Meet the Team

Jess Cigelske, Owner/Director

Dance has been a part of Jess Cigelske's life for over 40 years as a performer, teacher, choreographer and studio owner. Her parents recognized her love of dance at an early age, enrolling her in classes at the age of 3. She began her competitive dance career at the age of 6, winning regional and national awards. She gained extensive training in all dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical and hip hop. Jess choreographed and performed in dance productions while at Marquette University and continued teaching and dancing throughout the years while raising two dancers of her own. In 2021, Jess opened Fresh Coast Dance with the goal of providing exceptional dance technique in a positive, supportive environment.

Taylor Maris

Taylor Tuttle Maris, Assistant Director at Fresh Coast Dance, brings more than two decades of performance, choreography and teaching experience to the studio. Her professional dance career includes roles as dance captain and lead dancer in over 25 productions with Celebrity Cruise Lines and Tokyo Disney. She has a background in instructing both kids and adults, choreographing musicals and leading barre and fitness classes. She is also mom to two Fresh Coast Dance company dancers, Lillian and Mia.

Jennifer Hackbarth

Jennifer Hackbarth trained at the Milwaukee Ballet School, John Cranko Schule, and the School of American Ballet. Currently, she is a Leading Artist with the Milwaukee Ballet. She previously danced with New York City Ballet, Dresden Semperoper Ballet, and The Sarasota Ballet. She also performed as a guest artist with the Royal Ballet in their program, “Ashton Celebrated.” Her Principal roles include Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Odile in Swan Lake, Giselle in Giselle, Marie in The Nutcracker, along with Balanchine's Rubies, Emeralds, Theme and Variations, The Four Temperaments, Who Cares, and various works from choreographers such as Sir Frederick Ashton, William Forsythe, David Dawson, Gemma Bond, Jessica Lang, Christopher Wheeldon, Johann Kobborg, and Edward Liang.

Sarah Wahlstrom Helgren

With over five years of teaching experience, Sarah Wahlstrom Helgren excels in guiding beginning dancers of all ages. Sarah's passion for dance was ignited at the age of two, and she honed her skills in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics. A pivotal moment occurred on her first day of dance class, when her teacher told her a mantra that she lives by today: “The beat is in your feet, but the art is in your heart.” Beyond her dedication to the dance community, Sarah holds a PhD in Neural Engineering and spearheads a Scientific Communications team for a professional association of neurologists.

Lily McClutchy

Lily received extensive training at Accent on Dance Studios in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, musical theater and hip hop. She further developed her performance and competitive skills through conventions and competitions including Hollywood Vibe, Hollywood Connection and Dupree Dance. She continued her dance education at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where she completed a minor in Dance and earned a Certificate in Dance Performance. Lily also holds certifications in Intro to Preschool Dance and Strength Training & Injury Prevention through CLI Studios.

Outside of dance and teaching, Lily is pursuing her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Her passion for working with children and helping others has shaped her approach to teaching, allowing her to bring a strong understanding of movement, development and individualized instruction into the studio.

Sydney Jameson

Sydney Jameson trained at Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy and attended rigorous summer programs at English National Ballet, Boston Ballet and Joffrey Ballet. She is currently a second company dancer with Milwaukee Ballet and looks forward to her first professional season.

During her training, Sydney performed roles including Kitri in Don Quixote, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty and Cipollino in The Adventures of Cipollino. She also placed in the Top 12 at the Youth America Grand Prix Chicago Semifinals. Sydney is excited to join the Fresh Coast Dance staff.

Lexie Westreich

Lexie Westreich has more than a decade of training and competitive experience with dance styles including Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Contemporary. Lexie has received numerous choreography awards and accolades for her performances, including 10 years on a high-performing competition team. She has participated in prestigious dance intensives and conventions, including intensives at Broadway Dance Center, the UWM Dance Program, The Collective Movement, KAOS Dance Convention and Artist Simply Human.

Kerri Guse

Kerri Guse trained at an Illinois studio for 17 years in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pointe, competing nationally for 5 years. She continued her passion by performing and competing for 5 years at the University of Illinois while completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Her job relocated her to Cincinnati, where she danced professionally for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. When her career relocated her once more to Milwaukee to work for MillerCoors, she danced, choreographed and coached for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks Dancers and Grand Dancers. She now teaches Adult Dance Cardio at Fresh Coast Dance.

Abby Hageman

Abby Hageman began her dance journey at Colorado Conservatory of Dance at the age of five, quickly developing a deep passion for the art form. Over the years, she has trained in various styles, such as ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop. In addition to her training, Abby danced competitively for several years, gaining valuable performance experience and further strengthening her versatility as a dancer. Dedicated to refining her technique, she has spent her summers at various intensives including Ballet West, Next Generation Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and BalletMet. This year, she is continuing her training in Milwaukee Ballet's Pre-Professional Program.

Kaitlyn King

Kaitlyn began her ballet training in Missouri and Kansas and continued her studies at summer intensives with Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Oklahoma City Ballet. She began her professional career in 2013 as a trainee with Ballet 5:8 in Chicago, touring with its professional company, performing with the trainee company in outreach settings, and taking lead roles with the School of the Arts. After graduating with distinction in 2015, she joined Ballet Hartford as a trainee and danced with the company for four seasons. Kaitlyn joined Central West Ballet as an artist in 2019 and was promoted to soloist in 2023. She later performed with NWA Ballet Theatre for two seasons before retiring from performance.

Kaitlyn began teaching in 2014 and has taught ballet to students of all ages and levels. Her teaching experience includes Connecticut Youth Ballet, Brass City Ballet, and Central West Ballet Academy, as well as founding and directing ballet programs at Connecticut Dance Theatre and Arts and Top Hat Dance Academy. She has also served as guest faculty for the School of Sacramento Ballet's summer intensives. In addition to teaching at Fresh Coast Dance, Kaitlyn is faculty and a repetiteur for the student cast at Milwaukee Ballet.

Josiah Cook

Josiah began his training in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus before moving to New York City to study at The School of American Ballet. In 2017, he joined Milwaukee Ballet, where he has originated roles in numerous world premieres, including works by Timothy O'Donnell, Kenneth Tindall, and Tsai Hsi Hung. Recent featured roles include the Selfish Prince in Milwaukee Ballet's 2022 reprise of Beauty and the Beast, Karl in Michael Pink's The Nutcracker, Prince Charming in Michael Pink's Cinderella, and Casanova in Kenneth Tindall's Casanova.

Josiah teaches company class at Water Street Dance and regular master classes and pas de deux at Engage Dance Academy in Crystal Lake. Drawing on his classical RAD foundation, SAB training, and musical background, his classes focus on correct alignment with an emphasis on musicality.