Complimentary Class

Anna Moon began her dance education in Ankeny, and Des Moines, Iowa under the instruction of Nancy Moore Overturf. Following high school, Anna studied professionally with Giordano Dance Chicago. After being accepted to Point Park University, and the University of Arizona as dance majors, she decided to jump directly into the professional dance scene of Chicago, and simultaneously receive her degree online in Early Childhood Education.  Anna has extensive experience as a professional performer, dance educator, choreographer, contortionist, and aerialist. Professionally, she has studied with such companies and names as Richard Smith of Inaside Chicago Dance, Ronn Stewart of CoCoDaCo Dance Project, Nick Pupillo of Visceral Dance Chicago, Chloe Jensen of Aerial Dance Chicago as well as Homer Bryant, Laura Wade, Francisco Avina, and many other talented artists. She also performed professionally as a circus performer for a decade with the Actor’s Gymnasium, which brings a unique style to her choreography. Anna has many years of experience in teaching a wide variety of dance genres. As the director of a ballet program in Chicago; She produced and directed a full-length annual Nutcracker in addition to developing and implementing a ballet curriculum for all levels with an emphasis on strength in technical abilities and the safety of growing bone structures within youth. Her students have been accepted into many prestigous programs including: Miami City Ballet, Joffrey Chicago, Joffrey New York, Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, Ballet MET, Wichita State University, Iowa State University, Western Case Reserve University and University of South Florida.   

Anna has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Due to the complexities and comorbidities that come with EDS (such as POTS, and hyper-mobility) Anna has suffered from injuries and illnesses in her dance journey that could have been prevented with more knowledge of injury prevention in her adolescent training. This inspired Anna to open a space where all staff have extensive knowledge of injury prevention, care immensely about their student’s safety and body longevity and want to continue to learn about the ever changing dance science. Anna's certifications and continuing education include: Progressing Ballet Technique, and Acrobatic Arts. She is a member of National Dance Educators Organization.  Anna is the highest scoring member in the state of Iowa on the Chapter #34 of Dance Masters of Mid- America Ballet Exam, though she is not an active member. 

Anna has always prided herself on building great relationships based on respect, trust,  and communication with her students.  After becoming a parent herself, she was inspired to create a safe place for all children to express themselves artistically.  

Maddy Ladehoff has been dancing since the age of three. She was a member of competitive dance teams for ten years, including four at the Iowa State Dance Team Associations' state competition. After high school, Miss Maddy started at Iowa State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship and Dance Coaching. She also studied Spanish. After having two hip surgeries during her senior year of high school due to preventable dance injuries, she became an advocate for dancer safety. This inspired her to be the first dance coaching major at Iowa State University after advocating for and creating the program. She took dance classes under the direction of Janice Baker and Cynthia Adams and Kinesiology and Theatre classes taught by ISU faculty. During her time at Iowa State, she was a part of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy and CyStarters Cohort 8 where she was paired with Anna Moon for a mentor/mentee partnership. Maddy's certifications include Progressing Ballet Technique,  first aid, CPR, Nalaxone, mental health first aid, suicide prevention, and trauma informed care. Due to Maddy's diagnosis of Positional Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS), she was recently inspired to receive heart rate training in addition to her continued educations and trainings. In 2021, Miss Maddy started her own choreography and coaching company called Dancing With Miss Maddy. Her dancers have excelled at competitions earning titles, judges' choice, and overall awards. Maddy’s Passion for youth spreads beyond the dance studio. During the day, Maddy works in child welfare where she continues to advocate for children’s safety and emotional wellbeing. Miss Maddy believes that any body can be a dance body and loves to share her passion and creativity for dance to cultivate joy and confidence in the dance studio. She loves being apart of The Change Dance Staff where she works closely with our competition collective. 

Noah teaches classical ballet for The Change Dance. His ballet training began at the age of twelve in Memphis, Tennessee at Ballet Memphis. He is a four-year graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy Dance Program (2013-2017) and is a recipient of the Young Artist Award. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma (2017-2021), where he finished his degree in Ballet Performance. Noah Klarck was a member of the Interlochen Summer Dance faculty (2017-2019). He is currently certified in Pilates and teaches at multiple YMCA locations. He has been a company member with Ballet Des Moines since 2021. Noah has performed a variety of roles, including Ali from Le Corsaire, Alejandro Cerrudo’s Lickety Split, Bugle Boy from Paul Taylor’s Company B, and many more. 

 Ally was raised in Polk City, Iowa, and attended her first dance class at a local studio at age 3. She stayed active in studio and competition dance and was on the high school competition and performance dance teams. Early on, Ally learned the importance of training in multiple dance styles, including ballet technique, Pointe, tap, and Giordano jazz with a focus on private lessons, conventions, and intensives. Ally has trained under professionals such as Ami Yaro, Nancy Overturff, and Natasha Overturff. Early in her career, she surrounded herself with professionals who believed in her, and it’s important to her to pay that forward to others who have a dream to dance. Participating in community dance was always important to Ally. Throughout her career, she was a member of Iowa Dance Theatre, with her most memorable performance as the Rose Queen in the Nutcracker.  Ally is currently a student at Iowa State University studying Biology, Pre-PA with a minor in Dance. She is also a member of the ISU Orchesis I Dance Company. Outside of dance, Ally is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Long Term Care & Hospice and loves spending time with people who inspire her. Ally is so excited to share her love of dance with her students!

Peyton Milstead's passion for dance ignited at the age of 11, leading to an enriching journey with dance teams from 6th grade through college. During this time, she not only refined her skills but also served as captain of her dance team, demonstrating her leadership and ability to inspire others. Her expertise encompasses contemporary, hip-hop, and jazz, showcasing her dedication to both artistic expression and technical excellence.

In addition to her dance background, Peyton is a licensed mental health therapist with a master’s degree in social work from Saint Louis University, completed in 2022. Specializing in working with individuals aged 5-18, she brings a deep understanding of emotional and psychological development to her role at the studio. Peyton is passionate about integrating mental health support with dance instruction, creating a supportive environment where students can excel both physically and emotionally.

She is excited to combine her dual passions for dance and mental health, using her unique perspective to enrich the studio experience. Peyton is dedicated to fostering a space where artistic exploration and emotional well-being go hand in hand, providing students with the tools to express themselves creatively while also supporting their mental health needs.