Performing Arts Staff

Haruna first started dancing at the Omaha Academy of Ballet in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2010, she studied abroad in London to study at Laban Conservatoire of Contemporary Dance, where she trained in Release, Limon, and Cunningham techniques and classical ballet. She later went on to graduate with her BA (Hons) Degree in Contemporary Dance from the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance.

Haruna has performed with Atelier Teatro Danza in Italy and toured Scotland with the SSCD graduate company, while in college. After graduation, she has performed in Omaha with Maya Taylor Dance Company, TBD Dance Collective, Moving Company, as well as the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen with Ever After Productions. She later moved to Minneapolis and danced with Metropolitan Ballet, Minneapolis Ballet Dancers and Yuki Tokuda Ballet, where she danced both contemporary and classical works. Some of her favorite roles include Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, Cygnets in Swan Lake and Friends in Romeo and Juliet. Since 2012, she has taught at several dance studios all over the Twin Cities and Omaha

Nora started dancing in Saratoga Springs, NY at the age of three. She studied at Ballet Regent, Saratoga City Ballet and Myers Ballet School until moving to Carlisle, PA to train at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under Marcia Dale Weary. While training, she also attended summer intensives at American Ballet Theater, Miami City Ballet, New York State Summer School of the Arts, CPYB and Saratoga and Vail Summer Dance Intensives. After receiving her Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati, she danced with Akjun Ballet Theater in NYC. Nora then joined American Midwest Ballet in Omaha in 2016 and is currently a company dancer. Nora began teaching at the J in 2020 and is excited to share her love of dancing with all of her students.  When she’s not dancing, Nora loves to sit in the sun and read a good book.

Leigh began dancing at the age of 5 and has danced with Beth Gaynes Dance Studio, Truman State University, at multiple conventions and Rugged Soles.  She holds her BA in Communication-Journalism from Truman State University and a Master’s Degree in Arts Education from University of Central Missouri.  Leigh has also choreographed for community theater, show choirs, high school dance teams and charity events.  Leigh began teaching at the J in 2015.  When she’s not dancing, Leigh love to read, bike and spend time with family!

Stephanie Huettner is an Omaha based dancer and choreographer. She has studied and performed various dance styles for over 40 years and is currently the co-director of tbd. dance collective. The creation of the group came out of an organic desire to grow dance in the Omaha community. Since the inception of the collective, Huettner has performed and choreographed with the group in a wide variety of styles in many disparate venues. Her favorite collaborations include work with local musicians, filmmaker Nik Fackler, and the Movement Series at the KANEKO art gallery. Huettner spends her days saving the world as the Assistant General Curator, Curator of Birds, and sustainability coordinator at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

Wendy began her training in Omaha with local Omaha Ballet Theater, Donna Kurtz Cartwright and the Omaha Academy of Ballet. During the school year, she studied in Omaha under the auspices of an Honorary Ford Foundation Scholarship for the Arts. Summer study took her to Saratoga Spring, NY, where the Saratoga Performing Arts Center was the summer residency venue for the New York City Ballet, Julliard Theatre School and the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra. Wendy studied at the Bariansky Saratoga Ballet Center, located on the campus of Skidmore College, with Oleg and Mireille Bariansky, for eight summer sessions, loving and enjoying every minute of performances and training. Wendy credits that experience for her continuing love and passion for dance. She also attended summer sessions, on scholarship, at the School of American Ballet and Harkness Ballet Company in New York City. Wendy danced with the original Omaha Ballet Company for ten years, as a Principal Dancer, performing a wide variety of roles with the company. Wendy graduated from Stephens College with a degree in Business Administration and owned and ran a Manufacturing firm in Omaha and currently works as an Accountant for City + Ventures. Wendy began teaching at the J in 1986 and brings a deep and passionate understanding of a former Performing Artist to her abilities as a teacher and choreographer. Wendy has two lovely grown daughters, Chloe and Cygne. When she’s not dancing, Wendy enjoys traveling with her husband, watching Turner Classic Movies and reading books about the Golden Era of Hollywood.

Originally from Minnesota, Penny Michonski came to Omaha to attend Creighton University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Music. While at Creighton she received her dance pedagogy from Valerie Roche and was asked to teach at Omaha Academy of Ballet upon graduation. Now a ballet instructor with over twenty years of teaching and arts administration experience, Penny specializes in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus to dancers ages three through adult and beginning to advanced ability. Penny is thrilled to be back teaching at the JCC after a brief stint teaching here over fourteen years ago! In her spare time Penny loves spending time with her husband, Dan, two children, Caroline and Joe, and dog, Daisy.

Lynne holds an Associate Diploma through the ISTD Professional Teaching Examinations and has studied the Alexander Technique, she also has a BA in Art History from UNL. Lynne was a company member of Omaha Ballet. She resumed teaching at the J in 2009. When she’s not dancing, Lynne loves to spend time with her friends.

Deidre starting dancing at the age of 3 and has danced with Pat Carlson, Mildred Collins School of Dance and the Drake Dance Team. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Dana College. Her family has been dancing with the JCC Dance program since 2013 and Deidre began teaching at the J in 2019. When she’s not dancing, Deidre loves to cook and read.

