"teaching the next generation of dance"
Meet Our Team
Leigha Stevenson
Owner & Operator, Instructor/Choreographer
Leigha Stevenson began her dance journey at the age of three in Duluth, Minnesota, where she trained in a competitive studio setting. With a strong foundation in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theater, and Dance Team, she quickly developed into a versatile performer. Leigha earned numerous high point and judges’ awards throughout her competitive years and was selected to join the prestigious Starpower Power Pak program, which gave her the opportunity to travel across the country, training and teaching alongside professional dancers and choreographers—including Ray Leeper of So You Think You Can Dance. A standout moment in Leigha’s early career was earning a first-place national title at Celebration Talent’s national finals in 2010 with a solo she choreographed herself.
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Leigha continued her education in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Business and Marketing from the University of North Dakota. As a member and captain of the UND Dance Team, she honed her leadership and choreographic skills. Her passion for competitive dance led her to grow and direct several successful competition programs in Grand Forks, guiding teams to multiple first-place finishes as well as earning awards for showmanship and character across both regional and national stages.
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Leigha's choreography and mentorship have extended to programs such as the GFPS Summer Performing Arts program, productions at the Empire Theater, and several East Grand Forks High School musicals. She is deeply committed to creating a supportive and inspiring environment where dancers can grow artistically and personally! Leigha currently serves as the Head Coach of the Crookston High School Dance Team.
She lives in the Grand Forks area with her husband, Alex, and their two children, and looks forward to raising her family in the studio, passing on her love of dance to the next generation!
Danika Ogawa
Instructor/Choreographer
Danika began dancing at the age of six and has since trained extensively in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Dance Team, Modern, Contemporary, and Lyrical. Raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota, she discovered her passion for dance early on and began competing across the Midwest at the age of 14. Under the mentorship of Leigha Stevenson, Danika earned numerous high point and judges’ awards at both regional and national competitions. Her standout styles include Musical Theatre and Contemporary, in which she has received notable performance awards.
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Danika is trained in the Cecchetti method of ballet and has performed in several local ballet productions, including dancing the lead role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. One of her proudest achievements came in 2019 when she placed in the top 20 out of over 150 solo routines at the Starz National Talent Competition finals in Wisconsin Dells.
With over nine years of teaching experience, Danika has instructed dancers of all ages throughout the Grand Forks area. In 2018 and 2019, she co-choreographed winning routines for the Mandan High School Dance Team alongside Leigha Stevenson, leading the team to a first-place title. She currently serves as the Assistant Head Coach of the Crookston High School Dance Team.
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Danika earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Communications from the University of North Dakota in Spring 2024. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in English and Composition at UND. Danika is passionate about sharing her love for dance and is committed to inspiring students through movement, creativity, and performance for years to come.
Ainsley Holien
Instructor/Choreographer
Originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota, Ainsley has loved dance for as long as she can remember. She trained throughout her entire dance career at Company North Crest in St. Cloud, where she developed both her technical skills and a strong sense of leadership. Ainsley is well-versed in a range of styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Dance Team. Her versatility and passion for performance led her to join the St. Cloud Cathedral Dance Team, where she competed throughout high school and proudly served as team captain her senior year.
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Ainsley has traveled across the Midwest, competing at numerous regional events. A highlight of her dance experience was performing at Nexstar’s National Finals at Walt Disney World in 2019 with Company North Crest, an unforgettable milestone in her dance journey!
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Ainsley recently earned her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota, following the completion of her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She looks forward to blending her clinical knowledge with her movement background in meaningful ways.
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She is thrilled to bring her energy, expertise, and enthusiasm to Dance Warehouse of ND and is excited to continue inspiring dancers both in and outside of the studio.