Karin Rudd, Artistic Director                                                                                                         

Karin Rudd has been associated with Red River Dance & Performing Company since 1984. She studied dance at RRD&PC, Trollwood Performing Arts School, Interlochen Arts Academy, and studios in Germany, Chicago and Minneapolis. Karin began teaching in 1993 at RRD&PC and taught at Fort Wayne Ballet Academy and Trollwood Performing Arts School. She also danced professionally with the Red River Dance & Performing Company and the Fort Wayne Ballet. Karin was Artistic Director from 2001-2007. She returned as Artistic Director in 2010. Karin's extensive dance experience greatly contributes to furthering Red River Dance & Performing Company's goal of challenging dancers.

Amanda Lenzmeier, Director of Public Relations                                                                                                           

Amanda Lenzmeier has been dancing since she was 8 years old. She graduated from NDSU in May 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and Advertising and a double minor in Management Communication and Psychology. This is Amanda’s sixth year at Red River Dance & Performing Company. She was named Director of Public Relations in 2009 and creates the monthly newsletters, all advertisements, and updates the website content. In addition to teaching classes, Amanda serves as the desk manager during all operating studio hours. Amanda graduated from West Fargo High School in 2006, where she was the head choreographer for the two-year national champion West Fargo High School dance team. She danced with Red River Dance for six years before instructing classes and is very excited to use her Ballroom dance training to expand the Ballroom/Social Dance program at Red River Dance & Performing Company. Amanda also teaches our competitive dance teams.

Nikki Black                                                                                                                                                                           

Nikki Black was born and raised in Minot and has been dancing for 16 years. She graduated from Minot High School in 2008 and completed her first year of college at Minot State University. Nikki is now attending NDSU, majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. She hopes to become a Home Economics teacher and continue teaching dance. She has experience in many genres of dance, including: jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary, acrobatics, and hip hop. In Minot, she danced with Rinat Mouzafarov’s Dance and Ballet Theater, along with Studio X… A New Generation of dance, directed by Joshua Wise. Nikki has attended numerous statewide, regional, and national competitions and has trained with famous dancers and choreographers at various dance conventions. This will be Nikki's third year teaching dance. She also teaches our competitive dance teams. 

Niki Larson

Niki Larson recently moved to Fargo to attend NDSU as a freshmen and is pursuing a degree in Marketing. Growing up with a family of dancers in Maple Grove, MN, Niki has been dancing since the age of 3. She began competing at the age of 6 at Butterfield Gallery of Dance in Maple Grove, MN and then at The Dance Shoppe in Plymouth, MN. As a part of her 12 years of studio dance, Niki trained in many styles of dance such as Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Ballet. In ninth grade she joined Ignite Dance Company where she performed shows at local theaters. Once Niki started high school she joined the Maple Grove Dance Team, a defending State Championship team. Niki was a 2 year Junior Varsity captain and led her team to an undefeated season. Having a dance team background, Niki has training in Dance Team Jazz, Kick, and Technique. With the confidence in every dancer to reach their full potential, Niki is excited to share her passion for dance with all of her students in her first year at Red River Dance & Performing Company. 

Annika Nynas     

Annika Nynas has 18 years of highly advanced dance training. She grew up in Woodbury, MN, a large suburb of St. Paul and has training in areas of ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and hip hop. Annika has danced for and competed with Woodbury Dance Center in Woodbury, MN and Larkin Dance Studio in Maplewood, MN. She has attended numerous dance conventions and has won a variety of dance awards at the statewide and national levels. Many of her classmates from these studios can be seen in Broadway musicals and on the TV series “So You Think You Can Dance”. Annika graduated from MSUM in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Advertising. Annika is currently an intern at Sundog. She was a member of the MSUM dance team for 2 years.

Jeana Peinovich

Jeana Peinovich has been affiliated with Red River Dance & Performing Company since 1984, serving many roles as a performance company member, an instructor, and a member of the Board of Directors. She has over 30 years of dance training from studios in North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas and Texas. Jeana is Miss North Dakota 1982 and mother of Miss Teen North Dakota 2005 (Laura, who is also the Studio Director). Jeana created tappercise classes, as she enjoys sharing her love of dance with other fun women in the community. She is the wife of life-long Fargo resident, James Peinovich, and a mother of three daughters: Brooke, Laura, and Anna. Jeana is the director of the Lend A Hand program at Dakota Medical Foundation where she has worked for 8 years.

Laura Mills

Laura Mills is a junior at Concordia College, where she is pursuing a degree in Youth Ministry with an emphasis in Religion and Psychology. Originally from Esko, Minnesota, Laura has 16 years of dance training from Becky’s Dance Studio in Cloquet, Minnesota. She has studied a wide array of styles including: tap, jazz, modern, lyrical and hip hop. Laura has performed in many local, statewide, and national competitions. She has two years experience in dance instruction and is excited for her third year at Red River Dance & Performing Company. Outside of dance, Laura is extremely active in working with youth. She is currently the Senior High Ministries Coordinator at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead and is active in outdoor ministry as well as Voyagers Lutheran Ministry. Her enthusiasm for working with youth and her passion for dancing are apparent in the interaction Laura has with her students.

Jaci Stofferahn                                                                                                                                                                   

Jaci Stofferahn has been dancing since the age of 2. She graduated from Fargo South High School in 2007 and spent the following year fulfilling an internship in Washington, D.C. with Senator Conrad. She is now attending NDSU, pursuing a Business Marketing degree. Her dance experience ranges from advanced studio training to years of dancing on junior high and high school kick lines and dance teams, where she held positions of captain and choreographer. Jaci has found a great passion for instilling the love of dance in new and beginning level dancers. She finds it important to teach great technique to her students, as well as teaching them to dance from their hearts, making the art of dance an athletic, creative and expressive outlet for children. Jaci is very excited for her third year at Red River Dance & Performing Company!