The Dance Unit Staff
Lauren Gross
Owner/Instructor
Lauren began dancing in tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and jazz at a young age. A graduate of Woodbury Dance Center, Lauren continued her dance studies, in addition to holistic health and cultural studies, at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. As a college student, she also danced for Breaking Boundaries, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, and University Dance Theater. During this time, Lauren began instructing and choreographing for recreational classes and competition lines at Lake Area Dance Center and Dance By Kris.
Her routines have won numerous overall placements and choreography awards during her 12 years of teaching. She enjoys teaching individuals improved not only technical skills and excellent performance quality but also life lessons learned through the dance education process. Lauren also runs her custom costuming business, LTG Costumes. She's one high-energy, organized business owner and dance educator! Outside of dance, she enjoys time with her husband and fellow instructor, Kyle, and her family and friends.
Kyle Gross
Owner/Instructor
Kyle grew up training in tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater, lyrical, and hip hop at Dance By Kris in Cottage Grove, MN. Kyle received numerous overall high scores and special judges’ awards through his solo and group routines as a competition line dancer. He also won the national “Mr. Masquerade” title in 2011. Kyle is a graduate of the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management with majors in Marketing and Supply Chain Operations Management and a minor in Mass Communications. While at the U of M, Kyle danced with “MinnesoTap” – the University of Minnesota’s tap dance company, serving as both President and Artistic Director. He was also a contemporary dancer for Breaking Boundaries Dance Company in Minneapolis.
Kyle is entering his 13th season of teaching dance. In June 2023 he was awarded the National Choreography Award at Masquerade Nationals! As an instructor, he enjoys teaching dancers about accountability, work ethic, communication, and dance technique. Kyle is looking forward to sharing his passion with students at The Dance Unit!
Erika Risley
Erika began dancing at a young age, starting in recreational hip hop, tap, jazz, and lyrical and progressing into a senior competition group. There she learned the arts of ballet and other styles. In her senior year, she competed in a solo and duet in the contemporary category. A graduate of Lake Area Dance Center, Erika began her journey as a recreational dance teacher assistant. She assisted from preschool and kindergarten classes to teen and senior dancers. By last year at Lake Area Dance Center, Erika was the primary teacher for most recreational classes and even a choreographer for the teen tap, jazz, and lyrical. Erika also taught and choreographed for competitive Pom Jazz as well. Erika has four semesters of general college classes outside of dance, including interpersonal communication and American Sign Language. While at college, she also enrolled in a guitar ensemble and concert band, where she played guitar and flute, respectively.
Erika is also an employee at Avanti Center as a Youth Residential Counselor. She works with children who struggle with their mental health and are assigned as females at birth. She guides them through their treatment by building and providing a safe environment and implementing coping skills into their lives. Erika enjoys both her career working with children and helping them grow, and she looks forward to sharing her love for dance and building lifelong relationships at The Dance Unit!
Zoey Malmstedt
Zoey began dancing at age three and grew up training in many dance styles, including tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theater. At age 12, she began assisting and sub-teaching for both recreational and competitive classes of all ages at Lake Area Dance Center. Beyond a studio dance setting, Zoey graduated with honors from Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists where she then furthered her studies in techniques such as modern/ postmodern, breaking, social dancing, and other unique styles.
After finishing her competitive dance years and graduating from The Dance Unit, Zoey is attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, pursuing majors in Strategic Communications and Marketing. Outside of dance and school, Zoey enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and finding other creative outlets like drawing and painting in her free time. She is excited to be teaching and is looking forward to another fantastic season with The Dance Unit!
Leah Gulstrand
Leah Gulstrand is an artist, dancer, and teacher from Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is a B.F.A graduate, class of 2018 from the University of Utah in Modern Dance. She is a recipient of the University of Utah Fine Art’s Full Academic Tuition Scholarship for Dance, which was granted in the spring of 2014 and has continued to renew through the 2018 year. She has performed in many venues and spaces across Minnesota, Utah, Oregon, and Germany; including the Minnesota Fringe festival, Oquirrh West Project (former company member), and in Berlin with DART Dance Company.
She has worked at several studios nationally throughout the U.S.A, including in Salt Lake City and throughout the twin cities. She is also a two-time recipient of the SALT Dance Choreography festival, for best Professional Solo. She has taught Ballet for 8 years and continues to strive to bring the most advanced and up-to-date ballet education she can to her students.
Anna Yaritz
Anna started dancing when she was 4 years old at Lake Area Dance Center. She started in recreational classes but then quickly joined a competitive team where she learned many styles including tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and pointe. Additionally, Anna competed solos and duets starting in 9th grade of high school. Then deciding to do self-choreography her junior and senior year, she found a love for choreographing! At age 17 she started assisting competitive classes at The Dance Unit which grew to co-teaching and teaching after graduating from high school and TDU.
Anna now attends the University of Minnesota Twin Cities pursuing an undergraduate degree - Majoring in Environmental Science Policy and Management, focusing in Conservation and Resource Management. She is also pursuing a minor in dance to gain more knowledge in all of the different styles! At the UMN, Anna is also employed in the landcare department working in Tree Care where she can gain experience and grow her love for the outdoors and environment.
Anna is thrilled to enter her thirdyear of instructing students at The Dance Unit!
Valerie Federici
Valerie Federici has been dancing since the age of two, training in jazz, contemporary, ballet, tap, hip hop, and musical theater. They have danced at The Dance Unit since its inception as a Senior Company team member, solo artist, and class assistant. A 2023 graduate of Centennial High School, Valerie now teaches our competitive dancers in a variety of styles!
Valerie also helps out around the studio with rhinestoning costumes and decorating for studio events. They are very excited to help share their passion for dance with the next generation of TDU dancers!