About Prima

Prima Classical Coaching was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, originating with workshops and small-group classes.

We quickly outgrew this model and now offer comprehensive classical ballet training for dancers of all ages! Our accelerated training program is designed for dedicated students who aim to excel in the world of ballet.

Guided by accomplished instructors, our curriculum emphasizes technical precision, artistic expression, and passion for the art form, ensuring each dancer reaches their full potential.

Meet the Director

Jacqueline McDaniel

Owner and Director

Jacqueline's love for ballet began at the age of seven. She began training at Ballet Iowa, a Vaganova-based school and company directed by former Bolshoi Ballet dancer, Konstantin Uralsky. While attending a summer intensive at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., Jacqueline was invited to attend the pre-professional program under Ludmila Morkovina, a graduate and professor of the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Upon graduation, she danced with Omaha Theater Ballet and as a guest performer for Central Dance Theater and Iowa Dance Theater. Jacqueline decided to put her dancing career on hold to attend college. She relocated to Chicago where she received a degree in Marketing with an Art minor from Roosevelt University. While attending college, she began teaching ballet, pointe, and creative movement at several Chicago-land studios. After college graduation Jacqueline realized how much she missed dancing. So she decided to return to the stage. Jacqueline went on to dance with: Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, Omaha Ballet Theater, Ballet Theater of Maryland, Metropolitan Ballet, Cities Classical Dance Ensemble, and Saint Paul Ballet. Jacqueline loves encouraging dancers to believe in themselves above all else; to always push for more and not define themselves by one specific talent but pursue their limitless potential.

Meet our Staff!

Lexi Bateman

Lexi Bateman, originally from Centennial, Colorado, received her foundational training at Denver Ballet Theatre, specializing in the Vaganova method of classical ballet and character technique. Her passion for teaching and choreography blossomed during her time at Creighton University. In addition to performing with the Creighton Dance Company, she choreographed and staged pieces for both collegiate and professional performers in Omaha and Denver. In 2023, Lexi graduated from Creighton's Honors Program with a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Science and a minor in dance. Following graduation, she moved to Saint Paul to dance with Ballet Co. Laboratory. Lexi is delighted to be returning to Prima Classical Coaching for her second season, sharing her love of ballet and inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Ted Sothern

Ted trained with Frank Bourman and started his dance career with Loyce Houlton’s Minnesota DanceTheater. He left Minnesota and began a career in classical ballet, most notably with WashingtonBallet, North Carolina Dance Theater, and American Repertory Ballet. While performing with BalletsGrandiva he had the opportunity to tour Japan, performing comedic and classic ballet works. Since moving back to Minnesota he performed with Ballet MN, MN Dance Theater, Ballet of the Dolls, Continental Ballet, Twin Cities Ballet of MN, and a variety of local choreographers. At St. Paul City Ballet, he danced and was also an Artistic Partner for 10 yrs, producing many full-length ballets. It was at SPCB that he met and danced with Miss Jacqueline. He was AD of Rochester Dance Co. for 8 years and AD of Hopkins Youth Ballet at Hopkins Dance Co, where he also taught ballet for 12 years.

Jennifer Mack

Jennifer’s 20+ year career in dance includes receiving several notable roles, awards & grants for her work as a dancer/performer, choreographer, instructor and adjudicator internationally in dance, theater, opera, music, film, and commercially with numerous companies, competitions, festivals, schools, studios and universities. Favorites include: Alternative Motion Project (founding dancer), Collide Theatrical Dance Co., Continental Ballet, Curio Dance, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, James Sewell Ballet, Kim Robards Dance Co., Live Action Set, MN Opera, Offleash Area, St. Paul Ballet, Milwaukee & MN Fringe Festivals, Rhythmically Speaking, Twin Cities Film Festival, Ballet Academy Youth Ensemble, Children’s Dance Theater, Phipps Art Center & Dance Co., Rochester Dance Company (former Assistant Director), St. Paul Conservatory for the Arts, Zenon Dance Co. & School, Aveda, Best Buy, Cost Cutters, Sherwin Williams Paint & Target. She holds a certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), a BFA in Dance, BS in Arts Management & International Studies with minors in Art, Music & Biology (Magna Cum Laude) from UW-Stevens Point under a Bukolt Scholarship.

Heather Ludlow

Sophie Rossmiller is a versatile dancer who was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She began studying ballet at St. Paul Ballet, where she studied for 7 years, and has continued to expand her technical and creative fluency in other dance styles since then. These styles include modern, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and exposure to historical dance forms. Her passion for dance combined with her interest in movement and the human body inspired her to pursue a dual-major Bachelor of Arts from Hope College in Exercise Science and Dance. While at Hope, Sophie had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Sharon Wong, Heather Cornell, Matthew Farmer, Tracy Dunbar, and Jasmine Meija. Additionally, Sophie has furthered her development as an artist by attending various summer programs and spending a semester abroad at the Centre de Danse du Marais in Paris, France.

Michelle Ludwig

Michelle Ludwig graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas with B.A's in K-12 Education and Spanish, as well as a dance minor from Macalester College. She began her training under the direction of Juli Mickelson and the Dance Endeavors team, studying a variety of styles including jazz, tap, modern/contemporary, and classical ballet. Other training includes summer intensives with Joffrey New York, Magnus Midwest Ballet, and Milwaukee Ballet. Michelle began her professional dance career in Minnesota with St. Paul City Ballet, was a founding member of Ballet Co. Laboratory, and had the opportunity to dance professionally in Denver with Colorado Ballet's Studio Company. Most recently, Michelle has danced with Twin Cities Ballet under the direction of Rick and Denise Vogt. She has performed in an array of classical and original story ballets including: The Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in A Minnesota Nutcracker, Beauty in Beauty and the Beast, Peasant Pas in Giselle, Clara in Clara's Dream, Carmen in the 1920s, La Vivandiere, Remembering the Little Prince, An American in Paris, Cinderella 1944, Coppélia in Paris, Michael Pink's Dracula, Christoper Wheeldon's A Midsummer's Night Dream, as well as original contemporary works by Zoé Henrot, Joseph Morrissey, Diane Coburn Bruning, Denise Vogt and Ted Sothern. Michelle is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor and has over 15 years of teaching experience for all ages. She looks forward to bringing her experience and love of ballet to Prima Classical Coaching.

Cierra Dailey

Cierra Dailey (she/her) is a movement artist, stage manager, teacher, and arts administrator located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Cierra started her journey as a dancer at a competitive studio as well as a local high school, Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. She found a love for contemporary movement in her teens, and later attended the University of Minnesota pursuing a BFA in dance. She has performed works by many Twin Cities artists including Arena Dances, Ananya Chatterjea, Black Label Movement, Elayna Waxse, and Shapiro and Smith Dance.

Previous Guest Teachers

Laura Greenwell

Brittany Keefe

Micah Chermack

Lily Conforti

Yuki Tokuda

7395 Bush Lake Road

Edina, MN 55439

763-703-6117