Directors & Faculty
Susie Ibsen, Director, served as the Dance Director at Saint Mary College in Leavenworth from 1980 to 1988. She has been dancing since the age of three and has been teaching children, teenagers and adults in the Kansas City area since 1972. She has choreographed for area schools, theatres and other organizations including the Kansas City Chiefettes, the Barn Players, Fundamental Theatre, Theatre for Young America, the Kansas City Philharmonic, S.M.C. Summer Stock, and the Gladstone Theatre in the Park productions since 1988.
She has performed professionally for many theatres throughout the region, including Waldo Astoria Dinner Theatre, Mimewock, Theatre for Young America, and various dance concerts and dance education performances in area schools.
Susie has trained in Kansas City at various schools including American Dance Center, the Conservatory of Dance and Music, and Miller-Marley School for Dance. She has studied with renown teachers in Chicago and New York, and regularly attends dance conventions and seminars. Susie started a dance and performing arts studio called Ibsen Dance Theatre in 1983. She believes that dance is an art and takes pride in teaching
as well as directing a professional staff of 16 instructors, all of whom have professional credentials or academic degrees in dance, voice and theatre
Van Ibsen, Director, is currently the Chairman of the Drama Department at Saint Mary College. He holds a Master's Degree from Purdue University and has completed course work toward a Doctorate from the University of Iowa. Van is a professional designer and director and has over 200 credits in directing and 300 credits in design in theatres from New York to Salt Lake City. In Kansas City, Van has directed and/or designed for Tiffany's Attic, Waldo Astoria, the Barn Players, Resident Theatre, the Folly Theatre, Mimewock, Theatre for Young America, Fundamental Theatre, the Theatrical Company and many more.
Van has been instrumental in the start-up of theatres in La Porte, Indiana; Nevada, Missouri; Theatre for Young America and Fundamental Theatre. He has had extensive training in acting, directing musical theatre, voice, mime and juggling. Van teaches drama at Ibsen Dance Theatre and acts as Artistic Director over their children's Summer Theatre Camps. Van directs, and designs, constructs and paints sets for the musicals presented each summer by Gladstone Theatre in the Park.
Cameo Ibsen began her dance training at the age of three. She has extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, Russian character and flamenco. As a teenager, she accepted invitations to study as a full scholarship, year-round student at both San Francisco Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. In addition, Cameo attended classes with The Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey, Melissa Hayden, Houston Ballet, The African American Dance Ensemble, American Ballet Theatre, and Nucleodanza.
Performance credits include lead or soloist roles in Cinderella, Pas de Quatre, Die Puppenfee, The Nutcracker Suite, Trois Gymnopedies, Vivald's Four Seasons, and Paquita, among others. Two original works were created for her - The Game, by renowned choreographer Susan Trevino, and The Artist, by actor/dancer/director Jesse Borrego.Cameo is the director of Ballet at Ibsen Dance Theatre, and is the founder and Artistic Director of Ibsen Ballet Theatre - Youth Company.
Suzanne Hillis Ackin, soprano, has performed opera, operetta, musical theater, concert works and been presented "in recital" all over the country. Miss Ackin has been singing with the Lyric Arts Trio (Voice, Clarinet and Piano) since 1996. In addition to performing with this chamber music group, Suzanne (Suzie) just completed four consecutive years as an Artist/Educator with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City's Education Department - with Lyric Opera Express and, last year, Opera-Up-Close-and Personal presentations. She has been featured in many roles over the past several years at The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, including Solo Star in COYOTE TALES (The World Premiere) and Frasquita in CARMEN. Miss Ackin has also performed with the Fort Worth Opera, Dorian Opera Theatre, Springfield Regional Opera, Opera/Omaha and Cincinnati Opera. She has performed all over the country in oratorios and concert works, as well. She is a favorite soloist with several local and regional music-making organizations and has sung twice for the renowned MESSIAH Festival in Lindsborg, Kansas.
Before her professioinal singing career, Miss Ackin taught elementary and middle school vocal music in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools. She has also been a church choir director at Village Presbyterian Church and Antioch Community Church and a paid soloist/section leader at others over the years.
Miss Ackin has been an adjunct professor of Voice at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, and has taught private voice lessons from home studios, at Antioch Music Center and previously at Ibsen Dance Theatre (1995 - 96). Suzie and her daughter, Emily, has been actively involved with Gladstone Theatre in the Park since 1997. There, Suzie has performed Jenny Lind (BARNUM), Marian Paroo (THE MUSIC MAN), Mrs. Darling (PETER PAN) and Mrs. McGlone (THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN).
