Meet the

Instructors

Meet the
Instructors

OWNER AND INSTRUCTOR 

TRICIA WOOD

  • Woodbury’s 2011 Business of the Year

Tricia Wood grew up in Bloomington, MN and first learned Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hawaiian, and Clogging, then followed her Dance Instructor mother teaching Line Dancing, Country, and Swing through the 1990’s.  Then in her teen years, she learned the additional styles of Ballroom and Latin dances, topping off the wide variety with a bit of Belly Dancing and Hip Hop in college (Mankato, MN).

Tricia moved to Woodbury, MN at age 21, and managed On Your Toes School of Dance/Retro Ballroom (now called Duende) in St. Louis Park.  Tricia worked with her Professional Dance Partner, and then brought him to Woodbury with her to explore the east side of the Twin Cities that had no ballroom dancing!  She married him at age 22 and they opened a ballroom together in Woodbury, both which lasted 7 years.  Tricia rebranded and opened a new Ballroom Dance studio, Dance and Entertainment Studios, where she continues teaching over 20 styles of Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Country dances!  Tricia teaches Group Classes and Private Lessons, and Choreographs and Coaches our Performance Teams in the studio, and also competes Pro/Am with her students.  Outside of the studio, she provides Event Entertainment- dance lessons, performances, and music DJ services, for galas, country clubs, schools, churches, health and wellness programs, corporate team-building, and more.  Outside of the Twin Cities, Tricia teaches for two different Dance Cruise companies: Dancers at Sea and Kismet Dance Journeys, which have taken her to Europe, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Bahamas, and many of the Caribbean islands. After much success, she now runs her own studio Dance Vacations, taking her staff and clients dancing at all-inclusive resorts.  Tricia is an active member of the University Club of St. Paul, the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, is a Diamond Sponsor to the Woodbury Royal Ambassadors program, and has won several awards and recognitions in the community, including Woodbury’s 2011 Business of the Year.

Outside of the studio and travel, Tricia keeps busy with her kids: Lucas age 11, Olivia age 9, and their dog The Dude, age 4.  Tricia is taking up golfing, and is working towards her Travel Agent certificate and license.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR 

TROY LERUM

Troy Lerum grew up in Pepin, WI then moved to St. Paul, MN.  He has a background in Ballet and African Caribbean dance, as well as close knowledge of body movement from his training and degree in Exercise Science from Concordia University.

Troy became a Ballroom Dance Instructor in 1999 at Dancers Studio, and after 20 years, joined our Team here at Dance and Entertainment Studios in January 2019.  In addition to Ballroom dancing, Troy is in his fourth season performing with Borealis Dance Theater.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

AUSTIN NEPP

Austen took both Group Classes and Private Lessons from Tricia, and even performed Tango with her in a dance showcase!  A couple years of fun dancing passed, and Tricia noticed his talent on the dance floor and asked if he wanted to train to become a Dance Instructor!  Austen happily accepted and has been part of our Team since January 2019!  Austen teaches at our Woodbury, Maplewood, and Stillwater locations!

Austen Nepp grew up in Stillwater, MN.  He was first introduced to Ballroom dancing through a homeschool program.  At age 18, he found Tricia’s dance classes at our Woodbury Central Park location (where Emily first met and took classes from Tricia too!).