Vermillion Area Dance Organization |

Pam Ford – VADO Executive Director

command — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:45:28 +0000

Former soloist with the Kansas City Ballet, Pam’s career as a ballerina began at the age of eleven with the role of Clara in the St. Louis Civic Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Having studied at North Carolina School of the Arts and Ballet West summer intensives, Pam was fortunate to receive invitations to study ballet at both Butler University and University of Utah’s prestigious ballet programs. While at Kansas City Ballet, Pam was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Alvin Ailey, Jacques D’amboise, and other world-renowned choreographers. She performed in traditional classical ballets, many works by George Balanchine, as well as original works, and in addition to performances in Kansas City, St. Louis, and New York City, the company toured extensively throughout the mid-west. Pam began teaching at VADO in 2011. Her background included years of training in many disciplines including ballet, jazz, character, and tap, but her primary focus at VADO is classical ballet, pointe, and variations. She was privileged to coach VADO’s first graduate on to become a professional ballerina, and is often asked to judge auditions and teach master classes in the region. Pam was asked to take the job of VADO’s first ever Executive Director in 2017 and enjoys performing her administrative duties while continuing to teach and choreograph.

Audrey Job – VADO Studio Manager

command — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 16:00:55 +0000

Before she became the sixth-grade science teacher in the Vermillion, South Dakota School District, Audrey enjoyed a career as a dancer and performer that offered her some amazing opportunities. She grew up dancing in Orlando, Florida and early in life developed a love for dance – in particular tap dancing. She studied at the Academy of Dance in Orlando, Florida from an early age, and performed all around the Metro-Orlando area including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. In 1995, Audrey was fortunate to join the Up With People tour, during which time she performed all throughout Europe and the United States. After her time with Up With People, she continued to study dance and participated in tap workshops in both Orlando and New York City. After moving to South Dakota and enrolling her children in dance classes at VADO, Audrey began as a volunteer and eventually became VADO’s Studio Manager and an instructor. Audrey loves teaching tap classes and overseeing the popular Tap and Creative Movement programs at VADO.

Makenna Allen

Vermillion Dance — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:48:04 +0000

Alex Anderson

Vermillion Dance — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:50:30 +0000

Alex is from Pleasant Hill Iowa where she danced at Becky Nalavanko’s Dance and Tumbling Studio . She has been dancing for eleven years including eight years of competitive dancing in which she won multiple first place awards in Hip hop. Alex is so excited to share her love of dance with her VADO students in Hip hop, Tumbling, and Creative Movement.

Taylyn Balsley

Vermillion Dance — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:51:56 +0000

Samantha Bunkoske

command — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 14:40:34 +0000

Samantha started her love of dance in San Angelo, Texas. She was the NCA supersquad and top at the age of 6. The studio owner wanted her in her ballet class and it was then she found her passion at the Ballet Arts School with Pricilla Nicholson. While in Texas performed in two Nutcracker productions with the San Angelo Civic Ballet. She performed in the roles of Buffoon (Mother Buffoon) and Party scene. She then moved to Anchorage, Alaska and continued her dance education with Karen Grotts at Center Stage Dance studio. At Center Stage Dance studio she studied ballet, tap, and jazz. She continued performing in various Nutcracker productions. In Alberta Ballet’s Nutcracker production she was an Angel. In Ballet West’s Nutcracker production she was a toy solider and an oriental solider. Upon moving to South Dakota she attended Main Stage Ballet and Dance Academy. Here she added hip-hop to her dance background. Samantha took a small break in her dance career to pursue cheerleading. She felt the need to go back to her love of dance and enrolled in Balleraena Dance Studio. While there she performed in Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker production as a Russian dancer. She also did a Swan Lake dance camp with the Moscow Ballet. She took another break from dance to raise her daughter. Upon seeing the adult ballet class perform at VADO’s second recital, Samantha felt the pull again to be involved in dance. She has since been taking numerous ballet and hip-hop classes at VADO. For a few years she studied the art of Belly Dance under Christie Lewis and joined her Belly Dance Troupe, Diamond Dust Dancers for two years. Samantha wanted to share her passion and love of dance by beginning her dance teaching career at VADO. She has been heavily involved with the VADO board of numerous years.

Jocelynn Bunkoske

command — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 21:13:33 +0000

Jocelynn, who has been dancing at VADO since she was three years old, loves all styles of dance. She studies ballet, pointe, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and tap. Besides being a regular student at VADO, Jocelynn has also attended the South Dakota Ballet Summer Intensive. Jocelynn was one of VADO’s first Classroom Mentors and has been an Intern with the VADO administrative staff for the last three years. VADO is thrilled to have Jocelynn join our instructor staff and have her share her exceptional skill and love of Hip hop with our students.

Adrienne Lewis

command — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 14:55:29 +0000

Adrienne was one of VADO’s original four instructors who remembers when classes were held in the basement of City Hall. Having come to dance a little later in life as a teenager, once she got the ballet bug she never lost it. Adrienne studied at Academy of Dance in Yankton, South Dakota and teaches Ballet and Pointe at VADO. In 2021, Adrienne became a certified Yoga instructor with over 200 hours of training in Hatha and Vinyasa yoga and now heads up the Yoga program at VADO. In 2023, Adrienne will be traveling to India to gain additional hours and certifications at one of the prestigious yoga schools so that she can bring even more yoga expertise to our Vermillion community.

Kelsey Freidel Nelson

command — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 21:47:47 +0000

Kelsey Freidel Nelson started dancing in high school where she was both cheer and dance captain her junior and senior years. She danced and choreographed for four years in college at Augustana University and the University of South Dakota. She then went on to coach the USD Dance Team, St. Thomas More High School Cheer team, and she has been the Assistant coach at Vermillion High School. Kelsey also started the inaugural Cheer and Dance program at Mount Marty University. A Certified Cheer and Dance Official since 2011, Kelsey also coached the competition team at Balleranea Dance Studio in Sioux Falls and has choreographed for the VADO Performance Dance Team over the years.VADO is thrilled to have Kelsey as a permanent member of its teaching faculty where she will be teaching Middle School, High School, and Adult Hip hop.

Hailey Freidel

command — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:33:04 +0000

I’m so excited to be back teaching at VADO. I grew up around dance and was part of Dance Inferno at Vermillion High School, where I served as captain. In college, I was on the USD Cheer Team and also served as captain there. After college, I became the Graduate Assistant for the USD Spirit Teams and helped oversee the cheer team, the dance team, Charlie Coyote, and the Coyote Crazies. Since 2020, I’ve been a cheer and dance judge for the South Dakota High School Activities Association. I love being part of the dance and cheer world and helping athletes grow and succeed. When I’m not in the studio or on the mat, you can usually find me traveling the world, loving on my kitty, or spending time with family and friends. I’m so happy to be back and can’t wait for a great season with VADO!