Jackie Kling

Jackie Kling grew up in Forest Lake, Minnesota where her passion for dance developed. She trained at Dance Tech Studios for 11 years, focusing on various styles of dance: ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theater, and hip-hop. Jackie was also a part of her high school’s dance team for two years, having the roles of choreographer and senior captain. In addition, she earned two all-conference awards, as well as the team’s most valuable dancer award. 

Jackie spent her college career at the University of St. Thomas, dancing for the Tommie Dance Team for 4 years. During her time on the team, they earned two national titles in 2008 and 2010 at the UDA College Dance Team National Championships ( Open Dance Division) as well as being runners-up for the Open Hip-Hop title from 2007-2010. During her senior year she served as captain of the team, and was voted most valuable dancer of the 2010 season. Jackie also earned a minor in Dance through the Macalester College Theater and Dance Department and choreographed for the department’s dance concerts.  She also collaborated on a piece with Los Angeles based dance company, Diavolo. In the fall Jackie will be attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts perusing a Master of Fine Arts in Dance.

Growing up Jackie spent years assisting instructors, which sparked her love of teaching dance. For the past five years she has been an instructor at Dance Tech Studios, teaching a wide variety of styles to students ranging in ages from pre-school to adult. Additionally, she has assisted various choreographers at intensives in Minnesota, Iowa and Seattle. Jackie has aspirations of teaching in a university’s dance department when her own professional dance career is completed.  She is excited to join the INNOVATE team, and share the company’s vision with dancers across the country!