About Us

Come Dance with Us!

Our dance studio was founded over 35 years ago and welcomes dancers of all ages. Our class offerings include ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, dance line, musical theatre, creative movement, and more!

Conveniently located at the Chaska Community Center, we offer affordable and professional dance education that fits your family's budget without the competitive atmosphere. Our emphasis is on building self-esteem, self-confidence, and personal development.

Our Team

Miss Amanda

Miss Amanda

Amanda Middleton is the owner/director of Chaska Dance Center. She taught dance for more than a decade at the Chaska School of Dance prior to taking ...

Miss Amanda

Amanda Middleton is the owner/director of Chaska Dance Center. She taught dance for more than a decade at the Chaska School of Dance prior to taking over ownership, teaching several of our teenage technique classes and the Diamond Company competition team. 

Amanda grew up in the Twin Cities training at various dance studios including Starburst Dance Academy and Summit, and dancing competitively from a young age through college where she was part of the St. Cloud State University dance team.  Amanda continued to participate in the dance community post-college with Vikings and Timberwolves training camps, dance troupe Soul to Sole Dance Conversion, and backup dancing for an 80s cover band. 

Amanda received her Bachelor's degree in Marketing from St. Cloud State University, and her Master's in Human Resources Management from St. Mary's University, and has worked in Corporate HR positions for several years.  Amanda and her husband Anthony have two daughters, Josie and Mackenna, who already share mom's love of dance!

Miss Janet

Miss Janet

Janet Merckling has studied modern, ballet, jazz, and tap, and brings a lot of fun to our classes!  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of ...

Miss Janet

Janet Merckling has studied modern, ballet, jazz, and tap, and brings a lot of fun to our classes!  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Minnesota.  After college Janet taught dance for several Twin Cities studios, specialized in teaching younger students in ballet and tap.  Janet lives in Chaska and has 1 son, Nathan, who attends St. Cloud State University and is serving in the Marine reserves.

Miss Jenna

Miss Jenna

Jenna Anderson grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN, and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a bachelor's degree in communications and ...

Miss Jenna

Jenna Anderson grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN, and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a bachelor's degree in communications and a minor in dance. She began dancing and performing at three years old, competed regionally and nationally, and was a member of her high school and college dance teams. In addition to dance during her childhood, Jenna was a student of the arts including piano, singing and theatre performance.

Jenna is a dancer in Chase and Ovation, A Tribute to the Music of Prince, where she performs locally and internationally, and continues to dance competitively with the Larkin Ladies at Larkin Dance Studio. Jenna is trained in a variety of smooth and rhythm ballroom dance styles, and is also a certified barre instructor.

Miss Jenny

Miss Jenny

Jenny Pantano teaches several of our young children and teen classes, and Emerald and Ruby competition teams.  Jenny’s dance education throughout her ...

Miss Jenny

Jenny Pantano teaches several of our young children and teen classes, and Emerald and Ruby competition teams.  Jenny’s dance education throughout her childhood include The Dance Shoppe, Victoria Dance Productions, Hopkins Dance Center and Ballet Arts.  Jenny’s Los Angeles dance career included Performing Arts Center, Jerry Lewis Telethon performer, and dance captain for the Mark Goodman Tap Company.  Jenny was also honored with a choreography dance award at Showbiz National Talent Competition in Daytona Beach, FL. 

Jenny holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California and a master’s degree from UCLA.  Jenny lives in Chaska and has two young daughters, GG and Mila, who dance with our studio, and two older step-daughters, Sophia and Emily.

Parisha Rajbhandari

Parisha Rajbhandari

Parisha Rajbhandari is a recent graduate in Dance from Minnesota State University, Mankato and an emerging professional.........

Parisha Rajbhandari

Parisha Rajbhandari is a recent graduate in Dance from Minnesota State University, Mankato and an emerging professional dance artist in the Twin Cities community. She grew up in Nepal learning, performing and exploring its diverse and rich dance cultures. Parisha moved to the United States to pursue her undergraduate degree in Dance. She has studied and performed hip hop, salsa, bollywood, modern, ballet, jazz, tap and improvisation. During her undergraduate experience, she also discovered her love for teaching dance. She is a dance artist at Ananya Dance Theatre (ADT). Parisha has found her voice for social justice through ADT and she is grateful for the community-based collaboration at ADT. She hopes to create anenriching class experience through her love and passion for dance.

Chaska Dance Center

Additional teachers joining our team soon

Miss Kathleen

Kathleen Baffert has been teaching dance for 30 years to children and adults and is inspired by watching others find their love for dance. Kathleen received her dance training in Chicago, Illinois, and performed in the Judith Svalander Ballet Company for 6 years.

Kathleen was educated at Columbia College, Hubbard Street Dance and the Joffrey Ballet. Kathleen spent 15 years teaching and studying dance in Southern California. Kathleen has performed in numerous shows including West Side Story, Exodus, Gate' Parisian, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Swan Lake, and Rhapsody in Blue. Kathleen is the lucky Mom of two wonderful daughters.