Faculty
Our professional faculty at Prestige Dance Studio is dedicated to providing every student with a solid foundation for dance. We work to encourage every student to discover their strengths through personal growth, consistence and confidence building.
Read more about our amazing faculty and team members below.
Jess Novotny, Owner and Artistic Director
Jess Novotny, known by her studio families as “Miss Jess”, is the owner and Artistic Director for Prestige Dance Studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. With over 30 years of experience in the dance world, Miss Jess provides her students with a comprehensive view on the techniques,
determination, and respect that are essential in becoming not only successful dancers, but also people with integrity.
Miss Jess started dancing at the age of 2 and at 13 began competing with the Moser School of Dance Performance Ensemble. She continued her intensive dance training by joining the pre-professional group Relevé Contemporary Dance Company. She has performed across the country and has trained in Los Angeles at the EDGE Performing Arts Center, Millennium Dance Complex, and Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios. After high school, Miss Jess attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a B.A. in Dance.
While attending the University of Iowa, Miss Jess was able to refine her choreographic technique and began her professional teaching career. After graduation, Miss Jess moved to Chicago and was given the opportunity to work closely with Kate Jablonski with whom she received firsthand experience and guidance on how to be an exceptional instructor and production manager.
Miss Jess opened Prestige Dance Studio in 2013 to share her passion of dance in a safe, technically sound, creative environment that offers new and innovative styles unmatched in the Cedar Rapids area. Miss Jess has been honored with choreography and most entertaining awards throughout the country and enjoys sharing her talents with the dancers and instructors at the studio. Miss Jess is also very passionate about the dance competition world as a coach, judge, and dance mom. At Prestige Dance Studio, her competition teams have been awarded multiple National Titles and received Judges’ Awards, including the honorable “Kind-Hearts Award” and “Angels Award”. Many of her competition dancers have gone on to compete at the high school and collegiate levels. Miss Jess is also the Head Coach of the Xavier High School Varsity Dance Team, and the Cedar Rapids Elite All-Stars.
Miss Jess shares her life with her fun and supportive husband Dan her three daughters and one son all of whom are an active part of Prestige. She loves being part of the Cedar Rapids and Marion communities and is beyond thankful to raise her family here!
Miss Jen, Educator
Miss Jen started dancing at the age of 6 in a small town in South Dakota, where she studied tap, jazz and ballet until she graduated high school. She was trained in the Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet, which concentrates on the essential skills of balance, pose, strength and artistry. This aligns well with our core beliefs in our curriculum here at Prestige.
Miss Jen moved to Iowa City and studied 2 years of modern and ballet dance at the University of Iowa, where she found her first teaching job and learned how much education inspired her. She is in her 28th year of teaching and this is her 6th year here at Prestige.
Her dance interests also include being the Assistant Director and choreographer of Excelsior Middle School’s show choir for the past 8 years. She spends time with young people, including those who do not have a dance background. She works to inspire and teach them the value of learning new things and teamwork.
Her day job is being a full time Physical Therapist Assistant for Mercy Medical Center. She has done this career alongside her teaching career for 26 years. Her current focus is home health, providing therapy to patients that are homebound and are unable to leave their home.
She spends her free time gardening, biking and visiting local family members. She has been married 26 years and has 2 grown children. Emily is 23 and a nurse in Des Moines. Ryan is 20 and is in the US Navy, stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.
This year at PDS she is teaching ballet, levels 8 and 9. She looks forward to continuing her special relationship with these high schoolers, providing them top rate ballet instruction, as well as a soft place to be themselves. She seeks to inspire them and show them how dance can continue on in their lives for many years to come.
Miss Trista, Educator
Miss Trista has been dancing locally in Cedar Rapids since she was three years old. She danced in college on the Kirkwood Community College Dance Team for one year and later spent three years dancing for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders. Although she has experience dancing ballet, jazz, tap, poms and pointe, her favorite subject is tap. Miss Trista spends her daytime hours working from home for Collins Aerospace, and her nights off during the fall watching her son play football. Walt Disney World is where you can catch her most summer breaks with her husband and son. Miss Trista is so very excited to continue teaching for her tenth season with Prestige!
Miss Emily, Educator
Miss Emily is a dance educator and choreographer from Center Point. Originally from Cedar Rapids, her training began at the age of 3. She danced competitively for a local studio and was a member of the nationally ranked Xavier High School Dance Team. She was awarded as an UDA All-American and was asked to be a UDA staff member. As a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, she had the opportunity to compete as a member of the dance team, earning 5th place nationally, and performed artistically within the dance company, Orchesis. After graduating from UNI, she began coaching dance and gymnastics, certified through USAG and USTA. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity presented to her to work with national and Olympic level gymnasts. Miss Emily is very passionate about competitive dance as a coach, judge and dance mom. She has been blessed to coach at both the high school and collegiate levels, and has taught at a variety of local dance studios around the Midwest. She has been honored with choreographing winning routines for both high school and collegiate teams across Iowa. In her time as an instructor for local studios, she has held many titles including Director of Recreational Dance programs and Artistic Director. She is currently the head coach of the Center Point-Urbana High School Dance Team. Miss Emily is thrilled to be a member of the PDS family.
