Get To Know Us
Kelsey Lagerman
Co-President Kelsey Lagerman is a senior in the College of Business studying Marketing and Information Technology. She is anticipated to graduate in 2016. Kelsey trained with the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy from age 8 until her senior year in high school. She has appeared in several of the Milwaukee Ballet Company's performances including Michael Pink's "The Nutcracker", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Cinderella". In high school Kelsey had the pleasure of dancing several lead roles in productions put on by the Milwaukee Ballet School including, the Snow Queen and The Queen of Hearts. |
Fun Fact: "I was born on the 4th of July." |
McKayla Figueroa
Co-President McKayla Figueroa is a junior from Waukesha WI, studying Athletic Training and Physical Therapy. She has been dancing at a studio doing jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop since the age of 3. McKayla attended Accent on Dance in Waukesha where she competed with the company. The company won national championships in the ballet and contemporary categories. Awards were also won in categories such as, best emotion, best staging, and “Divas in Heels.” Along with the studio company, McKayla was on the dance team since middle school where she was announced captain in 8th grade. In high school she made varsity freshman year and was a part of that team through junior year. The team competed at the state level and placed third in pom the last two years. |
Fun Fact: "I sang at Carnegie Hall with my high school choir." |
Katie Orfei
Secretary Katie Orfei is 19 years old and a sophomore at Marquette University. Katie is majoring in Exercise Physiology and was directly admitted into the Doctoral Physical Therapy program. Her anticipated graduation year is May 2018 for completion of her undergraduate degree, and May of 2020 after completing the Physical Therapy program. Katie has been dancing for sixteen years. She has done a wide variety of dance genres including jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, contemporary, and hip-hop. Katie competed in dance for thirteen years, most recently with Studio Spotlight Productions Dance Studio located in Eagan, Minnesota. She joined Pure during her first semester at Marquette because she wanted to continue dancing for her own personal enjoyment. Katie loves going to practice because she knows it will always be full of laughter and hard work. Katie have been dancing her entire life, and she couldn’t imagine just quitting after graduating from high school. |
Fun Fact: "My favorite kind of ice cream is coffee flavored." |
Haley Hornsberger
Publicity Coordinator Haley Hornsberger is a junior at Marquette University in the College of Communication, studying Advertising with a minor in Marketing. Her anticipated graduation year is 2017. Haley became a member of Pure Dance Marquette because of her passion for dance. Dance has been apart of her life for 14 years and she is not ready to let it go. Haley started off dancing at a community center, but as she became more serious about her dance career she switched over to Dance Motions Inc. At this time, she was competing and performing in dance recitals and musicals. As she began moving into her high school years she started researching the dance team at Streamwood High School. Haley ended up dancing with the high school team for 4 years and was a captain her senior year. Coming to Marquette she wanted to continue dancing, but her main goal was to stay focused on her education, and Pure Dance Marquette lets her do that. |
Fun Fact: "I am obsessed with Toy Story. Buzz and Woody are the coolest kids in town." |
Vanessa Papenthien
Treasurer Vanessa Papenthien is 19 years old and a junior at Marquette University. Vanessa is in the College of Nursing and will graduate in spring of 2016. She started out doing Irish dance when she was in first grade, when one of her friends told her how fun it was. As soon as she started, she knew dance was going to be something she would enjoy for the rest of my life. In middle school, Vanessa decided she was going to join the dance team in high school, so she stopped Irish dancing and switched to traditional dance. Vanessa ended up making her dance team freshman year and continued it throughout her high school career. |
Fun Fact: "I love irish Dancing" |
Carolyn Milligan
Social Chair Carolyn Milligan is a senior studying Communication Studies and Spanish. Carolyn danced at the "School of Classical Ballet and Dance" in Des Moines for 12 years. She also danced in various ballets, including "The Nutcracker," "Peter Pan," and "Alice in wonderland." This is her second year on Pure Dance Marquette and she loves it. |
Fun Fact: "My obsessions include the color pink, puppies, and Pure!" |
Hillary Ahola
