Shasta Zentz (owner/ instructor/ choreographer)
Shasta is originally from the Shawano area. She started dancing in Green Bay for the Anne Renier Dance Academy at age three and has been dancing ever since! She has studied dance in places such as Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, Australia and Hawaii.
Shasta achieved her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Psychology along with a minor in Dance at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. During college she taught at North Crest Gymnastics and Dance of St. Cloud where her students competed and took trips to study dance in New York. She taught at this studio for five years. Shasta also worked at a vocational setting for people with disabilities where she created movement programs to open up the art of dance to as many people as possible. In her spare time, Shasta taught for the Multicultural Dance Ensemble of Minnesota, bringing the art of hip hop to rural communities. She also did choreography and sometimes appeared as a guest performer for the Minnesota Dance Ensemble.
After college Shasta ventured to Fargo, North Dakota where she taught at Dance Studio Elite. She taught here and competed for three years.
For the past 16 years Shasta has been running Shuffles. Today her focus is strictly on Shuffles recreational classes and working with the non-profit Shuffles Performance Team, who frequently perform at community events and gatherings and competitions. Some of the members of the team have had the opportunity to perform at parades at Disney World, dance at the Grand Ol' Opry in Nashville, and dance on Broadway and Times Square in New York City!
In Shasta's spare time, she enjoys walleye fishing with her husband on the Bay & riding her motorcycle. Her ultimate goal is to open up the fine arts to as many people in the community as possible.
Alissa Vande Hei (dance instructor/ choreographer/ studio manager/ non-profit coordinator)
Alissa grew up in Shawano, Wisconsin where she started her dance career through community classes at the age of five. Four years later she enrolled at Shuffles Studio of Dance where she competed, taught, and performed until she graduated from Shawano Community High School. During her summers throughout school she had the opportunity to teach dance through Summer School for the Shawano School District.
Alissa has danced in places such as Minneapolis, Chicago, and Walt Disney World and hopes to continue to broaden her performance experience to more places around the US, and around the world.
After high school, Alissa went to school at UWGB where she studied developmental psychology and education. During the day, Alissa now is a teacher at Shawano Community High School and a mom!
Alissa is thrilled to be teaching at Shuffles and working with Shuffles Performance Team.
Dannie Mauel (tumbling instructor/ tumbling program coordinator)
Hello, My name is Dannie Jo Mauel. I am from the Clintonville area where I graduated in 2010. I come from a competitive cheerleading background.
I started at Wolf River Stars in New London. After 2 years I switched to Ultimate Fusion Athletics out of Appleton where my team and I became National Champions.
After High School I coached the St. Martins Cheerleading team. They had an end of the year competition between the local private schools where I lead them to a 1st place victory! The year after that I tried to get the Clintonville High School Cheerleading team back together. I was able to teach them cheers, routines and stunts! I had moved on to my adulthood careers and took a break from my cheerleading background. Within these years I became a mother of 2 kids and got married.
Now I work for the Clintonville Elementary School as a Paraprofessional and Coach tumbling, tricks and stunts at Shuffles Studio of Dance. I love to teach all ages and watch them grow as a tumbler. Their excitement and determination is what I live for! My oldest daughter is a dancer at the studio as well and takes after me in being competitive.
Keonna Lindner (instructor/ choreographer)
Hi, my name is Keonna Lindner I’m originally from Shawano WI but went to school in Gresham WI.
I was in dance for about 14 years and 11 of those years I was here at Shuffles Studio of Dance! My teachers were Shasta and Michelle. I danced alongside Miss Alissa for a lot of my years at Shuffles and find it so awesome that we’re all able to teach together and share our love of dance with all the kiddos and parents!
Aside from me working here at the studio I also work night shift at performance foods. When I’m not working I like reading, hanging out with my friends, family and my cat Gypsy and relaxing while watching
a good show or movie.
Morgan Staszak (assistant instructor/ choreographer)
Morgan is a Senior at Bonduel High School. Morgan has been dancing at Shuffles just about as long as she's been alive!
She has been apprenticing closely with Miss Shasta for the past year to learn the tap curriculum and what it takes to be a great instructor! She taught her first tap class by herself this past summer and we are happy to announce she is ready to teach the 3-4 and 5-6 year old tap classes! We are super-excited for the extra help, especially with the new addition of the tumbling room!
In her spare time, Morgan does track, golf and is very active with animals and the FFA! We're thrilled to have her as a student and an instructor that the dancers can look up to and ask questions!
