North Ballet Academy

North Ballet Academy brings together an incomparable blend of professional, artistic, technical, creative, and developmental leadership. The expert staff provides direction and training to aspiring dancers with a comprehensive background uniquely combining the art of ballet with the expertise of child development and knowledge of education.

Ms. Kocinski is originally from Plymouth, Minnesota.  Throughout Ms. Kocinski's life she has been drawn to the art of classical ballet as well as to the education and development of children.  Ms. Kocinski was privileged to study classical ballet for nearly ten years at The Minnetonka Dance Theater and School under the instruction of Marianne Simmons.  During her training, she was a member of the Youth Ballet Company.  Her experiences at The Minnetonka Dance Theater and School nurtured a lifelong love for the art of ballet.

Ms. Kocinski focused her educational and professional training in the area of family systems and education.  She first earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Family Social Science, and later earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education.  Ms. Kocinski is thankful to have had many diverse professional experiences in the fields of Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Business Management, Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry and Business Ownership.  All of these experiences have provided her with a firm foundation of understanding in child development and education paired with a genuine love for the art of ballet.

Ms. Kocinski brings a unique perspective to North Ballet Academy as she creatively connects her experience in classical ballet with her educational and professional experiences working with children and youth of all ages.  Ms. Kocinski artfully combines her extensive background in curriculum development and instruction, knowledge of child development, and business management experiences to lead North Ballet Academy with devotion and passion.

Contact Ms. Kocinski at Katie@NorthBallet.com or 763-242-2993

Ms. Kim Norberg is originally from Parker, Colorado. Ms. Norberg’s passion for ballet began at the Colorado Ballet Academy, where she studied with Galina Vorotynova. She is a graduate of Colorado State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts, as well as a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Business Administration.   Ms. Norberg’s professional pedagogical training, founded on the Vaganova Syllabus, occurred under the great mentoring and direction of Ms. Carol Roderick, of Colorado State University and the nationally esteemed Dance Teachers’ Institute. In addition to learning from Ms. Roderick, she has been privileged to have worked with Chung-Fu Chang, Jane Slusarski-Harris, and Judy Bejarano. Ms. Norberg has also had the great opportunity to have worked with respected master instructors including Wes Chapman, Katie Elliot, Private Freeman, Rodney Gustafson, and Viktor Kabaniaev.

As a performer, Ms. Norberg has performed works by guest artist Andrew Skeels and has performed in Pas de Quatre, La Bayadère, Paquita, and The Nutcracker with the CSU Ballet Repertory Ensemble. Ms. Norberg has performed as a guest artist for the Canyon Concert Ballet in Fort Collins, as well as the Dance Theater of Loveland.   Ms. Norberg served as Ballet Mistress for Chopiniana for the CSU Ballet Repertory Ensemble and has performed as a guest artist for Canyon, and served as an assistant to the Artistic Director and Ballet Mistress for the Queen City Ballet’s production of Cinderella. Ms. Norberg has artfully co-directed performances for the Colorado State University and has contributed original choreographic pieces to the New Visions Dance Festival in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

In addition to directing, performing, and choreographing, Ms. Norberg has enjoyed instructing students of all ages and levels in the study of ballet and tap at Miller’s Dance Studio in Aurora, Colorado as well as at the Academy of Contemporary Dance Arts in Loveland, Colorado.  As a teacher, Ms. Norberg has proven to be passionate and dedicated about providing students with above excellent levels of classical ballet studies through the proper supervision of a culturally adapted Vaganova Syllabus within all levels of ballet.

 Contact Ms. Norberg at Norberg@NorthBallet.com or 763-242-2993

Mr. Alexander Smirnov is originally from Russia and graduated from the famed Vaganova Academy in Perm, Russia in 1995.  Upon graduation he was invited to perform with the Saint Petersburg Academic Theater and Saint Petersburg Ballet Theater where he rose through the ranks and eventually became a Principal Dancer. In 2000 Mr. Smirnov joined the Ballet Oficial de la Provincia de Cordoba, Argentina, also as a Principal Dancer and four years later, he moved to the United States to join Ballet Internationale of Indianapolis. He has also worked with Dance Alive National Ballet in Florida and the Minnesota Dance Theatre in Minneapolis.

