Pure Energy Dance Instructors
Emily is the director, owner, and instructor at Pure Energy Dance. Emily started dancing at the age of 3 and has over 20 years of experience teaching. Through her dance career Emily has studied a wide variety of dance styles from Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre, High Kick, Pom, and more. Growing up Emily danced competitively throughout Minnesota. She enjoyed competing at both the regional and national level. Some of her standout achievements at competitions include overall firsts, judge’s choice awards, and she was crowned as a title holder two times. Winning the Super Star of the North title she received a chance to perform in the All American Half-Time show at the Citrus Bowl. As an instructor her choreography has won overall awards, platinum’s, judge’s choice, high point awards, and many dancers have been crowned title holders under her instruction. Aside from studio teaching, Emily coached the Cloquet High School dance team and ran dance classes through community education programs. Emily has taken classes at some of the most prestigious studios in Los Angeles, and studied dance through the UMD Dance Department where she received a minor in dance along with her bachelor degree in Business Management. She was selected as to represent Minnesota as a Dance Across the USA dancer, a nation wide campaign bringing awareness to our beautiful national parks. Emily is Acrobatic Arts Certified teacher and a certified Progressing Ballet Technique teacher.
Dance has always been Emily's true passion, she puts her heart and soul into every one of her dancer's instruction. She is a strong believer in continuing her dance education to always bring unique and new dance technique, choreography, and styles to her dancers.
Emily Ferrell:
Owner & Instructor
Emily Severson:
Instructor
Emily grew up in Esko, Minnesota and started dancing at the age of 6. She has experience in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical and hip hop, and spent many years dancing alongside studio owner Emily! Emily had the opportunity to dance at half time shows at both Vikings and Twins games. In the past few years, she has taught an adult tap dance group up in Interntional Falls where she just relocated from with her family. In addition to teaching dance, Emily has been the captain and coach for a competition cheerleading squad which one bids for Nationals. Emily also enjoys giving piano lessons in her free time. She has a degree in Business and Financial Systems and worked in marketing before becoming a stay-at-home mom after her second child was born.
Abby Undeland:
Instructor
Abby grew up dancing competitively at Pure Energy Dance. She has been dancing for 14 years and competitively for 11 years. The genres of dance Abby has trained in are lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, ballet, tap, and pointe. She has been a teachers for 6 years, helping with classes, studio events, and at competitions. During her years of dancing, Abby has earned many awards such as finalist awards, high score awards, and overall awards in teams, solos, and group dances. She also earned the Distinguished Leader award at DX Nationals in 2017.
Outside of the studio, Abby enjoys snowboarding, wake-boarding, hanging out with friends, and her pets. Overall she loves sharing her passion of dance with others!
Libby Schroeder:
Instructor
Libby is currently a high school student and has been dancing since the age of 4. She loves all genres of dance, with lyrical being her favorite. As a competitive dancer Libby has won many stand out awards from judges choice awards, Diamond placements, to invites to compete for national titles. In 2026 Libby was crowned the Superstar Of The North title at one of the competitions Pure Energy Dance attends, this is the highest solo award at this competition. Libby enjoys attending college danceline workshops.
Libby is passionate about helping dancers to grow in a positive, supportive and encouraging environment. One of her goals is to continue her passion for dance after high school. She enjoys watching dancers perform and seeing their hard work and love for dance shine on and off the stage!
Grace Jesperson:
Instructor
Grace started dancing at six years old. She has trained in a wide variety of styles throughout the years. Grace has danced competitively for several years.
"Growing up in Grand Rapids has given me the opportunity to pursue my passion while building lasting friendships and valuable life skills. I currently attend Grand Rapids High School, where I continue to stay involved in both school and my community. Outside of dance, I enjoy swimming, doing crafts, and spending quality time with my friends and family. I love trying new things, staying active, and bringing a positive attitude and strong work ethic to everything I do" - Grace
Abbey Karnes:
Instructor
Abbey Karnes grew up as a competitive dancer at Pure Energy Dance. She has been dancing for 14 years and competitively for 9 years. Her many years of stage experience include being casted in 10 theatre productions at the Reif Center and Young at Art. She has also performed in numerous community events, sporting events, dance competitions, and recitals.
So far, one of her favorite roles was playing the Wicked Witch of the West in the “Wizard of Oz”.
As a dancer, Abbey has been awarded many finalist awards, special awards, and overall high scores in solos, duets, and teams. She has helped teach students tap for two years and has experience in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acrobatics, hiphop, pointe, and musical theatre. She continues to attend conventions and training opportunities to extend her dance education. When she was 12 years old, Abbey was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, but that didn’t stop her from following her dreams of dancing. She wants to be a role model by showing kids that they can still achieve their goals even when faced with challenges. When she was 3 years old she told her mom, “The music is in me!” and she still feels that way even today.
Abbey loves sharing this passion for music and performing with others.
Melinda Ferrell:
Office Staff
Melinda loves spending time with her two grandchildren, Haddie and Huxley. Melinda is also our studio owners mom. Melinda found her passion for dance through her daugher Emily. Her favorite style is Tap.