Owner/Artistic Director

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Tyler Malone is the Owner and Director of Iowa Dance Collective (IDC) in Fairfield, Iowa, where he leads one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing centers for classical dance education. Under his vision, IDC recently expanded into a new state-of-the-art facility, designed to make the highest caliber of training accessible in a rural community setting.

He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Malone Dance Theater (MDT), IDC’s resident pre-professional company, which provides advanced training and professional-level performance opportunities to emerging artists. Through MDT, Malone curates original works and cultivates a rigorous, conservatory-style environment that prepares dancers for collegiate and professional careers.

A classically trained dancer in the Graham and Horton techniques at Point Park University, Malone toured internationally with LehrerDance (now Jon Lehrer Dance Company), as well as danced and directed for RWS Global, before settling down in the Midwest to dedicate his career to education and choreography. He is regularly invited as a guest artist and master teacher at universities and festivals, sharing his expertise in ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary techniques.

Malone’s teaching is marked by a deep respect for tradition balanced with an innovative drive to expand what is possible in rural arts education. His leadership continues to shape Iowa Dance Collective as both a local hub and a nationally connected training ground for the next generation of dancers.

Dance Faculty

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David Fuerstenau, from Portland Oregon, graduated from Juilliard, spending three years studying Limon, Graham and ballet, and learned danced repertory of those styles, as well as working with Anna Sokolow. He graduated with a BFA in dance in 1981. 

His first job took him to College Park, MD, dancing with the Maryland Dance Theatre, and acted as business manager for the company for two years. Highlights were Kennedy Center and NYC debuts of the company, as well as the role of Harry Beaton, dance captain and assistant to the choreographer in Brigadoon, and Prince Charming in an evening length length modern choreography of Cinderella in DC.

Returning to NYC, he performed with small modern dance companies, and major roles in works by Larry Clark and David Steiger Wolfe. He also spent one season with Paul Sanasardo.

He became certified in body-centered psychotherapy and many Specialized Kinesiology systems, had a private practice for a short time, and helped develop movement and dance therapy based personal growth seminars started by his wife, which they taught across the US and Canada, and in Europe. They trained therapists to do the work they created in both the US and Europe.

He loves to help people identify and move through limiting patterns and beliefs, and to help dancers learn technique and to give their heart and soul when they perform. He looks forward to giving to the people of Fairfield, and helping to build the wonderful community that is Iowa Dance Collective.

Dance Faculty

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Eva Schmidt-Mickunas is a multifaceted dance educator, choreographer, and movement artist with over two decades of diverse training and embodied practice. She began her dance education at the Ballet Conservatory Dance Center in Winter Haven, Florida—founded by her grandmother, Pirkko Lawlor—where she developed a strong foundation in classical ballet through the Cecchetti Method alongside jazz, tap, modern, and pointe.

Eva earned her BA in Dance and Visual Arts from Bennington College, focusing on improvisation, composition, and intermedia performance. After graduating in 2006, she moved to New York City, where she spent over a decade performing and presenting original choreography throughout NYC, Brooklyn, and the Northeast. Her work includes collaborations with choreographers such as Paul Matteson, Cori Olinghouse, and Kota Yamazaki.

Her training includes extensive study with the Trisha Brown Dance Company, physical theater through Movement Theater Studio rooted in the pedagogy of Jacques Lecoq, clown studies with Virginia Scott, Level I certification in Laban Movement Analysis, and immersive study in House Dance with leading pioneers of the form.

Now based at Iowa Dance Collective, Eva is dedicated to creating learning environments that balance technical integrity with creative exploration. Her teaching emphasizes embodied awareness, curiosity, and self-expression, guiding dancers to develop both strong technique and a deeper connection to their individual artistry.

Assistant Director/Dance Faculty

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Jamie Blomme is an international touring professional figure skater and classically trained dancer whose career has taken her around the world. Bringing together the discipline of classical dance and the artistry of performance, she now channels her expertise into nurturing the next generation of dancers at Iowa Dance Collective.

At IDC, Jamie leads our Discover through Primary Divisions, working with our youngest dancers as they take their very first steps into the world of movement. Known for her patient and dedicated approach, she creates a classroom environment where children feel supported, encouraged, and inspired to explore. Jamie’s teaching emphasizes not only the development of foundational technique, but also the joy of discovery, the importance of discipline, and the confidence that comes from steady progress.

Her ability to balance structure with play allows even the youngest students to thrive—developing motor skills, musicality, and self-expression while building a lifelong love for dance. With Jamie’s guidance, IDC’s youngest dancers are given the tools, encouragement, and artistry they need to begin their journey with strength and joy.

