Chaska Dance Center
Chaska Dance Center at Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Dr, Chaska, MN 55318
About
Chaska Dance Center offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, dance line, musical theatre, and creative movement. The program welcomes dancers of all ages and provides classes for children and adults, including preschool, elementary, teen, and adult options.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes run on a 2026–2027 calendar, beginning September 8, with breaks in late December and March, a dress rehearsal week starting May 3, normal classes the week of May 10, and recitals on May 14–15.
Chaska Dance Center is celebrating its 43rd year of bringing dance to the community and was founded as the Chaska School of Dance in 1984 by Mary Pieper. The studio is owned and directed by Miss Jenny (Jenny Pantano). Chaska Dance Center states that it is passionate about helping children and young adults build their self-confidence and skills by expressing themselves through dance, with an emphasis on building self-esteem, self-confidence, and personal development.
The program describes itself as offering affordable and professional dance education that fits a family's budget without a competitive atmosphere. Mary currently teaches Monday night preschool and kindergarten–1st grade classes, Amanda teaches several teenage technique classes, the Ruby Company competition team, and adult classes, and Abby co-teaches preschool and K–1st grade classes. Registration for Summer Camps and the 2026–2027 season is open.
The instructors have many years of dancing and teaching experience. Owner and director Jenny Pantano has been training dancers for over 25 years, trained at The Dance Shoppe, Victoria Dance Productions, Hopkins Dance Center, Ballet Arts, and the Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, performed in the Jerry Lewis Telethon and with the Mark Goodman Tap Company as a dance captain, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s Degree from UCLA. Her choreography has received top honors, including Outstanding Choreography awards at BravO! National Dance Competition and at Showbiz National Talent Competition in Daytona Beach, FL. Instructor Janet Merckling has studied modern, ballet, jazz, and tap and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Minnesota. Instructor Amanda Middleton danced competitively from a young age through college on the St. Cloud State University dance team, participated in Vikings and Timberwolves training camps, danced with the troupe Soul to Sole Dance Conversion and as a backup dancer for an 80s cover band, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from St. Cloud State University and a Master’s in Human Resources Management from St. Mary’s University. Regan has a background spanning two decades in dance education and choreography, has served as Dance Educator and Choreographer at The Dance Warehouse, Dance Choreographer, Performer, and Social Media Manager at The Phipps Dance Theater, and Owner and Instructor at Evolution Studio, and has created and refined choreography for numerous award-winning performances. Allison Wheeler recently graduated with a BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and has trained in a wide variety of dance genres and worked with multiple named artists and companies. Abby Moldenhauer started dancing at age seven, graduated from Chaska Dance Center, performed with competitive teams winning multiple awards, worked as an assistant teacher for younger classes, graduated from Chaska High School, and works as an infant teacher at Kindercare Learning Center.
Chaska Dance Center notes that it loves being able to enrich the lives of its students with its passion for dance. Founder Mary Pieper is described as an icon in the Chaska dance community who has taught classes to thousands of students over the years, and one of her stated joys is welcoming back former students and now teaching their daughters and sons.
Last updated July 25, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes run on a 2026–2027 calendar, beginning September 8, with breaks in late December and March, a dress rehearsal week starting May 3, normal classes the week of May 10, and recitals on May 14–15.
Chaska Dance Center is celebrating its 43rd year of bringing dance to the community and was founded as the Chaska School of Dance in 1984 by Mary Pieper. The studio is owned and directed by Miss Jenny (Jenny Pantano). Chaska Dance Center states that it is passionate about helping children and young adults build their self-confidence and skills by expressing themselves through dance, with an emphasis on building self-esteem, self-confidence, and personal development.
The program describes itself as offering affordable and professional dance education that fits a family's budget without a competitive atmosphere. Mary currently teaches Monday night preschool and kindergarten–1st grade classes, Amanda teaches several teenage technique classes, the Ruby Company competition team, and adult classes, and Abby co-teaches preschool and K–1st grade classes. Registration for Summer Camps and the 2026–2027 season is open.
The instructors have many years of dancing and teaching experience. Owner and director Jenny Pantano has been training dancers for over 25 years, trained at The Dance Shoppe, Victoria Dance Productions, Hopkins Dance Center, Ballet Arts, and the Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, performed in the Jerry Lewis Telethon and with the Mark Goodman Tap Company as a dance captain, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s Degree from UCLA. Her choreography has received top honors, including Outstanding Choreography awards at BravO! National Dance Competition and at Showbiz National Talent Competition in Daytona Beach, FL. Instructor Janet Merckling has studied modern, ballet, jazz, and tap and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Minnesota. Instructor Amanda Middleton danced competitively from a young age through college on the St. Cloud State University dance team, participated in Vikings and Timberwolves training camps, danced with the troupe Soul to Sole Dance Conversion and as a backup dancer for an 80s cover band, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from St. Cloud State University and a Master’s in Human Resources Management from St. Mary’s University. Regan has a background spanning two decades in dance education and choreography, has served as Dance Educator and Choreographer at The Dance Warehouse, Dance Choreographer, Performer, and Social Media Manager at The Phipps Dance Theater, and Owner and Instructor at Evolution Studio, and has created and refined choreography for numerous award-winning performances. Allison Wheeler recently graduated with a BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and has trained in a wide variety of dance genres and worked with multiple named artists and companies. Abby Moldenhauer started dancing at age seven, graduated from Chaska Dance Center, performed with competitive teams winning multiple awards, worked as an assistant teacher for younger classes, graduated from Chaska High School, and works as an infant teacher at Kindercare Learning Center.
Chaska Dance Center notes that it loves being able to enrich the lives of its students with its passion for dance. Founder Mary Pieper is described as an icon in the Chaska dance community who has taught classes to thousands of students over the years, and one of her stated joys is welcoming back former students and now teaching their daughters and sons.
Last updated July 25, 2026.
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