Our Instructors
Betsy Arce, Owner and Artistic Director
Betsy started her lifelong love of dance at Brenda's School of Dance in Farmington, Minnesota. After many years on the competition team, Betsy tried out and was one of 12 dancers accepted into the dance program at Minnesota Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley. Under the direction of Mary Harding and Tom Kanthak, she trained several hours a day as well as receiving classes from many Internationally and Nationally acclaimed guest teachers and choreographers. Performances at the State Theater, World Theater, and Target Center inspired Betsy to pursue a career as a professional dancer. A fateful call, from a colleague that needed a substitute for a class at her studio changed everything. Betsy was immediately struck by how rewarding teaching young dancers is.
She soon purchased her first dance studio Joy of Dance Academy. After many successful years, Betsy sold that studio to move to Cuenca, Ecuador where she built American Dance Academy Cuenca from 12 dancers to 110 with a wait-list in the first two years. Now back in Minnesota after eight years in Ecuador, Betsy purchased KLSD and with great passion to inspire dancers, welcomes you to Lake Minnetonka Dance Academy!
Emma SHEPLEY, INSTRUCTOR
Emma was born and raised in Burnsville, Minnesota. Her love of dance began at the young age of three when she walked into her first ballet class at Monique’s School of Dance in Apple Valley. Emma spent twelve years with Monique’s. During her time there, she enjoyed being a part of pieces choreographed by renowned choreographers such as Geno Forliti and Angelo Moio, and being cast as a backup dancer for R&B singer, Alexander O’Neal, at First Avenue in Minneapolis.
Emma transitioned into the competitive dance world at age fifteen when she joined Studio Vibe in Eagan and the Burnsville High School Blazettes (dance team). She also began teaching jazz at Studio Vibe in high school and fell in love with helping students become the best dancers they could be.
Currently, Emma is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Sociology. In addition to teaching dance, she is a former Minnesota Vikings Cheerleading and enjoyed cheering on the best team in the NFL from the sidelines for two seasons. She also assistant coaches the Varsity Jazz Burnsville Blazettes dance team and has loved returning to her Alma mater.
The highlight of her career as a dancer/dance teacher thus far was the 4 months she spent in South Africa in the Spring of 2017. She spent her time there teaching tap dance to kids living in impoverished townships. She is a strong believer that the performing arts is the best way to heal brokenness and spread love.
Kiana carlson-barkalow, Instructor
Originally from Cedar Rapids, Kiana moved to Minneapolis during the spring of 2017. After settling in, Kiana taught at studios including Larkin Dance Studio, CREO Arts & Dance Conservatory, Velocity Dance and Theatre, and Deanne’s Dance Studio. She has also choreographed shows at multiple theatres in the area such as Music Man (Westonka Community Theatre), Annie (Southwest Christian High School), and Scrooge! (Chaska Valley Family Theater). When not in the studio, Kiana also works as the Head Coach for the Southwest Stars Dance Team.
Her personal training was founded in jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, and hip hop, along with private instruction in tap from Sean Kaminski and ballet training from Edith Barragan (former ballerina in the Royal Ballet of Wallonie in Charleroi, Belgium). Kiana has continued her training by dancing at studios such as Broadway Dance Center (NYC), Dance Connection (Palo Alto, CA), Synergy Dance Academy (Colorado Springs, CO) and by attending dance master classes with artists such as Travis Wall, Savion Glover, Greg Russell, Helen Phillips, Kenny Wormald, and Stacey Tookey. She also performed in both the Moscow Ballet & Quad City Ballets Nutcracker, which are a few of her most memorable dance experiences. With choreography from artists such as Shannon Mather (Mather Dance Company) and Kari Herman, Kiana has won numerous regional and national titles as a soloist & duo/trio member. As for her work, Kiana has been recognized at competitions year after year for “Best Choreography” starting at the young age of 15 (Starz Dance Competition). You can also see her work throughout the Midwest which has received both regional and national titles.
Kiana hopes to share her passion for dance with everyone who crosses her path. She believes that dance can always be a part of a person’s life no matter what dreams he or she pursues. “To touch, to move, to inspire. This is the true gift of dance.” - Aubrey Lynch
Emily Johnson, Instructor
Emily Johnson began dancing at the age of two and started competitively dancing at the age of 9. She has trained at various studios including Red River Dance Studio, Dance Connection, Dyan’s World of Dance, and Studio 4 Dancers – winning numerous awards regionally and nationally. Emily is trained in all different styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Hip Hop, and Modern. She has also performed in the Russian Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet Company in 2005.
Along with being a part of a competition studio, she attended the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in High School with a focus in dance. This included performing at various theaters across Minneapolis and receiving dance training from well-known dance companies including TU Dance, and Twin Cities Ballet. She was an assistant dance teacher throughout high school, and after graduating, continued teaching dance to children of all ages. Along with winning as a top overall soloist at numerous competitions regionally and nationally, she has won multiple top awards as a choreographer as well. Emily has been a guest choreographer at JDA Dance Studio and Madison & Co. Dance Studio in Iowa receiving several top awards and choreography awards. While performing and studying dance, she found her passion for working with children of all ages on skills and techniques.
