 from Kingsford High School.
Katie went on to obtain a B.A. in public relations from Mount Mary University and fueled her love for dance by participating in the university’s dance program completing application courses in modern dance and ballet as well as theoretical courses including ballet history and dance in film.
Upon completing her degree, Katie returned to Iron Mountain and currently works for BOSS Snowplow as the Marketing Manager. Katie holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Northern Michigan University and is passionate about improving the community. Katie hopes to instill a love for the arts, specifically ballet, in the students she teaches while promoting positivity, poise, and strength in all her dancers. Katie’s favorite teaching moment is watching a student achieve more than they thought possible through hard work and determination.
Kim Johnson
Ballet Instructor | Co-Artistic Director
Kim Johnson, a native of Kingsford, MI started her dance training at Northern Michigan Dance Academy. Upon graduation in 2000 with high honors from UW-Milwaukee with a BFA in dance, she joined Danceworks Performance Company (now Danceworks Performance MKE) and Danceworks faculty. In her 20 years with the company, she performed in over 50 concerts. In addition to performing, she served as Danceworks Associate Artistic Director from 2009-2012 before taking on the role of Artistic Manager, and later, Director of Engagement until 2021. Kim retired from the company in 2020 and is currently serving as Danceworks Artistic Support. She has created works for Danceworks Performance Company as well as Milwaukee Ballet II. Kim has helped write curriculum for both Danceworks Studio and Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy where she served as faculty for both the school and Milwaukee Ballet II (2000-2010), Branch Manager (2003-2008), and Children’s Division Coordinator (2008-2010). She has thoroughly enjoyed growing Danceworks’ dance fitness and ballet technique program as well as many other facets, including DanceLAB by advocating for emerging and established performing artists in the community through performances, mentorship and space grants, along with studio rentals. Kim has been a dance lecturer at UWM since 2006, where she has taught modern technique and Body Sense. Since 2018, Kim has been a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor. Kim's deep passion and curiosity in anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology led to her to continue her education at Blue Sky School of Professional Massage & Therapeutic Bodywork where she completed their 850-hour Medical Intensive Program. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist who specializes in relaxation and therapeutic massage using a variety of modalities. She is honored to be a part of a person's movement and healing journey both in the studio and treatment room.
Gracie Ramlow
Ballet Instructor | Co-Artistic Director
Gracie began dancing at Northern Michigan Dance Academy at the age of three. She performed in numerous productions, including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, and Peter Pan, where she held roles of sugar plum fairy , snow queen, and Peter Pan. Gracie also trained during the summer at intensives at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and the Minnesota Dance Theater.
Gracie attended Hope College where she obtained a B.A in Psychology. During her time in college she trained in ballet, pointe, and modern dance. She also participated in The Nutcracker, Dance 41, and student showcase performances.
After college, she attended Indiana University School of Optometry, where she received her doctorate of optometry. She recently moved home to Iron Mountain and works as a local eye doctor. Gracie is excited to return to the studio and teach ballet. She is passionate about instilling confidence in her students and focus strongly on ballet and pointe technique.
Beth Provencher
Ballet Instructor | Co-Artistic Director | Yoga Instructor
Beth Provencher began her dance career at the Omaha Academy of Ballet where she studied the Royal Academy Ballet Technique with British instructor Valerie Roche A.R.A.D. She then studied at Creighton University with Professor Roche and Lynn Nevin where she was a member of the ballet company "A Company of Dancers" and at the University of Nebraska in Omaha focusing on children's dance instruction and studying Modern Dance where she was principal dancer and choreographer for "The Moving Company".
Beth continued her dance education at the University of Salt Lake City where she studied with renowned instructors Joan Woodbury and Shirley Ririe specializing in children's dance and dance for the severely mentally challenged as well as intensive ballet instruction with Ballet West and at the University of South Florida studying the Vaganova Ballet Method with Victoria Rockhill Schneider from the Harod Conservatory. She also attended workshop intensives with Vivian Tomlinson from South Africa and Lance Westergard from New York City and Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, as well as, teacher training at the American Ballet Theater and with Russian Ballet Master Valery Lantratov.
Beth has been in the Iron Mountain area teaching dance and directing dance productions since 1983 passing on her love of the art of ballet to the community while helping children gain strength, confidence, flexibility and poise which they will carry with them throughout their whole life.
Cori Rice
Barre Instructor
Rice has had a life-long passion for fitness education. She has a B.A. from the University of Detroit Mercy in Communications, Magna Cum Laude. Rice is a certified cycling instructor, has been co-chair of YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, and head coach of the 10U Iron Mountain Little League, assistant coach for the Iron Mountain High School softball team, Kingsford Little League coach, and currently Kingsford High School assistant softball coach.
Rice brings enthusiasm and energy to her classes, stating, “I’ve always had a love and appreciation for fitness. In a nutshell for me when it comes to fitness, I love that point in training where you push yourself beyond what you think you can do and understand that your mind and body are stronger and more capable than what you might have thought.”