Hillary has danced for Jean Wolfmeyer School of Dance from second grade to her senior year of high school. She was in the Senior Company throughout her four years of high school and was the Rose Soloist in The Nutcracker for her studio. She received a scholarship at the CNADM Forum in seventh grade. She has attended numerous dance intensives in the Chicago Area. Hilary took classes at the Milwaukee Ballet during the summer before her senior year of high school. During high school, she was on the dance team for all four years, and the captain for both her junior and senior year. Hillary was the co-president of Pure during her junior and senior year at Marquette. This is her fifth year on Pure!! |
Fun Fact: "I graduated from Marquette University in May 2014 with BS in Biomedical Sciences. I am now attending Physician Assistant School! I'm so glad to be back." |
Nadiya Choi
Nadiya danced for a total of 11 years at a studio and has studied ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and character. In high school, she made the poms team and Orchesis company which was a part of during her whole high school career. She couldn't imagine just quitting after high school which is why she decided to join Pure here at Marquette. |
Fun Fact: "I know sign language." |
Nicole DeSantis
Nicole DeSantis is a Biomedical Sciences major with a minor in Psychology. She danced ballet, pointe, jazz and lyrical at Central Wisconsin School of Ballet and at the Wausau Dance Theatre for 15 years. Nicole performed lead roles such as the Snow Queen, Dew Drop Fairy and Clara in "The Nutcracker" and danced along with professionals as the Fairy Fauna in "Sleeping Beauty". She also went on performing with the company at various cities across the country. Nicole has now been a member of Pure Dance Marquette for 3 years. |
Fun Fact: I was born five weeks early at 11:36pm on August 25th, which is the same day that three of my relatives were born." |
Kimberly Harris
Kimberly has been dancing since she was 7 years old. She has danced at a studio her whole dance career. Also, she was a part of her school's Orchesis Dance Company all four years of high school and was Captain her senior year. Over the years, she has trained in various styles including: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and lyrical. Her favorite style of dance is contemporary and she loves to perform on stage! |
Fun Fact: "I'm an identical twin!" |
Ally Holbach
Ally Holbach is a senior at Marquette in the College of Nursing. She will be graduating in the Spring of 2016 with a BSN degree in Nursing. Ally has been a dancer since the age of 3. She began competitive dancing at age 7, and continued to compete all through high school. Ally was on her high school's Varsity Dance Team for 4 years, and was the Co-Captain her Junior year, and the Captain her Senior year. She has now been a member of Pure Dance Marquette for three years and loves it! Ally became a member of Pure Dance because she wanted to be able to continue her dancing skills throughout college as a means of exercise, as well as to be able to continue her passion for dancing. |
Fun Fact: "I live on a small tree and pumpkin farm in norther Illinois." |
Casey Houlihan
Casey Houlihan is a junior at Marquette University studying Exercise Physiology. She is enrolled in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program, and is working towards a dance minor. Casey is anticipated to get her undergraduate degree in 2017, and graduate with her physical therapy degree in 2019. After graduation, she hopes to be a physical therapist for dancers. She has been dancing since age 4 at a studio in Tinley Park. Ballet is her favorite style of dance, but she has also studied other dance styles from contemporary to African dance. Casey was also a member of the poms team in high school. |
Fun Fact: "My favorite food is macaroni and cheese." |
Anya Lei Koza
When Anya was 3 years old, she begged her mom to join a ballet class...and she has been dancing ever since! Salt Creek Ballet (under artistic directors S. Kozadayev and Z. Dubrovskaya) American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive (under international guest faculty and ABT's JKO school faculty) – NY location, summer 2015 River North Dance College/Professional Summer Intensive (under Riv.North Faculty and their company members) – summer 2015 Training includes: ballet, pointe, pas de deux, Horton technique (modern), contemporary jazz, character, hip-hop, and musical theatre. |
Fun Fact: "My middle name - Lei - is Chinese for “flower bud.” |
Whitney Madeen
Whitney Madeen is 21 years old and is currently a senior majoring in International Affairs with her focus being in Peace Studies. She will be graduating in May of 2016. Whitney has been dancing since she was 3. Originally, it was just recreational classes with one recital. In first grade, she tried out and made it onto a competitive team at her studio and entered the crazy competitive dance world. Her sophomore year of high school, she tried out and made it onto team USA for the World Championships of Performing Arts, where she was to compete against talent from all over the world. Whitney also got to try out modeling and acting in preparation for the competition. She danced competitively until she graduated high school. Her freshman year of college she attended UW-Milwaukee where she was a dance major. She transferred to Marquette and joined Pure Dance Marquette. |
