Burnsville Blazettes
Dance Team
Burnsville Blazette 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, tap, jazz, 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 dance team from 7th-9th grade in Burnsville. 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 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's degree in English Literature and minors in dance and psychology.
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 is a Paramedic, the Aquatics Coordinator for ISD 191, and the Assistant Director of Shana's Dance Studio in Savage.
Fall Head Coach
Courtney Kruse
Courtney Kruse began her dance career in kindergarten with Just For Kix. She spent 6 years as a
member of the Farmington High School Dance Team, competing in jazz and high kick, and 4 years as a
Varsity Sideline Cheerleader. She has since coached Fall Dance Teams for both Farmington High School in 2017 and the Burnsville Blazettes in 2019!
Courtney graduated from Inver Hills with an Associates Degree in Nursing in 2019. She then worked at Mayo Clinic as a Registered Nurse while obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She currently works for M Health Fairview as an ICU Nurse, and a Critical Care Nurse Educator.
In her free time, Courtney enjoys spending time with Cash, her Bernese Mountain Dog, going to concerts,
and spending time with friends over coffee!
Fall Assistant Coach
Hannah Anderson
Fall Assistant Coach
Hannah Anderson 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 & 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 Bachelors 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 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.