 Mr. Smirnov has toured and guested extensively throughout Japan, England, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Finland, Germany, Estonia, Holland and Belgium.  He has danced principal roles in many classical ballets including Carmen, Chopiniana, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Firebird, Giselle, Le Corsair, Midsummer’s Night Dream, Nutcracker, Paquita, Petroushka, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.  Currently he is a Principal Dancer with Continental Ballet. 

Mr. Alexander Smirnov is originally from Russia and graduated from the famed Vaganova Academy in Perm, Russia in 1995. Upon graduation he was invited to perform with the Saint Petersburg Academic Theater and Saint Petersburg Ballet Theater where he rose through the ranks and eventually became a Principal Dancer. In 2000 Mr. Smirnov joined the Ballet Oficial de la Provincia de Cordoba, Argentina, also as a Principal Dancer and four years later, he moved to the United States to join Ballet Internationale of Indianapolis. He has also worked with Dance Alive National Ballet in Florida and the Minnesota Dance Theatre in Minneapolis.

Mr. Smirnov has toured and guested extensively throughout Japan, England, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Finland, Germany, Estonia, Holland and Belgium. He has danced principal roles in many classical ballets including Carmen, Chopiniana, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Firebird, Giselle, Le Corsair, Midsummer’s Night Dream, Nutcracker, Paquita, Petroushka, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Currently he is a Principal Dancer with Continental Ballet.

Originally from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Ms. Larsen studied the classical ballet and lyrical styles of dance for eight years.  Throughout her dance training, Ms. Larsen participated in numerous dance performances and school events.  Later in life, Ms. Larsen became a Special Education educator and spent eight years learning and growing as she worked with students in diverse learning environments.

Ms. Larsen artfully combines her past experience as an educator with her passions for ballet and working with children to bring great energy, experience and patience to the staff, students, and families of North Ballet Academy.  Additionally, Ms. Larsen is passionate about working with Creative Movement students to help instill in them a love for the art of ballet.

Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Ms. Honza began her classical ballet training at Red River Dance and Performing Company (later re-named Gaspers’ School of Dance) under the direction of Kathy and Eddie Gasper.  Under their exceptional tutelage, she received training in ballet, tap, and jazz. Ms. Honza went on to be accepted into the University of Minnesota Twin Cities’ dance major program, and while she chose not to complete a dance degree, she did continue to train and perform there throughout her college career. 

Ms. Honza has performed in many ballets, dance compilations, and musicals, including The Firebird, The Fairy’s Gift, Alice in Wonderland, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 42^nd Street, Anything Goes, and 5 of Red River Dance’s annual Christmas Holiday shows.

For the past 7 years, Ms. Honza has been teaching science and outdoor experiential education in public schools and environmental learning centers, and recently earned her masters of education from the U of MN.

Ms. DJ White is CEO and Founder of P & P Journey's, LLC, in Minnesota.  She is certified as a Personal Trainer, a Golf Biomechanic, a Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Pilates Instructor.  As a tenured professional of 17 years, she has worked for and participated with profit and non-profit organizations.  She has competed in body building and power lifting with her favorite lift being a 345 pound deadlift.  In the endurance arena she has completed Olympic Distance Triathlons in Disney and Maui, a Centurey Ride in Tahoe, as well as the Honolulu Marathon.

Ms. White brings incomparable leadership to North Ballet Academy as our students incorporate the study of PIlates into their regular ballet training.  Pilates focuses on the core postural muscles which help to keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine.  In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles.  For this reason, Ms. White has created the Pilates Program at North Ballet Academy to be an essential supplement to classical ballet training, as well as an excellent area of fitness that is available to just about anyone.

Ms. Allison Clawson, from Princeton, MN, grew up dancing around her living room and dreaming about the day she would be a ballerina.  She took her first ballet classes at North Ballet Academy in the fall of 2009, where she soon discovered her love for ballet.  As Ms. Clawson continued her studies, she grew to appreciate the challenging, but rewarding art form, and came to realize that it is never too late to begin the study of ballet.  As she continued to train at North Ballet Academy, under Ms. Stephanie Heston, Ms. Clawson quickly developed a passion for ballet, and rapidly refined both her ballet technique and performance.

Originally from Mound, MN, Cassie graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. After moving to Texas and back, she found North Ballet Academy and began working as a receptionist. Her position has grown to Administrative Director.

 She is available to help families enroll, answer questions, and greet everyone as they walk through the door. As Administrative Director, she also handles scheduling, billing, and maintains the facility.

Contact Ms. Rice at Information@NorthBallet.com or 763-242-2993