Being a dance instructor isn’t simply about teaching students dances and certain movements; it is about teaching students how to be strong, confident, and well-rounded individuals inside and outside of the studio. Emily’s goal as a teacher and choreographer is to bring movement and emotion to life through dance and hope to inspire students by their own progress and talent.
Melinda Farrell, Guest Artist
Melinda grew up in the Washington DC area. She started training at her mother’s dance studio and went on to study throughout the tri-state area. Melinda moved to NYC in 2002 to attend NYU. Shortly after, she joined the Radio City Rockettes. She has performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and worked as an Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain, and Swing on the show. She also performed in the Spring Spectacular and the Summer Spectacular as a Rockette.
Melinda has also been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, Ellen, Dancing with the Stars, and the TONY Awards. Melinda is passionate about teaching and sharing her experiences with students of all ages. When not performing she travels the country as a guest teacher, she loves dancing with kids of all ages!
Kylie Carlson, instructor
Kylie has an enormous passion for dance and started dancing at the age of three, continuing her training ever since. She has studied all styles of dance extensively, including ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, fusion, tap, and hip-hop. After moving to the Twin Cities from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kylie joined the senior line at Larkin Dance Studio and enjoyed the opportunities she received there. Prior to moving to MN, she danced at various studios, including Cherie’s Dance Studio in Cedar Rapids, City Ballet of Iowa in Iowa City, Nolte Academy of Dance in Coralville, and she also studied ballet privately with Edith Barragon, and Eloy and Sarah Barragon.
Throughout the years, she has won several national titles for solos, duets/trios, and groups, as well as individual technique awards and other awards. She has performed with the Moscow Ballet, and also as an aerialist in the Theatre Cedar Rapids production of The Little Mermaid, receiving aerial training from the original trainers of the Broadway cast, Wicked. Kylie competed in the prestigious Dance Masters of America pageant and won the title of Junior Miss Dance for her chapter, where she went on to place seventh in the nation in Orlando, FL. Additionally, she danced her solo through the several rounds of the 62-year-old Bill Riley Talent Search and won. Kylie has also trained with some of the most well-known choreographers in the country, such as Travis Wall, Mandy Moore, Shannon Mather, Greg Russell, Michele Larkin, and Wildabeast.
Kylie teaches private lessons throughout the area, has worked at Larkin Dance Studio, and is the assistant coach of the Southwest Christian High School dance team, alongside her sister, Kiana. While Kylie loves teaching dance and seeing kids improve, she hopes to continue inspiring others. She believes it’s not only about the love you have for dance but about the way you decide to use your passion. Definitely give it your all, but don’t forget that the kindness you show others is something they’ll remember you for as well.
Lacy Knutson, Instructor
Lacy Knutson is from Rosemount, MN. She started dancing at 3 years old. She has trained in multiple styles including: ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, hip hop and musical theatre, but her favorite is tap. Throughout her elementary, middle and high school days she was actively involved in competition dance at The Dance Connection, both with her teams as well as individually. She also was involved at Rosemount High School in dance shows, onstage and The Modern Company directed by Christina Morris. Lacy started teaching dance in 2003 as a dance teacher assistant and quickly moved to the instructor role and guest artist right after high school. Lacy graduated from UW - River Falls, where she got a bachelors in Communications and a minor in dance. Lacy has taught at Synergy Dance Center for 7 years and is currently teaching at Headline Dance Center also. She has taught both recreational and competitive groups. Her groups and soloists have won multiple top 10 placements as well as choreography/judges choice awards. When Lacy is not teaching dance, she is a registered behavior technician in the Burnsville-Eagan-savage school district or spending time visiting her Fiancé in Mexico. Lacy is so excited to be apart of the Lake Minnetonka Dance Academy Family and to be able to do what she loves everyday!
SOLVEIG CARLSON
Solveig has been involved in dance since the age of four, traveling throughout the country for training and competitions. She has received training in numerous styles, including classical ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre, lyrical, and modern, as well as even square and round dancing. To further her ballet training, she was instructed privately by former ballerina of the Royal Ballet of Wallonie (Charleroi, Belgium), Edith Barragan. Solveig has taken master classes from professionals such as Kenny Wormald, Anthony Morigerato, Savion Glover, Stacey Tookey, Greg Russell, and Mandy Moore and received solo choreography from Shannon Mather. Competitively, as both a solo and trio member, she holds titles as a national dance champion.
When Solveig isn’t teaching dance, she loves acting, dancing, and singing in musical theatre productions, which has led her to be an intern choreographer for Dragonfly Theatre Arts Camp (summer 2021). More recently, Solveig has become part of Caryn Model and Talent Agency, where she has gone into training for commercial acting and modeling.
As a teacher, Solveig desires for people to experience the pleasure of pushing themselves to new limits and learning new skills, all the while, cultivating a love for dance. Dance is so many marvelous things: a method of telling a story, an expression of emotion, a fun way to stay active, and so much more…Solveig believes that above all, dance is a wonderful gift from God, and she aspires to use this gift to bring Him praise and glory.