Julia Campbell recently graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a degree in Music Education with a concentration in Voice. Additionally, she has studied voice in private lessons for 11 years, where she has been formally trained in Classical/Operatic and Musical Theater genres. Julia has taught private music lessons for 4 years. These include voice, piano, and guitar lessons for Elementary, Middle, High School, and Adult students.

Outside of teaching, she loves to perform both as a soloist and in ensembles. Notable performances include live and recorded opera productions through UNO, Omaha Under the Radar Festival, and a recording project with Grammy nominated sound mixer Tom Ware. Recently, UNO’s recorded production of Hansel and Gretel, where she played Gretel, was a finalist for the American Prize in the Virtual Performance category.

Emmanuel grew up with a passion for music, and fell in love with the piano at a young age. The works of Chopin, Beethoven and even Hans Zimmer inspired him to make music more than just a hobby. He studied music at Creighton University, and has now been teaching piano for over 6 years. His hope is to inspire the same passion for music in younger generations.

Cathy Pacholski began playing the piano when she was eight years old, taking lessons for about four years.  Thanks to support and encouragement from a school music teacher, she continues to play to this day – at weddings, for high school choirs, and in church and senior living communities. Cathy graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and minors in music, communication, and sociology. She began accompanying dance classes and teaching piano at the J in 2020.

Margaret has accompanied dance classes at the JCC from 1991-1995 and resumed in 2012. She has also accompanied at the Omaha Academy of Ballet School of Ballet Omaha, Daniel J. Gross High School and Brownell-Talbot. She holds a B.S. degree in Bible/Music from Faith Baptist Bible College and was a private piano teacher for 24 years.  When she’s not playing for classes, Margaret loves to have shop, take road trips, read, write, personally meditate and have a coffee and talk with good friends.

Omaha-based jazz pianist, composer, and educator, Jeff Jenkins has recently worked as a professor of music in the Thompson Jazz Studies Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Grounded in a wide range of jazz styles, he has released seven original CDs in the last 15 years, while appearing as a featured player on dozens more. Throughout his career Jenkins has appeared locally, nationally and internationally in festivals and clubs with his eponymous ensembles, or as a guest artist with jazz greats including Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Harris, Clark Terry, The New York Voices, Bobby Hutcherson, and John Abercrombie, among others. A product of the acclaimed jazz program at the University of North Texas, Jenkins continued his piano studies in the New York City studios of Fred Hirsch, Richie Beirach, and Kenny Barron. Based in Manhattan in the 1980s, Jenkins performed in noted jazz venues throughout the city, and appeared as principal pianist for several Broadway musicals. A gifted bandleader and in-demand sideman across Colorado and the western region, Jenkins also mixes and produces music professionally in his Mixdown Sound recording studio, and produces music videos for his YouTube channel “allkeyspro”.

Terri Jo is a professional teacher, recording artist, and performing musician in the jazz, folk, and singer songwriter communities of Omaha. She recently relocated back to her home state of Nebraska from Colorado. She is working as a teacher and performer in jazz, folk, and a singer songwriter. Terri Jo studied music (piano, vocal, flute) with focus on teaching, at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She studied guitar at Northeastern College in Sterling, Colorado and later opened music studios in both Lincoln and Denver. She has worked as a music director at churches leading vocal and bell choirs along performing during services.
Although she has had many memorable concerts and recording experiences, it is her long teaching career, seeing students grow musically, that brings her the greatest joy.
“My mission is to help each student to grow in aesthetic understanding and appreciation through learning to play music sensitively and joyfully.”

Katy Kepler (she/her) is a theatre artist based in Omaha, NE hailing from Rochester, NY. She has worked in both regions as a director, performer, and teaching artist, and currently oversees the VROOM! Mobile Sensory Theatre at the Omaha Community Playhouse, which provides high quality theatrical experiences for neurodivergent audiences. Recent directing credits include Amy & the Orphans (Bristol Valley Theatre / Naples, NY), James and the Giant Peach (Skutt Catholic High; Best Musical Award NHSTA 21/22), and Plaza Suite (Chanticleer Community Theatre). Recent performances include Dipper the Starkeeper in Starshine! (VROOM! Mobile Sensory Theatre / Omaha Community Playhouse) and a special appearance as the title character in the Omaha Symphony’s presentation of The Color Crook through the Mission Imagination program during the 22/23 school year. Additionally, Katy has been a Disney Musicals in Schools teaching artist with Omaha Performing Arts since 2018, helping elementary school teachers to develop sustainable theatre programs for their students. Katy received her B.S. in Theatre from SUNY Brockport.

Benjamin Saul is a music teacher with a passion for educating and inspiring students of all ages. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Doane University and has over 6 years of experience teaching voice and piano. He is in his second year of teaching within Gretna Public Schools where he has directed four plays and two musicals. As an active performer and ensemble member, Benjamin has most recently played piano for Papillion La-Vista Souths “Mamma Mia”. He is passionate about sharing his love of music with others is extremely excited to contribute to the music making and performing arts department of the JCC!