Coaching Staff
Taylor (Campbell) Varghese (Season 12)
Taylor graduated from EVHS in 2010 and was a 4-year member and senior captain of the LDT. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2014 with a degree in Strategic Communications + Public Relations. While at UMN she was 3- year member and captain of the Premier Dance Team. From 2010-2017 Taylor worked at Just For Kix and Advantage Dance Training as an instructor and choreographer for teams throughout the midwest. Coach Taylor and her husband Josh have two boys, Oliver and Everett. Taylor took over as Head Coach beginning in the 2022-2023 season.
Jessica (Mahr) Padget (Season 19)
Coach Mahr is a graduate from Centennial High School where she was a member and captain of the Dance Team. She went on to the University of Minnesota to obtain her BFA in Dance and later obtained her MBA in secondary education. Jes moved to Los Angeles, CA shortly after college and was the director of the Dance Department and Dance Team coach at TAFT High School. She came back to MN in 2006 and has been with the EVHS Dance Department and LDT ever since. Jes was instructor with Just For Kix for nearly 20 years and has performed with both the Timberwolves and Swarm performance teams. She is the proud mom of twin girls, Jaela and Maelynn.
Toni (Damico) Balliet (Season 14)
Toni is a 2008 graduate of Eastview where she was a member and senior captain of the LDT. She went on to the University of Minnesota to study Communications and was also a member of the Premier Dance Team. Toni was a member of the LDT Coaching Staff throughout college. After graduation, Toni moved to Denver, Colorado where she was a member of the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders and represented the Denver Broncos at many events and appearances. After 4 seasons and a trip to the Superbowl, we are excited she found her way back home. Toni and her husband have a son, Lucca, and 2 daughters, Nika and Luchie. She also owns her own photography business, Antonia Kay Photography.
Ellen Kenney (Season 10)
Ellen graduated from EVHS in 2014 and was a 4-year member and senior captain of the LDT. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2018. Ellen coached during her college years, took two years off and is back for another great season with the LDT! Ellen and her husband, Zach, have two little LDT fans: Owen and Franklin.
Grace Gilbertson (Season 7)
Grace graduated from Brainerd High School in 2013 and was a 5 year member, senior captain, and MVP of the Brainerd Warrior Dance Team. In 2016, she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Public Health. Grace was a 2 year member of the University of Minnesota Premier Dance Team. She was on summer camp staff member and choreographer for Just For Kix and is not a licensed counselor at a treatment facility for youth and adults recovering from substance addiction. Grace joined the LDT staff in 2017.
Katherine Delich (season 5)
Katherine is a 2017 graduate of EVHS where she was a 4-year member and senior captain of the LDT. She earned 6 State Championships while on the team. She went on to dance at the University of Minnesota winning a Jazz National Championship with the team in 2019! Katherine coached our fall program for 3 seasons and we are lucky to have her as a member of the winter coaching staff now.
Fall Coaching Staff
Sophia Hedlund (Season 3)
Grace Kisch (Season 3)
Morgan Peterson (Season 3)
Taylor Huber - Ballet (Season 7)
Taylor Dreyling Huber is a Minnesota native, trained with Classical Ballet Academy (CBA) from 1996 and graduated in 2001. She has received several scholarships to numerous ballet summer intensives such as; Dance Aspen with Jillana, Virginia School of the Arts, Milwaukee Ballet School and Boston Ballet School. Taylor went on to the University of Kansas and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, under dance scholarships. She was a Ballet Minnesota company member from 2001-07 dancing several soloist roles, and guest performed all over the Twin Cities metro. After retirement she became a notable teacher, guest teacher, and private coach with several schools all over the metro. Taylor is an American Ballet Theatre(R) Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT(R) National Training Curriculum. She is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor and a certified Barre Burn instructor for Yoga Fresh in Woodbury.
LDT Former Coaches
Jenny Raiche (20 seasons)
Jenny is a graduate of Totino Grace High School. Jenny has a Bachelor’s degree from Gustavus where she majored in Communication Studies and minored in Business Management, and was also a member, choreographer and student coach of the Gustavus Dance Team. Jenny was the Vice President of Camps and Special Events for Just For Kix and is a former member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader coaching staff. She is the co-founder and director of the Miss Dance Team Minnesota Competition and has trained several Miss Dance Team USA winners. Coach Raiche has been named Minnesota “Coach of the Year” in 2003, 2014, 2020, and 2022. She has been featured in ‘Dance Spirit’ and ‘Dance Teacher’ magazines. Coach Raiche served on the Board of Directors for the MN Association of Dance Teams and on the Activity Advisory Committee for the MN State High School League and was inducted into the Minnesota Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2022, Jenny was the recipient of the 'Breaking Barriers' Award for Minnesota on National Women and Girls in sports day for her advocacy of Dance Team as sport in Minnesota. She was an instructor at Larkin Dance Studio from 2007-2015.