Miss Holli, Educator
Miss Holli has been dancing for over 32 years, and feels honored to have the opportunity to continue displaying her passion for this art. She began her dance career in a small town in Illinois, and her passion was formed by her mother’s love of dance and music and her father’s love of creating music. Besides training in all genres of dance, Miss Holli has performed in talent shows, cheer/dance teams in middle school, competed and performed with her high school dance team and then went on to compete for Western Illinois University's Wrangler Dance. Her senior year of high school, she was selected to travel to London, England to perform in the Westminster Abby’s New Year’s Day Parade and then went on to Western Illinois University’s Wrangler Dance Line Collegiate Team. Miss Holli has also coached cheerleading and dance teams. Miss Holli was a choreographer, dance teacher and an elementary school teacher in southeastern Iowa before moving to Center Point in 2021. She recently attended the Dance Teacher Web Conference in Las Vegas with Prestige staff and is very eager to implement her newly acquired training. She has also received training with Dupree, NYLA, KAR, and Hollywood Vibe. When not dancing, Miss Holli loves spending time with her two dancing daughters, Sophie and Marley, and her husband, Craig.
Miss Emma, Educator
Miss Emma is a sophomore at Mount Mercy University, pursuing a degree in business marketing. She is also a member of the Mount Mercy Dance Team. She spent 15 years dancing in a small studio in Iowa, and was a 3 year varsity member and a captain of the Center Point Urbana High School Dance Team. Her senior year she was on the All Iowa Dance Team, where she danced alongside many other talented dancers from around Iowa. A fun fact about Miss Emma is that she has never broken a bone! Miss Emma is so excited to bring her love for dance to the studio and can't wait to share it with all of the kids!
Miss Heather, Educator
Miss Heather grew up dancing in Cedar Rapids. She fell in love with dance at age 4 and began competing at 9 years old. She was a member of the Jefferson Varsity Dance Team for 4 years, where she helped lead the team to 2 state championships, and earned 1st place at the ISDTA State Solo Championship her senior year. After high school, Heather attended The Ann Lacey School of Dance and Arts Management at Oklahoma City University, receiving her BPA in Dance Performance. After graduating from OCU, she moved to New York, where she enjoyed teaching, attending auditions and taking classes at BDC, Steps On Broadway and Peridance. Miss Heather returned to Cedar Rapids in 2014, and began teaching full-time and choreographing competition pieces. Her choreography has received “Best Choreography” and high point awards at various competitions throughout the Midwest. Miss Heather’s desire to play an active role in the dance community inspired her to create her business, Clark Concepts, and work as a freelance choreographer/dance educator. As an educator she strives to provide an inclusive environment, giving students the opportunity to inspire and motivate each other to create the best version of themselves on and off the dance floor. Miss Heather is excited to join the Prestige Family and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and love for dance with all of the PDS dancers!
Miss Alexis, Educator
Miss Alexis first tried gymnastics when she was three years old. At the time, she didn’t think it was for her. She took a break to try every other sport in the book; including karate; and realized gymnastics was her true passion. She started back up at gymnastics when she was seven and it consumed her whole life until she made the tough decision to quit at the age of 14. She missed being in the gym so much that she decided to start coaching one month later. She coached gymnastics for 11 years before taking a break to focus on her career in healthcare. While coaching, she had the privilege of doing private lessons with some Prestige dancers to work on their tumbling skills. After a couple years, Miss Alexis was offered a job at Prestige to continue improving dancers’ tumbling. She is the true definition of a crazy dog mom. Miss Alexis and her husband have four huskies that are totally spoiled. Miss Alexis can’t wait for her first real year of coaching at Prestige!
Miss Brodi, Educator
Born right here in the city of Cedar Rapids, Miss Brodi grew up with a strong passion for the arts and continues to grow that love through teaching others about the magic of performing. She started her stage career right downtown at the Paramount with many dance recitals, as well as competing around the Midwest in hip hop and tap. The next step in her journey was when she hit the local theatre scene where she performed in over 20 productions and completely transformed her into the performer she is today. After going through high school and taking full advantage of every performance opportunity possible, she took to the community to educate others using her newly developed skills! She now has the honor of being able to teach at All The Way Up, The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, as well as Prestige, specializing in hip hop, jazz funk and musical theatre.
Miss Keira, Educator
Miss Keira began her dance career at the age of 8. She joined PDS as a student in 2015, and took classes in ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tumbling and leaps and turns. She competed from the age of 8, until she graduated high school. She started assisting classes at the age 11, and specifically started training under Miss Jess at age 15. Miss Keira teaches tumbling, Tiny Company and Mini Company, and helps out on Company Sundays. Miss Keira also teaches private lessons and choreographs for Company solos and a group routine. In addition to teaching at Prestige, Miss Keira runs her own dance costume business that she started at 17.
