About us
Gessell Frisbee - Owner/Artistic Director
Gessell is the owner/director of The Dance and Art Co-op. She is passionate about sharing her love for dance with her students, and works hard to ensure all students have a positive experience at the studio!
Gessell has been teaching dance for almost 20 years, and formally owned andFLEW! School for the Arts in Rolla. She majored in dance performance at Southwest Missouri State, danced with eXitSPACE of Seattle, WA and has enjoyed choreographing many mainstage productions for Ozark Actors Theatre, Missouri S&T and more.
Her favorite gig so far is homeschooling mom to (almost!) 6 amazing children and lifelong ballroom partner to her hubby!
Kate Swedberg - Visual Arts
Kate Swedberg is our talented lead art teacher, and how glad we are to have her as part of the team!
Kate is an avid lifelong artist. She creates art wherever she goes, and is passionate about sharing her love for art with all of her students…including her two middle schoolers, who you’ll often see at the studio, helping their mom out during classes!
Be sure to tell Kate hi next time you see her at the studio!
Emily Niewald-Gordon - Dance
Hi! I’m Emily.
My passion for dance began at age 5, and over the years, I’ve continued to weave creative movement into my life, while also becoming a mother, and earning my degrees in psychology and early childhood education.
This unique blend of experiences has allowed me to create a truly special homeschooling environment for my three wonderful girls.
I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity to join the team at ‘The Dance Co-op.’ This role allows me to share my passion for dance with a wider community and contribute to shaping young dancers’ futures.
The studio’s collaborative and supportive atmosphere resonates deeply with me, as it aligns perfectly with my values as a mother, educator, and dancer.
Sophie Jacobson - Dance Assistant
Miss Sophie is a homeschooling high school student, with a special talent for working with young children. Sophie is training as an assistant dance instructor at the studio, and we are so happy to have her!
Lesley Jacobson - Art
My name is Lesley Jacobson. I am a wife to an awesome husband and a mother of 3 children. I have been into art since I was 12, doodling anywhere and everywhere. The last 5 years, I have been learning to paint with gouache. lt is my hope to inspire others to use their imaginations and to create their own unique interpretations of art.
Hunter Casados - Dance
My name is Hunter Casados. I’m a mom of two sweet boys and throughout the week I work as a lash artist at a local salon. I began dancing when I was six (fun fact, Gessell was my first dance teacher). My favorite type of dance is ballet. I’m so excited for the opportunity to teach and learn at the The Dance Co-op. I have a bachelors degree in elementary education and love spending time with littles. I can’t wait to meet all of the students and watch them grow as dancers!
Contact
Phone
573-263-2042
hello@danceco-op.com
Address
105 Eldon Street, St. James, Missouri