Susan Grace, has been teaching dance and pompon for the past 20 years. She owned and operated Susan's School of Dance in Excelsior Springs from 1983 to 2003 and Liberty Dance Center in Liberty from 1993 to 2002.
Susan is a graduate of William Jewell college. While in college she was Captain and Choreographer of the William jewell Cardettes. She has a B.A. Degree in Spanish and holds a Missouri K-12 Life Teaching Certificate.
In 1982 she was a featured performer at the Moulin Rouge Theatre at Worlds of Fun. In 1983 Susan won the title of Miss Clay County and compeated in the Miss Missouri America Pageant. Other performances inclue the National Kool-Aid Dance team for the General Foods Corp. in 1989 and in 1999 performed at the National Convention for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Susan is also currently Choreographer for the Excelsior Springs High School Music and Drama Department.
Sabrina Zeigler started her dancing career at Ibsen Dance Theatre in 1986 where she studied tap, jazz and ballet. While attending Oak Park High School, she was a cheerleader for 2 years and a member of the Pom-Pon squad for 2 years. Sabrina has performed in three seasons of Gladstone Theatre In the Park. In college, Sabrina was a member of the University of Missouri Golden Girls and the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders. From 1996-2000, Sabrina was the Assistant Coach of the Winnetonka H.S. Pom-Pon Squad where she choreographed award winning routines for state level competitions. During the 2002-2003 school year, Sabrina was the Co-Coach of the Oak Park Pom-Pon Squad. Since 1996, Sabrina has been teaching jazz and pom-pon classes at Ibsen Dance Theatre.
In addition to teaching at IDT, Sabrina is employed by Cerner Corporation and is a busy mom of four children. Her daughter, Hunter also shares Sabrina’s love of dance and is a second generation dancer at the studio.Terri English has been involved with dance since the age of three. She trained as a child at various dance schools and continues to train with Susie Ibsen. During high school she performed as a member of the Oak Park pom pon squad. She returns each year to judge their pom pon squad tryouts. Terri is a graduate of the University of Missouri. She was a member of their pom pon squad for 1 year and was a Mizzou cheerleader for 2 years.
She was employed by National Cheerleaders Association for 4 years, teaching at summer pom pon and dance camps throughout the midwest. Terri has been teaching for Van and Susie since 1992. She enjoys working with the preschool and kindergarten children and takes pride in their accomplishments as young dancers.
Rachel Buckingham is a Kansas City native with twenty years dance training, including seven years at Ibsen Dance Theatre. She also has studied at Stephen's College in Columbia, Missouri, Westport Ballet, University of Missouri- Kansas City, and The Missouri State Ballet. Rachel has studied Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern, Irish Stepping,
African, and Hula.
Rachel has performed in nine musicals for Gladstone Theatre in the Park. Rachel has professionally appeared in three seasons at Starlight Theatre, toured with the United States and Tokyo Sesame Street Live show, and recently finished a season at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, Missouri.
Rachel has had the benefit of working with excellent teachers. She loves to stress technique and enjoys teaching Tap, Jazz and Ballet.
Lenette Johnson has been performing in the Kansas City metro area for over 30 years. She graduated from Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS with a B.A. in Voice Performance and Theatre. She received a Masters of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas. Lenette teaches Music/Special Education in the North Kansas City School District. She has performed with the Wyandotte Players, Bell Road Barn, Gladstone Theatre in the Park, Paul Mesner Puppets, and the Civic Opera of Kansas City. Somer of her favorite roles include Dolly Levi, Aunt Eller, and Jack's mother. Shows with Gladstone Theatre in the Park include Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Mame, Annie Get Your Gun, Cinderella and Annie. Lenette is a section leader soloist at the Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. She recently toured and soloed with the Trinity Choir in the United Kingdom and Washington D.C.
Michelle Spinola studied at Ibsen Dance Theatre as a child and then continued her dance education at Southwest Missouri State University. She began instructing tap and jazz at IDT in 1996. Her enthusiasm for the performing arts is shared with students, from pre-school to adults. Michelle previously coached the Oak Park High School Pom Pon squad and spearheaded the after-school dance program at Rosedale Middle School.
It warms Michelle’s heart that her daughter, Skyler, shares her passion for musical theatre. Skyler is a vivacious second-generation dancer at IDT. Michelle is also happy to serve as Skyler’s Brownie Girl Scout leader, and as a West Englewood Elementary School PTA board member.