Miss Lorissa, Educator
Miss Lorissa has been dancing since she was 3 after asking her mom to take class. Over the years she has trained in many styles, with multiple organizations. In Middle School she began competitive dance, and in High-School was a member of Linn-Mar Varsity Poms. Her senior year the team placed 2nd in the Nation, breaking school and state records at UDA Nationals. Miss Lorissa was involved in Iowa State’s Hip-Hop Club and was recruited to the Rebel City Hip-Hop Crew in Des Moines. The group performed for artists, and at different events. She enjoys choreographing as well as improv-dancing in her free time. In 2021 she had a daughter and joined her mothers daycare business. She strives to create an exciting studio environment for young dancers to learn, express their individuality, and grow their love for dance.
Miss Kylie, Educator
Miss Kylie has been dancing since she was three years old and has not stopped since! She grew up in Marion, moved out to Arizona when she was 15, and is now back in CR pursuing early childhood! Kylie actually danced at Prestige for a few years in middle school before moving out to Arizona! Kylie is currently studying early childhood education and adores the preschool age kids! Kylie has been teaching dance out in Arizona for a few years now and absolutely loves it! She is very passionate about making sure the kids have a positive dance experience. She can’t wait to share her passion with the kids at Prestige this year! In her free time she loves traveling, running half marathons and hanging out with her two pups! Her favorite things are chocolate ice cream and Dr Pepper
Miss Reegan, Educator
Miss Reegan started dancing at the age of 3, and came to Prestige at the age of 8. She loves contemporary and jazz. This is her first year working at Prestige and she is loving teaching all the littles!! Make sure you say hi to her as you see her around the studio.
Miss Aubrey, Educator
Miss Aubrey has been dancing since she was two doing all genres of dance, and this year she is a senior in high school. She has two rescue dogs, Penny and Ruby. Her favorite Candy is Sour Patch Kids or Hershey’s chocolate. Her favorite drink is a Chai Latte and she loves to bake!
Stacey, Office Staff
Miss Stacey is another member of our fabulous office staff. You can catch her in the studio office almost every day, at every competition and running around with many little dancers that often aren’t her own. Miss Stacey loves the family atmosphere at Prestige Dance Studio and the varying challenges that every day brings. Recital is one of her favorite days of the year! Having danced from the age of 3 through college, and now raising 1 dancer of her own, spending time at the studio brings Stacey back to her roots. Stacey keeps busy with her 5 kiddos and husband, Chad, and splits her (very limited) free time between being a cross country, track and show choir mom, and a competition dance mom.
Vicki, Office Staff
Even though Miss Vicki's own children are grown, she loves the dance studio atmosphere too much to step away. Miss Vicki was raised by a ballet loving mother and has appreciated all forms of dance her whole life. Her most notable role was that of a green bean on the Paramount stage. She loved being a dance mom to her daughters and is so happy to still be in the studio environment at Prestige. She is happy to help however she can to make sure your dancer is comfortable and prepared for classes, recital or whatever the day may bring.
Steph, Office Staff
Miss Steph loves being a part of the Prestige Family as both a staff member and as a parent. While she was not a dancer, she was a cheerleader, performed in musicals, band and choir/show choir. Fun fact: she's been asked to sing at Carnegie Hall twice! She absolutely loves watching her daughter dance and supporting her two boys in their activities as well. Her house is busy with two pups who constantly want attention. Miss Steph jokingly calls herself Mama Steph as she is always willing to lend a hand to our dancers when they need help with a costume, a positive reminder they are amazing, putting their hair up or a listening ear.
Adrienne, Office Staff
Miss Adrienne is also part of the office staff at Prestige Dance Studio. Her responsibilities include tasks in client support, billing and technology. Miss Adrienne's daughter Madelyn introduced her to the world of dance when she joined a studio at the age of 3 in Minnesota. In 2014, they moved to Iowa and found a new dance home at PDS, where her daughter danced for 6 years on the Community and Company Teams. Madelyn was also a teaching assistant at PDS for many years and is continuing her love of dance by being part of the show choir at her high school. Miss Adrienne also has a son Benny, who enjoys playing baseball and video games. Miss Adrienne has lived in 6 different states (WI, IL, MO, IN, MN, & IA) and she loves 80s music and movies.
"My daughter and I love prestige! The staff is amazing always willing to help and answer questions. Love the small classes so that my daughter can learn and get one on one help when and if she needs it." -Jackie K.
Contact Us
EMAIL info@prestigedancestudio.com
PHONE 319-200-4844
ADDRESS 5005 Blairs Forest Lane NE Suite D
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 view map
OFFICE HOURS Monday- Thursday 4:30-7:00pm