Shannen Jilek (13 seasons)
Shannen was a graduate of Eastview High School where she was a 4 year member and senior captain of the Lightning Dance Team. She went on to dance at the University of Minnesota as a member of their Dance Team winning a National Championship. Shannen coached for the LDT from 2006-2019. Her and husband Scott, along with their two children Jack and Liv now reside in Dallas, TX but are always cheering on the LDT from the south!
Tina Range (10 seasons)
Tina was a member of the Lightning Dance Team for 4 years in high school, and took on the role of B-Squad Jazz coach in 2010. Contributing to many different area of our program, Tina coached for 10 seasons and left a huge impact on so many. She is a talented digital media director and works with the KDWB morning show and iHeart media.
Shelby Feddema (7 seasons)
Shelby is a native of St. Cloud, MN where she danced at St Cloud School of Dance and was a member of the St Cloud Tech Tigerettes. She was Miss Dance Team Minnesota in 2010 and went on to win the national title of Miss Dance Drill Team USA in 2011. She attended the University of Minnesota where she was a captain and a 6-time national champion with the U of M Dance Team. She is on staff at Larkin Dance Studio and was the choreographer for the group ' The Trilogy' on Season 3 of NBC's World Of Dance! Shelby coached for the LDT from 2014-2021.
Molly (Campbell) Muehlbauer (3 seasons)
Molly was a 2016 graduate of EVHS and the Lightning Dance Team. Molly won 5 state titles during her time on the team and earned a spot on Team MN all 4 years of high school. She is a student at the University of Minnesota and was a 2 year member and won 2 national championships with the U of M Dance Team.
Gen Adler (3 seasons with LDT) – Fall Coach
Genevieve graduated from Burnsville High School where she was a member and captain of the Dance Team, winning a state title. She is also a graduate of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. For seven years, Genevieve was the Varsity Head Coach of the Lakeville South Cougar Dance Team, where she led the team to compete in six State Tournament events (both Jazz and High Kick). During her time as Varsity Head Coach, she was active in MADT, serving as a MADT convention instructor and co-authoring several MADT proposals. She is the owner of New Frontier Lawn Care and mom to two kids, Abby and Jack. In her free time, she loves to travel and hopes to see as much of the world as possible.
Libbie Yung ( 3 Seasons)
Libbie Yung grew up dancing at Studio 4 for eleven years. She joined the Eastview Lightning Dance Team where she was a lettered varsity member, a senior captain, 5 time State Champion and received several stand out awards. Along with coaching and instructing dancers, she is an incoming senior at the University of St. Thomas, studying marketing with a minor in psychology. She has furthered her dance career by becoming a proud member and captain of the St. Thomas dance team, and has earned 4 national championships as a Tommie!
Taylor graduated from EVHS in 2010 and was a 4-year member and senior captain of the LDT. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2014 with a degree in Strategic Communications + Public Relations. While at UMN she was 3- year member and captain of the Premier Dance Team. From 2010-2017 Taylor worked at Just For Kix and Advantage Dance Training as an instructor and choreographer for teams throughout the midwest. Coach Taylor and her husband Josh have two boys, Oliver and Everett. Taylor took over as Head Coach beginning in the 2022-2023 season.
Jessica (Mahr) Padget (Season 19)
Coach Mahr is a graduate from Centennial High School where she was a member and captain of the Dance Team. She went on to the University of Minnesota to obtain her BFA in Dance and later obtained her MBA in secondary education. Jes moved to Los Angeles, CA shortly after college and was the director of the Dance Department and Dance Team coach at TAFT High School. She came back to MN in 2006 and has been with the EVHS Dance Department and LDT ever since. Jes was instructor with Just For Kix for nearly 20 years and has performed with both the Timberwolves and Swarm performance teams. She is the proud mom of twin girls, Jaela and Maelynn.
Toni (Damico) Balliet (Season 14)
Toni is a 2008 graduate of Eastview where she was a member and senior captain of the LDT. She went on to the University of Minnesota to study Communications and was also a member of the Premier Dance Team. Toni was a member of the LDT Coaching Staff throughout college. After graduation, Toni moved to Denver, Colorado where she was a member of the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders and represented the Denver Broncos at many events and appearances. After 4 seasons and a trip to the Superbowl, we are excited she found her way back home. Toni and her husband have a son, Lucca, and 2 daughters, Nika and Luchie. She also owns her own photography business, Antonia Kay Photography.
Ellen Kenney (Season 10)
Ellen graduated from EVHS in 2014 and was a 4-year member and senior captain of the LDT. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2018. Ellen coached during her college years, took two years off and is back for another great season with the LDT! Ellen and her husband, Zach, have two little LDT fans: Owen and Franklin.
Grace Gilbertson (Season 7)
Grace graduated from Brainerd High School in 2013 and was a 5 year member, senior captain, and MVP of the Brainerd Warrior Dance Team. In 2016, she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Public Health. Grace was a 2 year member of the University of Minnesota Premier Dance Team. She was on summer camp staff member and choreographer for Just For Kix and is not a licensed counselor at a treatment facility for youth and adults recovering from substance addiction. Grace joined the LDT staff in 2017.