In addition to teaching dance lessons, leading scouts, and being active in her daughter’s school, Michelle is growing her career at Cerner Corporation as an Administrator.
Rachel Godwin began dancing at age 5 after begging her mother every day for a year to enroll her in ballet class. At age 13, Rachel attended Paseo Academy of the Fine and Performing Arts. She majored in dance and theater staring in numerous musicals, plays and performances. After high school, Rachel attended the University of Iowa where she earned her BFA in dance. She was a member of the University of Iowa’s Dancers in Company and a teacher for the youth dance program. After graduating, Rachel was accepted into Phildelphia’s professional modern dance company, Philadanco D2, where she performed for two years. Rachel continued to perform and teach in, where she met her husband, for the next eight years. She is happy to now be back in her home town teaching adults and children at Ibsen the art of dance. Rachel is also a personal trainer at HitchFit gym and a group fitness instructor at 24 Hour Fitness.
Rene' Sonne has been a dance instructor for 17 years, she is a member of Dance Masters of America and received her Bachelor of Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University. She is a three time recipient of the Odyssey Award and was named Young Choreographer of the Year and Choreographer of the Year by the American Dance Awards in 2000 and 2002. She was a faculty member at the prestigious school at Steps on Broadway in New York City and has taught master classes all over the country. Rene's students have gone on to perform in broadway shows, in music videos and on the Disney Channel. She has choreographed dozens of musicals including Seussical, Little Shop of Horrors, Mame, The Music Man, The Wiz, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Cracked Nutter ( a tap and hip hop version of the Nutcracker) and the more traditional Nutcracker for JulieDance in conjunction with the Dontesk Ballet from the Ukraine. She has choreographed for competition teams all over the country, music videos, dance teams and even for a childrens show choir, Fluffernutters. Because of her expertise in the technique and performance of dance, she also served as an adjudicator for Showstopper National Dance Competitions, Dance Champs and Chicago Dance Challenge.
Rene' is also an accomplished vocalist and actor. A member of Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Rene' signed her first professional contract at the age of 8. She performed with the national tour of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat understudying the Narrator and performing Mrs. Potiphar. Other favorite roles include, Polly in Crazy For You, Patty Simcox in Grease, Edyth Herbert in My One and Only, and Simon of Legree in The King and I. Other favorite performances include Oklahoma, The Music Man, Grand Hotel, Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls, Peter Pan, Carousel, Most Happy Fella, and The Goodbye Girl to name but only a few of the dozens of performances. Theater for Young America performances include: The Fantastic Toyshop, The Velveteen Rabbit, Peter and the Wolf, Babes In Toyland and Pinnochio. Other credits include: recording vocalist for the Miss America pageant,Sometimes They Come Back (Stephen King), As The World Turns, national commercials for Tyson chicken and Macys, several regional commercials and an international print ad for Hallmark cards, she even appeared on the back of an international Cheerios box. Rene' is thrilled to be a part of the Ibsen faculty!
Michelle Coon studied vocal music performance and vocal music education at the University of Central Missouri. She has been singing since the age of 14 where she performed in her first musical at Oak Park High and was hooked! Since then, she has been involved with 26 musicals, 18 of them with Gladstone Theatre in the Park. Favorite roles include Kim McAfee (Bye, Bye Birdie), Charity Hope Valentine (Sweet Charity), Jean McLaren
(Brigadoon),
Vi Moore (Footloose), the Jester (Once Upon A Mattress), and Susan Wright (Midwest premier of Flyer the Musical). During the day, Michelle is an assistant teacher and Music Coordinator for a northland preschool. Michelle is very excited to be teaching at Ibsen!
Lauren Braton is excited to be back with the Ibsen staff! Lauren is a Kansas City vocalist/actress who has performed at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Starlight Theatre, American Heartland Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Musical Theater Heritage, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, and the Kansas City Civic Opera. Regionally, she has performed at Arrowrock Lyceum
Theatre
and Seagle
Music Colony New York. In addition to performing onstage, she has a career in the Film/Commercial/Radio Voiceover industry. Lauren holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and also holds a teaching certificate in K-12 vocal music from the University of Central Missouri.
Katie Sabo grew up in St.
Louis, MO. She has been dancing for the past 18
years. She was part of her high school varsity pom squad for 4 years, a member
of Southern Illinois Dance Team for 2
years and a finalist for St. Louis Rams Cheerleading in 2007. She currently
works as a school counselor for Platte County School District, as
well as coaches their high school Dance Team. When she's not teaching dance at
Ibsen Dance Theatre, Katie enjoys running half marathons and spending time with
friends and family.