Dance Faculty

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Kate Vigmostad grew up dancing with Emma Lamoreaux of Dance Theatre of Iowa; a professional training program that was the springboard for many successful professional dancers. Kate started her ballet training at age 7, with many years of gymnastics prior, and continued with dedication and focus throughout her high school career.

During college, Kate trained in improvisation and other contemporary dance forms and found a home in the Axis Syllabus community, with whom she traveled internationally with for intensive trainings. The Axis Syllabus training bridged dance, somatic practices, and sciences (experiential anatomy, biomechanics, and physics) and added new layers of understanding to Kate’s movement practice that have continued to shape her to today. In 2008, Kate was accepted to the University of Iowa to receive her MFA in Dance and was awarded the prestigious Iowa Arts Fellowship to pursue her studies.

After graduation Kate danced professionally in San Francisco, and San Diego. In San Francisco, she taught dance at Roco Dance Studios for many years, and in San Diego she danced and taught at the Malashock Dance School. Since landing back in Iowa in 2017 Kate worked as an adjunct faculty member in the dance department at the University of Iowa and has taught many private dance and yoga classes as well. Kate’s thrilled to return to her dance teaching at Iowa Dance Collective.

Acting Faculty

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Solomon Davis has returned to his Iowa roots after more than two decades as a professional actor and educator based in Seattle, Washington. He was an ensemble member at Unexpected Productions, Seattle’s premier improv theater, and served as Director of Improv at Taproot Theatre, where he expanded the Art of Comedy summer program from a single class into four sold-out sessions within just a few years.

As a mainstage performer, Solomon appeared with Book-It Repertory Theatre, Taproot Theatre, and Emerald City Scene. He also toured his critically acclaimed one-person show, Remember Being Born?, and taught theater and improvisation at the prestigious Northwest School.

An early member of 88 Improv in Omaha shortly after college, Solomon discovered his passion for blending artistic expression with community-building through collaborative performance. In addition to his work with Iowa Dance Collective, he currently facilitates improv workshops for adults, teaches at the Maharishi School, and co-manages the Source Vibrations Sound Clinic.

Acro/Tumbling Faculty

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Meg Doxtator is a nationally certified gymnastics coach and judge with decades of experience working with young athletes of all ages and abilities. Her training began in the Bay Area at the Palo Alto YMCA and continued at the Santa Cruz Gymnastics Club. Meg went on to attend UC Santa Barbara, where she competed on the university gymnastics team and earned coaching certifications in both gymnastics and volleyball.

Following a brief international experience as Activities Director for the Taipei Youth Program Association in Taiwan, Meg returned to the U.S. to complete her graduate studies at Portland State University, earning a Master of Public Administration. She then spent over 20 years as Director and Head Team Coach at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Oregon.

Throughout her career, Meg has guided countless athletes toward successful collegiate gymnastics careers, while also supporting many who transitioned into related disciplines such as diving, crew, cheer, and dance. In addition to her coaching work, she served as USA Gymnastics State Chairman for 10 years and Regional Chairman for 8 years, during which time she organized regional all-star trips to Japan, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

Meg is deeply passionate about youth development and believes that the strength, flexibility, discipline, and confidence cultivated through gymnastics provide an exceptional foundation for any athletic or artistic pursuit.

Dance Faculty

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Chloe Johnson is a versatile and passionate dance educator at Iowa Dance Collective, specializing in hip hop while also teaching jazz, contemporary, and acro in our Discover through Junior Divisions. She has been training under the direction of Tyler Malone since the age of 16, a mentorship that has deeply shaped her artistic voice and approach to education. Her teaching is marked by high energy, creativity, and a commitment to building both strong technical foundations and authentic artistic expression.

In addition to her teaching at IDC, Chloe works within the competitive dance world and actively travels to stay on the cutting edge of what’s happening in the industry. She continues her own training by taking classes from top professionals across the country and has recently been selected to travel to South Korea to train and audition in person for JYP Entertainment, after being chosen from a highly competitive pool of candidates from across the globe. This global perspective ensures her students benefit from the latest insights, techniques, and trends in dance.

Chloe’s dedication to her students shines through in every class. She creates a supportive and inspiring environment where dancers are encouraged to challenge themselves, take risks, and explore a range of styles—from the dynamic rhythms of hip hop to the strength and flexibility of acro, the stylization of jazz, and the artistry of contemporary.

School Manager