Katherine Delich (season 5)
Katherine is a 2017 graduate of EVHS where she was a 4-year member and senior captain of the LDT. She earned 6 State Championships while on the team. She went on to dance at the University of Minnesota winning a Jazz National Championship with the team in 2019! Katherine coached our fall program for 3 seasons and we are lucky to have her as a member of the winter coaching staff now.
Fall Coaching Staff
Sophia Hedlund (Season 3)
Grace Kisch (Season 3)
Morgan Peterson (Season 3)
Taylor Huber - Ballet (Season 7)
Taylor Dreyling Huber is a Minnesota native, trained with Classical Ballet Academy (CBA) from 1996 and graduated in 2001. She has received several scholarships to numerous ballet summer intensives such as; Dance Aspen with Jillana, Virginia School of the Arts, Milwaukee Ballet School and Boston Ballet School. Taylor went on to the University of Kansas and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, under dance scholarships. She was a Ballet Minnesota company member from 2001-07 dancing several soloist roles, and guest performed all over the Twin Cities metro. After retirement she became a notable teacher, guest teacher, and private coach with several schools all over the metro. Taylor is an American Ballet Theatre(R) Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT(R) National Training Curriculum. She is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor and a certified Barre Burn instructor for Yoga Fresh in Woodbury.
LDT Former Coaches
Jenny Raiche (20 seasons)
Jenny is a graduate of Totino Grace High School. Jenny has a Bachelor’s degree from Gustavus where she majored in Communication Studies and minored in Business Management, and was also a member, choreographer and student coach of the Gustavus Dance Team. Jenny was the Vice President of Camps and Special Events for Just For Kix and is a former member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader coaching staff. She is the co-founder and director of the Miss Dance Team Minnesota Competition and has trained several Miss Dance Team USA winners. Coach Raiche has been named Minnesota “Coach of the Year” in 2003, 2014, 2020, and 2022. She has been featured in ‘Dance Spirit’ and ‘Dance Teacher’ magazines. Coach Raiche served on the Board of Directors for the MN Association of Dance Teams and on the Activity Advisory Committee for the MN State High School League and was inducted into the Minnesota Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2022, Jenny was the recipient of the 'Breaking Barriers' Award for Minnesota on National Women and Girls in sports day for her advocacy of Dance Team as sport in Minnesota. She was an instructor at Larkin Dance Studio from 2007-2015.
Shannen Jilek (13 seasons)
Shannen was a graduate of Eastview High School where she was a 4 year member and senior captain of the Lightning Dance Team. She went on to dance at the University of Minnesota as a member of their Dance Team winning a National Championship. Shannen coached for the LDT from 2006-2019. Her and husband Scott, along with their two children Jack and Liv now reside in Dallas, TX but are always cheering on the LDT from the south!
Tina Range (10 seasons)
Tina was a member of the Lightning Dance Team for 4 years in high school, and took on the role of B-Squad Jazz coach in 2010. Contributing to many different area of our program, Tina coached for 10 seasons and left a huge impact on so many. She is a talented digital media director and works with the KDWB morning show and iHeart media.
Shelby Feddema (7 seasons)
Shelby is a native of St. Cloud, MN where she danced at St Cloud School of Dance and was a member of the St Cloud Tech Tigerettes. She was Miss Dance Team Minnesota in 2010 and went on to win the national title of Miss Dance Drill Team USA in 2011. She attended the University of Minnesota where she was a captain and a 6-time national champion with the U of M Dance Team. She is on staff at Larkin Dance Studio and was the choreographer for the group ' The Trilogy' on Season 3 of NBC's World Of Dance! Shelby coached for the LDT from 2014-2021.
Molly (Campbell) Muehlbauer (3 seasons)
Molly was a 2016 graduate of EVHS and the Lightning Dance Team. Molly won 5 state titles during her time on the team and earned a spot on Team MN all 4 years of high school. She is a student at the University of Minnesota and was a 2 year member and won 2 national championships with the U of M Dance Team.
Gen Adler (3 seasons with LDT) – Fall Coach
Genevieve graduated from Burnsville High School where she was a member and captain of the Dance Team, winning a state title. She is also a graduate of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. For seven years, Genevieve was the Varsity Head Coach of the Lakeville South Cougar Dance Team, where she led the team to compete in six State Tournament events (both Jazz and High Kick). During her time as Varsity Head Coach, she was active in MADT, serving as a MADT convention instructor and co-authoring several MADT proposals. She is the owner of New Frontier Lawn Care and mom to two kids, Abby and Jack. In her free time, she loves to travel and hopes to see as much of the world as possible.
Libbie Yung ( 3 Seasons)
Libbie Yung grew up dancing at Studio 4 for eleven years. She joined the Eastview Lightning Dance Team where she was a lettered varsity member, a senior captain, 5 time State Champion and received several stand out awards. Along with coaching and instructing dancers, she is an incoming senior at the University of St. Thomas, studying marketing with a minor in psychology. She has furthered her dance career by becoming a proud member and captain of the St. Thomas dance team, and has earned 4 national championships as a Tommie!