Burnsville Blazettes
Dance Team
Burnsville Blazette Dance Team Coaches
Megan Thomas
Winter Varsity Head Coach
Megan Thomas is a 2014 graduate from Burnsville where she spent 4 years as a member of the Blazettes. Placing 3rd at state in kick her junior year on the team. Megan was an All State Kick dancer her junior and senior years and also received the Blazette award her senior year of being on the team. This will be her tenth consecutive year returning to coach the Blazettes. She previously coached the JV team for four years prior to becoming Varsity Head Coach in 2019. This season Megan is a Co Head Coach for Winter Varsity Blazettes. Megan is dedicated to her Blazette dancers and her she is commitment to helping her dancers grow individually and as a team. Megan's growth mindset and continuous improvement approach is a driving force behind the Blazettes team!
"I cannot wait to see the improvement of your daughters in not only their dancing skills, but life skills that come along with being a part of this amazing team!"
Alyssa McKeag
Alyssa Sinclair graduated from Burnsville High School in 2014 where she danced on the varsity dance team all 4 years she was on the team and was an All-Conference and All-State Jazz dancer her senior year. Her favorite moment was dancing at state her junior year and dancing “House of the Rising Sun” her senior year at sections. After high school she went to University of Minnesota Duluth where she graduated with her B.A in Elementary & Special Education in 2018. Alyssa will start her first teaching job in 2019 at Hastings Middle School teaching special education! Alyssa started coaching in 2018 with JV Blazettes. Alyssa is focused and is an expert in her attention to details in all aspects of planning preparing and developing dancers for a successful season!
This season Alyssa is back as a Co Head Coach for Winter Varsity Blazettes.
Winter Varsity Head Coach
AnnMarie Engebretson
AnnMarie graduated from Burnsville High School in 2015. AnnMarie grew up dancing competitively at Center Stage Dance Studio where she had the opportunity to train in multiple genres of dance. In high school, she spent 4 fall seasons and 3 winter seasons on the Varsity Blazettes. Her favorite memories of being a Blazette were placing 3rd in state with her team, as well as being an All State Jazz dancer her senior year. AnnMarie studied at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she graduated with her B.A in Elementary Education in 2019. There she enjoyed dancing on the Gustavus Adolphus College Dance Team, singing in choir, and working in the coffee shop and book store on campus. AnnMarie has extensive experience teacheing dance both in studio as well as for high school dance teams. AnnMarie is excited to be back with this amazing team and to be part of the Blazette Legacy and we are thrilled to have AnnMarie who is truly "All In" when it comes to coaching!
Winter JV Head Coach
Soponnie Phan
Soponnie is back for her 5th year as a Winter JV Blazette Coach! Soponnie grew up dancing and trained at a competitive studio since the age of 6.
In 2010 she joined the Blazettes Dance team and spent the next 3 years dancing with the team. Soponnie is proud to be part of the Blazette Legacy and is a big part in the success of her team.
As a Blazette, Soponnie and her team had multiple years they made it to the state tournament, including her senior year placing 3rd in State for High Kick. Soponnie was on the Varsity Jazz team for all 3 years and Varsity Kick for 2 years. She brings strength, skill and expert knowledge as a coach but Soponnie is also known for brining creativity, positivity, and passion into teaching the Blazettes and her energy and attitude makes her so adored by the dancer she coaches.
When Soponnie is not coaching withthe Blazettes she can be found at Spalon Montage Salon and Spa in Edina where she works as a hairstylist.
Winter JV Head Coach
Jessi Mosley
JESSI MOSLEY began dancing at the age of 3. She was trained at Monique School of Dance in ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, tap, jazz, hip hop, Broadway, and was a member of the performance company. One of her favorite memories is dancing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jessi participated in the Burnsville Dance Team from 7th-9th grade. While attending Burnsville High School, Jessi was a performer, co-choreographer, and assistant director for numerous musicals and plays. She was the president of the BHS theatre department her junior and senior years. After graduating, Jessi choreographed for the Burnsville High School theater department from 2003-2016.
Jessi attended college at the University of MN-Duluth where she choreographed and danced in many shows and productions and was an active member of Attitudes Dance Association and Barebones Dance Concerts.
Jessi had an internship teaching ballet at UMD and took a mixture of technique, choreography, and dance
history classes. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Minors in Dance and
Psychology. Jessi then went on to attend Inver Hill’s Community College where she graduated with an
Associate’s Degree in Paramedicine.
Jessi coached the Duluth Central Trojanette Dance Team from 2004-2005, the Eagan Wildcats Dance Team
from 2007-2010, the Nicollet Middle School Dance Team in Burnsville from 2010-2011, the Apple Valley
AVaire Dance Team from 2017-2019, and the Burnsville Blazette Dance Team in 2016 and 2019-present.
