Introducing the Company
2024/2025 Company Dancers
Hannah Albers
Hunter Batterson
Malia Craft
Doug Hooker
Lydia Kantor
Sara Karimi
Helena Magalhães
Shannon Mulcahy
Betsy G. Nelson
24/25 Apprentices and Guest Artists
Allison Durham
*Apprentice
Nate Stevens
*Apprentice
Peter Hoffman
Jake Nehrbass
Brandyn Tapio
2024/2025 Company Members
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Hannah Albers
Hannah is originally from Saukville, Wisconsin having trained at Lake Shore Dance. She is a 2017 graduate from the U of M Twin Cities with a BFA in Dance and a Business Management degree. While at the U, she performed works by Shapiro & Smith Dance, Wynn Fricke, Brian Brooks Moving Company, and Martha Graham Dance Company among others. She has worked with WI based Warped Dance Company, as a guest with COLLIDE Theatrical and has had the opportunity to work with Hatch Dance and HoneyWorks in their Shed Performance bolero, bolero in 2020. Hannah has continued to work with Carl Flink’s Black Label Movement since 2019, participating in three season works (Teamwork 2.0, Canary, Crimson, then Emerald and WRECK) and two tours to Florida and NYC. While with Black Label she’s enjoyed the opportunity to work in collaboration with companies like Sod House Theater for the Swede Hollow Project, perform at the Cowles Center’s fall forward in 2022, dance in a TedX film in 2020 and most recently present her own work at Black Label’s inaugural Mover’s Make in March of 2024. Hannah is also School Program Director for Prairie School of Dance where she has worked and taught full time since 2017. Hannah is eager to enjoy all the firsts that come with working with Jolene Konkle’s Concerto Dance this season and is thankful to dance on stage with her company this year.
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Hunter Batterson
Hunter Batterson (she/her) is a dancer, performance artist, and arts administrator originally from Chicago, IL. She began her multidisciplinary movement training with the Dance and Music Academy before transitioning into a pre-professional program at The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts), also receiving additional instruction through the Kansas City Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago summer intensives at this time. She then went on to pursue her BFA in Dance and minor in History from the University of Minnesota, graduating with high distinction in 2021. Here, she had the opportunity to perform in works by Andrea Miller, Vie Boheme, Chris Schlichting, Annie Hanauer, Carl Flink, Joe Chvala (Pippin), and Rahila Coats (North Central ACDA 2020 selection). In her professional endeavors, Hunter has worked closely with Borealis Dance Theatre, Corpus Callosum Dance (Lily Conforti), Javan Mngrezzo, and Mary Willmeng (Willmeng Dances), appearing in the Zenon Zone Showcase, CANDY BOX Dance Festival, and the MN Fringe Festival and their annual Five Fifths Fundraiser. Since 2022, Hunter has been a featured performer in a recurring cabaret at the Bryant Lake Bowl, produced by Kendall Kramer. Along with performing, Hunter has also worked administratively within numerous dance-based organizations, previously with institutions like Zenon Dance School, ARENA DANCES, Northrop, and Trifecta Dance Collective, now serving as the Marketing Coordinator for Platinum Dance. This is Hunter’s second season with Concerto Dance, and her first as a full company member.
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Malia Craft
Malia Craft is originally from Hartwell, Georgia and is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received a B.A. in dance, a minor in exercise and sports science, and a certificate in K-12 dance education. She has a strong passion for teaching as well as performing. Malia is a current company member with Threads Dance Project and made her first appearance with Concerto Dance in cast of Girls in the Band. She has been a guest performer with Concerto since 2022 and is excited to be returning as a full company member!
Doug Hooker
Doug Hooker is a Minneapolis based dance artist, originally from Keizer, Oregon. Having graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Dance, he is very thankful to have had a wide variety of professional performing opportunities including dancing with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, touring nationally and internationally with the Broadway show Blast!, as well as independent projects throughout the Twin Cities. Doug has previously danced with: Dancing People Company in Ashland, Oregon under the direction of Robin Stiehm, Mathew Janczewski's ARENA DANCES, Threads Dance Project, Paula Mann, Erinn Liebhard's Rhythmically Speaking, Shapiro & Smith, Collide Theatrical, Jose A. Luis, and the MN Opera. Doug was a guest artist in Concerto's LookingBack/MovingForward and is in his second season as a Concerto company member.
Lydia Kantor - Company Repertory Dancer
Lydia Kantor received her dance training from Ballet Arts Minnesota, Minnesota Dance Theatre, and St. Olaf College. She has had the honor of performing with Jolene Konkel since 2016 and is a founding member of Concerto Dance. Additionally Lydia has performed locally with several other dance companies including Alternative Motion Project, Collide Theatrical Dance Company, Curio Dance, and Eclectic Edge Ensemble. Her performance experience expands into the theatre having performed in a production of Bye Bye Birdie as well as the Guthrie Theater's A Christmas Carol. In addition to her role as a company member, Lydia also serves as Assistant Rehearsal Director. For her, dance is joy.
Sara Karimi
Sara Karimi is a Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Iowa (BFA in Dance Performance, BA in English). She performed and toured with 10,000 Feet Dance Company, The Architects, and Kayle + Co. before relocating to Minneapolis. Performance credits include Borealis Dance Theatre, Dance & Other Behaviors, Alexandra Bodnarchuk, Leila Awadallah, RJDT and 43X94 Movement Research. She is a current company member with Threads Dance Project and Rhythmically Speaking. She is a founding company member of Concerto Dance.
