Meet the Staff
Our staff consists of qualified and experienced teachers who love what they do!
Melissa Strong: Owner, Director, & Head Instructor
Melissa Strong has been a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for 25 plus years. She founded the
5678! Dance Studio in North Sioux City, South Dakota in the summer of 2000 with 40 students.
Melissa’s studio has now expanded to over 190 students. This is also her 10th year as the head
coach for the Dakota Valley High School Dance Team. In April 2008, Melissa became the
Morningside College Dance Team's Head Coach. Melissa has received several awards during her
time as a dance instructor. She was recognized by Dance Spirit Magazine as being a Who’s Who of
U.S. Dance Directors in 2004. She was also awarded Coach of the Year - Top Five in the Nation
by UPA Americup in 2006. Melissa graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in
December of 2000. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications with an
emphasis in Broadcast News and a Minor in English.
Melissa has helped the Dakota Valley Dance Team become Varsity 3 UPA National Hip-Hop Champions
in February 2009. The Dakota Valley Dance Team have also taken home 1st place honors from the
South Dakota State Dance Competition the last 8 years in both Pom, Jazz, and Open in the class
A/B division. They competed at the UPA Americup Nationals in Minneapolis in 2001 and took home
4th place honors in both the Jazz and Pom categories. In 2007 they took home 3rd place in Pom
and Lyrical. The 5678! Junior All Stars and Senior All Stars have both taken home 1st place honors
at the UPA Americup Competition in Minneapolis, the Ameridance National Championships in Chicago,
and at the Xtreme Spirit Nationals in the Wisconsin Dells. All three teams have also taken home
1st place honors at several regional competitions in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Melissa trained at Siouxland Movement Arts Center in Sioux City, Iowa. There she studied Ballet,
Pointe, Jazz, and Tap. She also danced with Jazzin’ Co., a local jazz company, and Siouxland Civic
Dance Association Ballet Company. Melissa taught for Siouxland Movement Arts Center as a substitute
and full time teacher for two years. At the University of Minnesota- Mankato she studied Dance as a
Minor and danced with the University’s Modern Company. Melissa was also a United Indoor Football
League dancer. She now attends workshops and classes across the nation to keep current with the
new dance styles and techniques. She recently attended the Dance Teacher Workshop in New York
City where she studied several styles of dance with teachers like Frank Hatchett and Cathy Roe.
Lindsey Huber, Assistant Director & ACSM-Certified Personal Trainer
Lindsey Huber is a native of the area and has been a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for 16 plus
years. Throughout her career, she has studied ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, and hip-hop.
As a member of the Senior Company at The Dance Studio in LeMars, IA as well as a member of the
Dakota Valley High School Dance Team, Lindsey received numerous 1st place awards for her solos and
traveled to places such as New York City, Chicago, and Las Vegas to study dance.
In college, Lindsey studied dance at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where she trained
under professional dancers from Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,
and the Limon Dance Company. At the U of M, she was also a member of the Premiere Dance Team.
After transferring to Iowa State University, Lindsey continued to dance and was a member of the
ISU Hip Hop Club. She now attends dance conventions throughout the US and has studied under
dancers such as Dave Scott and Mia Michaels.
Lindsey graduated magna cum laude from Iowa State University, earning a Bachelor of Science
degree in Kinesiology and Health with an emphasis in Health/Fitness Management. She is a
Certified Personal Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is the
instructor for The Solution for Women fitness class. Lindsey also recently became the Head
Dance and Cheer Coach for Morningside College. This is Lindsey’s third year as Assistant Director.
Lindsey currently teaches classes in lyrical, hip-hop, and competition team.
Tricia Cropley, Dance Instructor
Tricia received her Business Degree with a Dance Minor from Morningside College. She has had
15 years of studio training in Earlham, Iowa and Moville, Iowa. In Earlham she attended Deborah's
School of Dance, receiving training in ballet, tumbling, tap, and jazz. After moving to Lawton,
she attended Dianne's Dance in Moville. There she received training in tap, jazz, and clogging.
Along with studio training, Tricia was involved in the dance team at Lawton-Bronson during her
four years in high school. As a dance team member, she competed in pom, jazz, kick and hip-hop.
She also took part in the All-Iowa Honor Drill Team for four years, earned division I ratings
all four years in the Iowa State Solo Competition and took 4th place during her junior year.
Tricia was also on the Morningside College Dance Team where they received numerous
first place awards. She is now the Head Coach for the Lawton-Bronson Drill Team. This is Tricia's
fourth year teaching at the 5678! Dance Studio. Tricia currently teaches classes in ballet, tap,
jazz, lyrical, pom, and hip-hop.
Carey Baczwaski, Dance Instructor
Carey Baczwaski is a student at Morningside College. She has taken 14 years of dance at
Siouxland Movement and Arts, in Sioux City. There she took classes in ballet, pointe, tap,
and jazz. She also participated in Ballet Sioux, Tap Inc., and Jazzin' Co. While attending
conventions and dance camps, Carey has taken classes from Frank Hatchett, the late
Gus Giordano, and Mandy Moore, among others. Throughout high school she competed as
a member and captain of North High's Blue Squad, competing in military, pom, and kick.
Carey was also an assistant for Mrs. Netley's Rising Stars Dance Team for three years,
helping with pom and hoopla. Carey is a full time nursing student and captain of the
dance team at Morningside College. This is her second year teaching here at
the 5678! Dance Studio. Carey currently teaches classes in ballet, jazz, and pom.
Ciarra Sperry, Dance Instructor
Ciarra was born in Salt Lake City where she started dancing competitively at the age of three.
Since then, she has moved to Sioux City, IA. Her training includes dancing at Siouxland Movement
Arts Center as well as dancing on the North High School Dance Team where she served as captain.
Previously, Ciarra served as the assistant coach for The Rising Stars Dance Team and was a member
of the University of South Dakota Dance Team. She has also taught dance at North Middle School’s
after-school program and at Dynamics School of Dance in Sioux City. Currently, Ciarra is in her
fourth year coaching the North High School Dance Sqaud. She has received her Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations and a
Minor in Sociology. This is Ciarra’s second year teaching at the 5678! Dance Studio. Ciarra currently
teaches classes in ballet, hip hop, pom, jazz, and competition team.
Cara Burnett, Tumbling Director
Cara is a 2007 graduate of Heelan High School. She now attends Briar Cliff University, pursuing a
major in Sports Science. She was a competitive gymnast for seven years. Cara holds state titles
in balance beam and was runner-up for floor and all-around. She is a professional member of
USA Gymnastics and is CPR, First Aid, and Safety Certified. She is the level 5/6 head coach at
Siouxland Gymnastics and is also a certified compulsory level judge through USA Gymnastics.
This is her third year teaching at 5678!. Cara currently teaches tumbling on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays.
Our Assistant Teachers include advanced studio dancers.
