Premier Dance Academy, LLC
Est. 1998
It's Different At Premier...
Our Faculty
Our faculty is home-grown, but with experiences that reach beyond Premier Dance Academy, we offer an amazing variety of knowledge and personalities. Our instructors provide a unique balance between that warm feeling of “home” and the professionalism of dance educators who have studied extensively to provide the best possible education. You will find a common thread of kindness, support and honesty among all of our instructors. And although we each have something unique to share with our students, we all have the mission of Premier Dance Academy at heart.
Shannon Gallagher
As the owner and director of Premier Dance Academy, Miss Shannon provides guidance and direction for all of our faculty. Her dance education and experience is extensive and she strives to share her knowledge not only with her students, but also with our faculty. Miss Shannon began dancing at the age of three. Her first teacher was Virginia Davis, and then shortly thereafter, Virginia Lee Mackesey became her primary teacher. Shannon is trained in classical ballet, tap, and jazz, but ballet has always been her favorite. Miss Shannon’s advanced dancers have teasingly nicknamed her “The Ballet Genius”, acknowledging her vast understanding of ballet technique and it’s terminology. Miss Shannon has studied with the Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet West. Not long after graduating from high school, Miss Shannon successfully auditioned for the Duluth Ballet Company (now the Minnesota Ballet). After a season with the Duluth Ballet, Miss Shannon decided to return to Madison. She graduated from the UW-Madison with a degree in English. Shannon is a Certified Dance Educator through Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, a member of National Dance Education Organization and the current President of Dance Masters of Wisconsin. She is also the creator and owner of Elevate Dance - which helps dance studios across the country to teach more than the steps. Shannon is happily married to Chris Stotesbery, and they have a son, Brecken. Outside of the dance studio, Miss Shannon enjoys reading, baking ridiculously sweet desserts, and snowboarding with Chris and Brecken.
Zeborah Allison
Miss Zebbi grew up dancing in Madison under the instruction of Virginia Lee Mackesey. She has been a member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin for 30 years. Although Miss Zebbi has advanced training in ballet, tap and jazz, her forte is tap. She is our advanced tap and jazz teacher at Premier, and the dancers all look forward to becoming advanced enough to attend her class. Miss Zebbi was a member of Jazzworks for many years, including serving as their co-director for a year. She is been very active in the community, choreographing for Edgewood High School’s theater department, as well as Middleton Players Theater and Children’s Theater of Madison. Recently, Miss Zebbi was inducted into Edgewood High School’s Hall of Fame. In addition to teaching dance, Miss Zebbi works full time for NET Technology. She has two sons, CJ and Damon, and a daughter, Kennedy, who is a Premier graduate and now a faculty member at Premier.
Tia Ledvina
Miss Tia began dancing with Miss Shannon when she was 4 years old (when Premier first opened). Her love of dancing didn’t stop after high school - Miss Tia continued dancing in college at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, earning her bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in dance. She performed in a total of 6 shows during her college career, and went to ACDF (the American College Dance Festival) twice, performing via adjudication each time. Miss Tia choreographed multiple dances for shows during her junior and senior years, and eventually went on to use this knowledge teaching at Premier. She danced competitively with her fiancé in ballroom dance for two years as well, learning everything from Latin dance to the Waltz and Foxtrot. Currently, Miss Tia works as a communications and design specialist with the state of Wisconsin.
Kennedy Allison
Miss Kennedy is the daughter of our own Miss Zebbie! Miss Kennedy began dancing at Premier at age 3, and was eventually a member of Petite Company, Junior Company and then Senior Company. She graduated from Memorial High School in 2015. While in high school, Miss Kennedy had her eye on the UW-Madison's marching band, so in preparation, each summer she performed with The Sound Of Sun Prairie Marching Band. In the fall of 2015, as a freshman, Miss Kennedy successfully tried out for the UW-Madison Marching Band. This year, as well as last year, Miss Kennedy holds the prestigious position of Assistant Drum Major! She graduated from the UW-Madison in the spring of 2019 with a degree in Psychology and Legal Studies with a minor in Criminal Justice. Miss Kennedy graduated from UW-Madison's Law School this past spring and Premier's first dance teacher/lawyer.
Katie Pustina
Miss Katie started dancing at the age of five in the Madison Area. She became a member of Wisconsin Dance Ensemble and Dance Wisconsin at the age of 16. Miss Katie performed in Nutcracker, Peter Rabbit Ballet, Coppélia, La Fille mal Gardée, and various new works productions. After highschool, she joined Jazzworks Dance company and was a member for 11 years. Kaie has taught Ballet, Jazz and Tap for 16 years. She took a break from teaching the last several years to spend the time raising her twin boys Lucas and Landon. She's excited to be back in the studio to continue to share her passion and love for dance with her students. Katie works full time during the day for Humana, and in her spare time she loves to go hiking with her husband Ben and Lucas, Landon and 1 year old Red Heeler Rosie. Miss Katie also likes to join a Zumba class whenever possible.
Annie Ryan
Miss Annie grew up taking ballet, tap and jazz classes. She has a background in Early Childhood Education, which includes music and creative movement to build motor skills and as a means of expression. Miss Annie has also worked as a Registered Nurse before becoming a full time mom. Her son, Harley, is an avid fly fisherman and her daughter, Lily, is a full time student at UW-Madison. Lily also grew up dancing at Premier. In her free time, Miss Annie likes to do yard work, read and spend time with her two kitties and her tortoise.