Fun Fact: "Hippos are my favorite animal and can drink a whole gallon of chocolate milk in one sitting." |
Julia Markun
Julia Markun is a senior at Marquette majoring in Public Relations and Spanish. Julia will hopefully graduate in May of 2016. She is 21 years old and has been dancing since the age of 3. She grew up dancing all styles of dance in many studios, and has danced with the Tazwood Dance Company at Illinois Central College and competed with the Water Street Dance Company. After coming to Marquette, Julia joined the Marquette University Dance Team, however she wanted a more laid back environment where she could dance for fun and meet other girls. Julia announces her favorite styles of dance as modern and pointe, which is reflected in the two dances she is choreographing this semester! |
Fun Fact: "My dream job is to work at Disney, specifically as the disney princess Belle." |
Alyssa Miller
Alyssa Miller is 23 years old and is on her sixth year at Marquette. Alyssa graduated in 2014 from Athletic Training, and is now studying Physical Therapy. In May of 2016 she will finally be finished with everything! Alyssa has been dancing since she was 2 years old and loved it ever since! In 7th grade, she joined her middle school dance team and became the captain in 8th grade. She also started competing at a studio in 8th grade and continued that throughout high school. In high school, Alyssa was a member of the varsity dance team for 4 years, and was captain her senior year. When she came to Marquette, she knew she wanted to continue dancing, so she was very excited when making Pure Dance Marquette freshman year! Pure Dance allows her to grow as a dancer and share her passion. |
Fun Fact: "Squirrels are my favorite animal." |
Kate Moffatt
Kate Moffat is a sophomore studying Civil Engineering and this is her first year on Pure. She has danced at a studio since she was 3 years old and later joined a competition team. She was on the Duchenese Academy Dance Team in high school. |
Fun Fact: "One time a dresser fell on top of me." |
Nicky Owens
Nicky Owens is a Biomedical Sciences major at Marquette University. She was on her middle school dance team for 2 years and made the varsity dance team in high school for all 4 years. Her team attended the state championship all 4 years and placed third twice. She also attended Accent on Dance for her senior year. |
Fun Fact: "My family named our dogs after some of our favorite television and movie characters." |
Brittany Phelps
Brittany Phelps is a junior expected to graduate in 2017. Brittany is studying Science and DPT2. She started dancing when she was 3 in the styles of ballet and tap, however, since then, she has also studied jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, musical theater, pointe, character, and modern. Brittany has danced in many small shows throughout her years as a dancer, as well as with some bigger companies such as the Moscow Ballet. |
Fun Fact: "I am terrified of grasshoppers and crickets." |
Rosie Rains
Rosie Rains is a Construction Engineering and Mathematics major at Marquette. She began dancing sophomore year in high school when she discovered a passion. Since then, she has been on her high school dance performance team and the pom team. Additionally, she has been training at a studio in all types of dance. After her junior year in high school, she found a love for the New York Rockette's style of dancing and has been dancing ever since. |
Fun Fact: "I am the only dancer in the Marquette University NROTC program." |
Grace Rivelli
Grace Rivelli is 19 years old, and is a sophomore studying Public Relations in the Diederich School of Communications. Her anticipated graduation date is May 2018. This is her first year on Pure. Her dance background began at Salt Creek Ballet, which is located in Westmont, Illinois, where she danced for 13 years under the instruction of Artistic Directors, Sergey Kozadayev and Zhanna Dubrovskaya. At Salt Creek Ballet Grace primarily danced ballet and pointe, as well as contemporary, modern, jazz, character, flamenco, hip-hop, musical theatre and ballet acting. Grace performed in many productions at Salt Creek Ballet, such as The Nutcracker, Carnival of the Animals, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, andSwan Lake. Not only has she performed in ballet productions, but also musicals, such as Hello Dolly, Cinderella, Honk, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Fame, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Aladdin, Rent, Peter Pan, Grease, and Beauty and the Beast. In high school she danced on the JV dance team for 2 years, and the Varsity Football dance team for 2 years. Grace decided to be a member of Pure Dance Marquette because the time commitment is very flexible, and she wanted to continue dancing and performing on stage. |
Fun Fact: "I have a nephew/godson who is a year and a half." |