Meet our staff and instructors.
Laurie Walter, Owner
Creative Movement, Combo Classes, Ballet
Laurie's love of dance started during her first ballet class at the age of nine. She began her own teaching experience at fourteen, organizing and teaching ballet and jazz classes in her hometown. Laurie graduated from Luther College with a BA in dance and has spent the last twenty years studying, choreographing, and instructing dance.
Jennifer Kost
Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe
Jenn has experience with a wide variety of dance styles over the years and is excited to join the Crave staff this year! A 2012 Luther Grad, Jenn and her family returned to the beautiful Driftless area two years ago. When she's not homeschooling her three kids or doing Spanish translation work, Jenn enjoys gardening, hiking, foraging, making art, and enjoying the fabulous arts and culture that Decorah has to offer.
Hannah Batterson
Ballet, Tap, Jazz
Hannah began dancing when she was three taking ballet, and has since taken pointe, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and tap. She also has been a competitive dancer since second grade. In middle school, Hannah was Young Clara in the Minnesota Ballet’s The Nutcracker at GBPAC. She has been an assistant instructor in her home studio for 4 years. Hannah is a Sophomore International Studies major at Luther College minoring in dance. She is a member of the Luther College Orchesis dance group as well! She’s really looking forward to teaching at Crave and sharing her love of all things dance!
Annika Evanson
Hip Hop
Annika is from Urbandale, Iowa and has been a dancer since she was three years old. One of her favorite styles is hip-hop. She is a freshman at Luther College and is majoring in Nursing and minoring in Identity Studies. She cannot wait to teach at Crave!
Jensen Korsness
Summer classes and Camps
Jensen has been dancing for 14 years and teaching dance for 4, studying in styles of ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, pom, tumble, lyrical, contemporary, pointe, and musical theatre. She has also trained with The University of Minnesota, Iowa State, and University of Northern Iowa Dance Teams attending various intensives, camps, and clinics. Jensen is a Theatre for Youth and Communities major at The University of Northern Iowa. She is also a member of a pre-professional Modern-based dance company, Orchesis Dance Company, at UNI. Jensen is excited to continue her dance teaching career at Crave!