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Helena Magalhães - Company Repertory Dancer
Helena Magalhães has been a dancer for 21 years and is trained in a variety of techniques including ballet, modern, improvisation, jazz, and more. Since graduating from the University of Iowa with a BFA in Dance, she has worked with groups such as Flying Foot Forum and See-Saw Theatre Lab, and has been working with Jolene Konkel as a founding company member of Concerto Dance for the past four years.
Shannon Mulcahy
Shannon Mulcahy holds a BFA of Dance from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. During her undergrad, she trained under Toni Pierce-Sands, Carl Flink, Ananya Chatterjea, Erin Thompson and Joanie Smith. Her professional credits include Rhythmically Speaking, Contempo Physical Dance, and Erin Coyne Choreography. Shannon teaches at Ballare Teatro and Prairie School of Dance as well as youth master classes throughout the Twin Cities Metro area. Shannon is in her third season with Concerto Dance.
Betsy G. Nelson
Betsy (Gaasedelen) Nelson earned her BA in Dance and Exercise Science from St. Olaf College and is proud to be a founding member of Concerto Dance. Her performance credits also include Collide Theatrical Dance Company, Minnesota Opera, Curio Dance, Rhythmically Speaking, and more. Outside of performing, Betsy has enjoyed a decade as a dance teacher and is currently on staff at CREO Arts & Dance. She is also thoroughly enjoying a new adventure as a mom to an almost-1-year-old daughter! Whether teaching or performing, Betsy particularly enjoys jazz dance and the musical and expressive richness it offers.
Guest Artists and Apprentices
Allison Durham - Apprentice
Allison Durham is a dancer, choreographer, director, and Concerto Dance’s newest apprentice! She moved to the Twin Cities in May of 2023 after receiving her BA in Theatre and Performance Studies with a minor in Dance. Since leaping to the land of ten thousand lakes, Allison has performed in works for the Fox and Beggar Theater, Collide Theatrical Dance Company, and 8:20 Dance Company. In addition to Concerto, she is also a company dancer and choreographer for 8:20 Dance Company, and on Monday nights, you can find her teaching Intermediate Contemporary Jazz at Zenon Dance in downtown Minneapolis. As a theatre and dance artist, she values discovery, passion, connection, improvisation, and purpose in her performance and choreography. Additionally, Allison loves long runs, swimming, cooking (for work and pleasure), and spending time with her family, friends, and two cats, King Neptune and April.
Nate Stevens - Apprentice
Nate is thrilled to be performing in his first full year with Concerto Dance. He has performed at the University of Northwestern in UNW Dance Theater ('21, '22), and most recently with Concerto Dance in The Adventures of Peer Gynt ('24). Nate is excited to continue growing as a performer this season alongside such incredible artists.
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Peter Hoffman - Returning Guest Artist
Peter Hoffman is a Minnesota native who loves writing/producing music, singing, dancing and all-around performing. He began his dance training with Curio Dance & School in 2021. Peter has been trained in a variety of dance including African, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, and tap. He particularly enjoys both jazz and contemporary. He performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy (2022) and Carmina Burana (2023). He has performed original works by Loyce Houlton, Lise Houlton, Kaitlyn Gilliland, Dario Mejia, and Giselle Mejia. Additionally he performed in the Broadway production of School of Rock with the Zephyr Theatre in 2022 and with Aspire Music Academy, Open Door Community Theatre, and Merrill Community Arts Center. Peter is a high school senior pursuing his Music Degree through PSEO classes at IHCC. Peter is excited to be moving from an apprentice to a guest artist role for his second season with Concerto Dance.
Jake Nehrbass - Returning Guest Artist
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Jake has been studying and performing dance since the age of three and teaching since age 12. He received his BFA in Dance and Kinesiology with expertise in tap, modern, jazz, hip hop, international and ballroom styles. He has an interest in physical therapy and yoga and works as a performing artist, choreographer, and dance teacher in the Twin Cities area. Currently, Jake is a company member of Black Label Movement, Ruby Josephine Dance Theatre, and Rhythmically Speaking and has been (or continues to be) a guest artist for local projects with Concerto Dance, Contempo Physical Dance, Arena Dances, Mixtape, Threads Dance Project, Flying Foot Forum, Katha Dance Theatre, Eau Claire Dance, STRONGmovement, and in Stephan Koplowitz’s Northfield Experience. Jake also performed in Au, a Live at the Shed work created by Hatch Dance and Honey Works. In addition, Jake is an instructor at Prairie School of Dance as well as Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center.
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Brandyn Tapio - Returning Guest Artist
Brandyn Tapio is a 2014 graduate of the University of Northwestern, St. Paul where he studied theatre and dance and served as dance captain under the direction of Jolene Konkel. Post-graduation Brandyn has performed in several community theatre productions and professionally with the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre and Flying Foot Forum, and has served as an assistant choreographer to Ms. Konkel in educational music theatre. In addition to his performance career, Brandyn works in the physical therapy field. Brandyn made his debut with Concerto Dance in Looking Back/Moving Forward and returned as a guest artist for the 23/24 season performing Ode to Opus Jazz at the Cowles Center. He is excited to be back for another season.
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