Jessi was the Assistant Director of Shana’s Dance Studio in Savage from 2009-2023 where she taught
dancers from ages 3-adult and helped run the Performing Lines.
Jessi is a Paramedic and Preceptor for M Health Fairview and Aquatics Coordinator and substitute Preschool
Teacher for ISD 191. In her free time, Jessi loves to travel, read, plan dinners with friends, and be a cat mom to Maizie and Lenore.
Fall Head Coach
Hannah Alderson
HANNAH ALDERSON began dancing in 5th grade after attending a youth clinic with the Apple Valley AVaire Dance Team and falling in love with the high kick style of dance. Hannah attended Valley Middle School where she was on their competitive cheer team prior and middle school's dance team. Hannah was then invited to try out for the Apple Valley AVaire Dance Team when she was in 8th grade, becoming the first 8th grader to be a part of their program. Hannah was a member of the AVaire Dance Team for 5 years and was a captain for 2 years. While on the team, she was a member of the 2018 All-State Kick team and named Most Valuable Dancer.
Hannah attended college at the University of Wisconsin - Stout to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation with a Minor in Psychology. Hannah currently works as a Mental Health
Social Worker throughout Dakota County. Hannah enjoys the fast-paced and ever-changing environment of her job and uses the core skills she learned while on the high school dance team.
When not working or coaching, you can find Hannah working on her house she recently bought in St. Paul, hanging out with her cat, Beans, auditioning for various professional dance teams within the twin cities, or attending contemporary, technique, pom, hip-hop, jazz funk, or heels at Klass MPLS.
Fall Assistant Coach
Maggie Culp
Fall Assistant Coach
MAGGIE CULP was trained at Larkin Dance Studio, Butterfield Gallery of Dance, Terps Performing Arts Center, and Pat Peare School of Dance as a competitive dancer for 12 years winning many awards including Pulse Convention Scholarships from Brian Friedman and Cris Judd, Missouri’s Dance Idol, Symposium’s Terpsichorean, Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Winner, Statewide’s Performer of Excellence, Jr. Miss Showbiz, Miss Starpower, and Young Miss of America.
Maggie graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business. She founded, coached, and performed on the Webster University Dance Team and was a member of the Webster University Ensemble. She has studied in Boston, Chicago, Kansas, New York, Florida and Las Vegas, as a teacher and as a performer.
After college, Maggie returned to Minneapolis and began her professional career as a dancer and celebrity impersonator in Mythology. Since then, she has been featured in Macy’s Glamorama performing with Big &
Rich at the Orpheum and Chicago State Theatre, toured with Kat Perkins and appeared on the reality show Full Throttle Saloon.
Combining the love of dance, theatre, photography, music, and the arts, Maggie created her dance/theatre company, M-SHE Productions in 2012. Maggie has been fortunate enough to create seven full length original theatrical dance shows. M-SHE Productions has performed for corporate events, Treasure Island Casino, Can Can Wonderland, The Phipps Center for the Arts, Ballet Minnesota, The Minnesota Fringe
Festival, The Pour House in Minneapolis, The Minnesota Opera and has been recognized as a RAW Artist of Minnesota.
Maggie performs with Enticing Entertainment at a variety of different events throughout MN. She choreographs and has been a featured performer with Divas Entertainment for corporate and private events. She is also a highly respected 'senior' member of Sole to Soul choreographing and performing as a company member, backup dancer, lead, and model for major productions at local community events as well
as large national/international hair and fashion productions. She shares her talents as an instructor of ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, gymnastics, and baton at competitive studios throughout the twin cities. She has been recognized with national champion dances, photography
awards, choreography awards, judge’s choice awards, encore performances, high points, and her students have received scholarships to dance across the nation.
Maddy Stelter
Fall Assistant Coach
MADDY STELTER began dancing and gymnastics at the age of 3. Maddy was trained at Northwest
Gymnastics and North Crest Gymnastics & Dance. During high school, Maddy competed in both club gymnastics and with Park Center High School’s Varsity Gymnastics Team. Maddy studied dance at both North Crest and Dancin’ on Broadway, training in ballet, tap and jazz. Maddy has coached gymnastics, dance, acro, and tumbling, and specializes in creating floor routines.
Maddy graduated from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2021. She works alongside Coach Jessi at M Health Fairview Ridges in the Emergency Room as a Registered Nurse.
Maddy enjoys many different hobbies such as Jiu Jitsu, adult gymnastics classes, and knitting. She can also be found hanging out with her husband, Ian and their tiny dog, Willow!
