Faculty and Staff
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Tyler Malone
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.
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David Fuerstenau
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.
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Jamie Blomme
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.
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Eva Schmidt-Mickunas
Dance Faculty
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Eva is a multifaceted dance educator, choreographer, and movement artist who brings over two decades of diverse training, philosophies, and embodied practice to her teaching. Her journey began at the Ballet Conservatory Dance Center in Winter Haven, Florida, founded by her grandmother, Pirkko Lawlor. There, Eva laid a strong foundation in classical ballet technique through the Cecchetti Method alongside jazz, tap, modern, and pointe, nurturing a lifelong commitment to dance as both discipline and expression.
Eva earned her BA in Dance and Visual Arts from Bennington College, where she immersed herself in improvisation, composition, and intermedia. After graduating in 2006, she moved to New York City to further her work as both a performing and visual artist.
Her performance and creative collaborations include work with noted choreographers Paul Matteson, Cori Olinghouse, and Kota Yamazaki, among others. For over a decade, she presented original choreography throughout NYC, Brooklyn, and the Northeast, cultivating a voice rooted in inquiry, embodiment, and poetic clarity.
Eva has studied extensively with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and completed intensive training in physical theater through Movement Theater Studio, grounded in the pedagogy of Jacques Lecoq and enriched by clown study with Virginia Scott. She holds Level I certification in Laban Movement Analysis under the direction of Shihan Michelle Gay. In 2013, Eva deepened her movement vocabulary through dedicated study of House Dance, learning from pioneers such as Marjory Smarth, Caleaf Sellers, Ejoe Wilson, Sekou Heru, Chanan Lareche, and Kim Holmes.
Now based at Iowa Dance Collective, Eva is passionate about cultivating learning spaces that are grounded in both technical integrity and creative exploration. Her classes center the integration of foundational technique with expansive self-expression, encouraging each dancer to engage deeply with their unique artistry. Through warmth, attentiveness, and a spirit of play, she guides students to move through challenges, discover their strengths, and embrace dance as a transformative practice.
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Kate Vigmostad
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.
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Solomon Davis
Acting Faculty
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Summer Loetz
Acro/Tumbling Faculty
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Summer Loetz brings both passion and expertise in early childhood education to Iowa Dance Collective. At IDC, she teaches in our Discover through Advanced Divisions, where her background in gymnastics and her experience in early childhood education come together seamlessly. She focuses on building coordination, balance, and confidence in movement while making each class a joyful, supportive experience.
Alongside her teaching at IDC, she served as the lead preschool teacher at Maharishi School, where she combined creativity, patience, and developmental insight to foster a love of learning in young children. She is also a recipient of the TEACH Early Childhood Scholarship, underscoring her commitment to advancing her skills and knowledge as an educator.
Summer’s teaching philosophy is rooted in creating a nurturing environment where children feel encouraged to explore, take risks, and grow. Her combination of technical knowledge and natural warmth ensures that IDC’s youngest dancers are not only developing strong foundational skills, but also discovering the joy of movement that will support them for years to come.
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Chloe Johnson
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. 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, ensuring 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.
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Gwynedd Vetter-Drusch
Dance Faculty
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Chloe Hennesy
School Manager
