Jennifer Pasley-Johnson began dancing at age two, with lessons from her grandmother, Nancy. She has studied in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop, and has taken classes from Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels and many more. Jennifer graduated with her Physical Therapist Assistant degree in 2019.
When Jennifer isn’t dancing or working, she will most likely be spending time with her husband, children, and dog. She teaches ballet, pointe, and technique. Jennifer took over management of the Pasley Ballet School in 2023, with generous support from her family, and most importantly, her grandmother.
Deb Fontaine began dancing at the Judy Rae Dance School in Grand Forks. She has studied under Jamie Rogers, (choreographer of the movie "Fame"), Gus Giodano, Helen Philips, (Disney choreographer) and others in Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Over the years, Deb has operated seven dance schools in both Dakota's and Minnesota. She has choreographed for the Miss North Dakota pageant and the North Dakota Dance Challenge competition. Since 2000, Deb has been the premier jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop instructor at Pasley Ballet School.
Kari Suedel began her dance instruction at the age of 3 with Nancy Pasley. She has studied with numerous instructors, including Mary Ellen Wier, Ron Guidi, and more. She teaches senior ballet, senior pointe, and senior tap, as well as adult ballet.
Sadie Pasley began dancing at age two, with instruction from her grandmother, Nancy. She has studied in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. Sadie is attending UND. She teaches intermediate ballet and technique.
Riley Regorrah began dancing with Nancy Pasley at the age of five and hasn’t stopped since. She has trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. At age 10, Riley became a class helper assisting with various ballet and tap classes before teaching her own class at the age of 17. For the last few years, she has enjoyed pursuing her love of dance while also teaching younger dancers to do the same. Outside of dance, Riley is a 5th grade teacher with the Grand Forks Public Schools. Riley currently teaches beginner ballet and tap.
Haley Isaacson began dancing at Pasley Ballet School in 2007, studying ballet and tap. Throughout the years, Haley added pointe, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical to her repertoire. She soon became a regular face in the classroom being a helper and substitute teaching. Haley teaches beginner and intermediate jazz, beginner and intermediate tap, and coaches the competition teams.
Nancy Pasley
Nancy Pasley began the Pasley Ballet School in Grand Forks since 1975, teaching hundreds of children over the years. She began her dance career at the age of four, studying under Ann Dirksen in Ames, Iowa. She graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and taught classes locally for nine years before moving to Grand Forks with her family.
Nancy attended the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Camp for six weeks in the summer of 1963 where she studied ballet, character, flamenco, lyrical, pointe, & modern with Geoffrey Holder, Margaret Craske, and Ted Shawn; the founder of Jacob's Pillow. She performed and taught for the North Dakota Ballet Company from 1970-1975 where she was introduced to the late Mary Ellen Wier. The two enjoyed a lifelong friendship, dancing together through many camps and workshops, including their annual trips to Aberdeen, South Dakota where they attended Johnny Cavelle's dance workshops. They studied with many teachers, including Marie Adair, Gus Giodano, Luigi, Jonathon West, and Ann Dirksen. Nancy has danced in and choreographed numerous ballets and musicals, including performing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker Suite" at Iowa State. Many years later, she "graduated" to the part of Mother Ginger in Ronn Guidi's production of the same at the Chester Fritz in 2000, 2002, & 2003.
Throughout her long career, Nancy’s greatest joy of all is her dance school and the students she has come to know. Nancy feels she offers the very best dance education possible, with exceptional instructors. She and her husband Robb have been married over 50 years, and have three children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Always in our Hearts
Jane Pasley was a beloved children's teacher at Pasley Ballet School. She passed unexpectedly in August 2013. Her final gift of organ donation changed the lives of many.
The following are Jane’s gifts:
Liver: 54-year-old man who waited 257 days
Kidney #1: 34-year-old woman who waited 1,838 days
Kidney #2: 61-year-old woman who waited 1,831 days
Gift of tissue
Gift of sight