About FFSD
For more than four decades, Fergus Falls School of Dance has provided thoughtful dance training rooted in technique, creativity, and respect for the art of movement.
Our Values
Positivity
We are dedicated to providing a positive and uplifting environment for all students.
Community Focus
We believe in doing what we can to support and strengthen the community we are a part of.
Growth
We want our students to see what they are capable of and help them grow as individuals and within our art form.
FFSD’s Rich History
Fergus Falls School of Dance was founded in 1982 by Sue Gunnes. Shortly after opening, leadership of the studio passed to Ramona Jacobs, whose decades of direction helped establish a strong foundation for dance education in the Fergus Falls community.
The Foundational Pillars
Through extensive training and continued professional development, Ramona shaped the studio’s emphasis on technical excellence, artistic growth, and thoughtful instruction for generations of dancers. Mary Pettit (1994) & Kirsten Danielson (2000) joined the FFSD team and helped develop FFSD to what it is today.
Additions Throughout the Years
The Lincoln Ave Studio has been a haven for thousands of dancers through the years, but could not possibly hold everyone and not collapse into the Viking Cafe. In 2001 the Old Library Dance Studio, known as OLDS, was added as a space, in the basement of the building that was once a Carnegie Library. Then in 2014 the Bakken Building Studio was added above the Senior Center. There have been other studio spaces trialed through the years, but none feel quite as much like “home” as these three! (Feel free to edit in the correct voice if desired.)
FFSD Today
Today, Fergus Falls School of Dance is owned and directed by Suzanne Svare, who began dancing at the studio at age seven and trained there for twelve years. Leading the studio she grew up in, Suzanne is supported by a dedicated team of instructors and student teachers who bring diverse experience and passion to the classroom, continuing FFSD’s welcoming and growth-focused approach to dance education.
Meet the Instructors
Suzanne Svare
Director & Owner | Dance instructor
Suzanne is honored to be in her first year as director of FFSD. She started dance at FFSD at age seven where she took class for 12 wonderful years. She has taught ballet, modern, jazz, tap and littles at FFSD.
She has attended workshops in the US and Canada, and was a dance major in Stevens Point, WI.
She and her husband, David, live in Fergus Falls with their children and 65 plants.
Ramona Jacobs
Dance Instructor
Ramona is in her 40th year as the keel of the Fergus Falls School of Dance. She received her BFA in Ballet & Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth. She has taught in summer MAX programs and served both as juror & mentor for the Lake Region Arts Council. She is a recipient of three LRAC grants and has served on the Minnesota State Arts Board Dance Panel reviewing the Dance Initiative Grants.
Ramona has continued her education at the Int’l Ballet Teacher workshop at Vail, the American Dance Festival, The Royal Winnipeg & National Ballet School Teacher workshops, the Int’l Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS, Dance Educator’s Coalition workshops, the Cecchetti Council of America’s teacher workshop, the CPYB teacher workshops, and in New York City. She has studied with Lisa Howell in her teacher training level 1 program. Ramona was certified in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum for Pre-Primary to Level 3.
She lives with her husband Chuck Christianson and is an avid flower gardener who always has plants to give away.
Justine Ricks
Dance Instructor
Justine is a Fergus Falls native and grew up dancing here at FFSD! She now works at Salon Eclips downtown Fergus Falls as a stylist and has great passion for the work she does. She and her family love being a part of the Fergus Falls community. She is very excited to share the love of dance!
Katie Lillis
Dance Instructor
Katie started dancing at FFSD in preschool and continued until graduation. She received her degree from MSU Moorhead in Elementary Education where she also danced in the theater program. She continues to take classes at FFSD. Katie will be teaching Kindergarten this year after teaching three years in the 1st grade for the FF public school and dancing through every day. She and her husband live in Fergus with their two children and one fur baby. She is excited to continue her dance journey as both an FFSD teacher and dancer.
Danelle Hubert
Dance Instructor
Danelle grew up dancing at FFSD and is returning after a six year hiatus. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Dance from Brigham Young University and specializes in teaching ballet, choreographing contemporary modern, and performing for her dog in her kitchen.
Madalyn Dent
Dance Instructor
Madalyn Dent started dancing at FFSD in 2008. She graduated from M-State in 2021 with a liberal arts AA and plans to earn a degree in psychology. In her years at FFSD she took class in ballet, jazz, and modern and while enjoying all of them, ballet was her main focus. Her goal is to share her love of ballet with her students.
Molly Johnston
Dance Instructor
Molly grew up dancing at the Fergus Falls School of Dance and graduated in 2007. She continued her dance education first by completing a BFA in Modern Dance Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and then continued on at the University of Oregon where she received a MFA in Dance while also teaching dance at the university as a Graduate Teaching Fellow.
Molly returned back to Minnesota in 2014 where she worked as Zenon Dance Company and School’s school coordinator before moving back to Battle Lake to share dance with the community she loves most dearly.
In addition to teaching at FFSD, Molly co-directs a nonprofit organization, DanceBARN Collective, and works as the Rural Program Manager at Springboard for the Arts. Molly also loves to waterski with her husband, Robbie, and raising their two wild sons in Battle Lake!
Mary Pettit
Dance Instructor
Mary is in her 32nd year at FFSD. She earned a BA in Dance/Dance Therapy from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, MN and a MS in Physical Education/Administration from UND. In addition, she trained and performed professionally in Chicago & Baltimore. Her choreography credits include over 35 musicals. Mary co-founded & directed the Reif Center Dance program in Grand Rapids, MN from 1989-94 and has guest taught in a number of regional settings. She has attended many midwest teacher workshops.
Mary has been a Co-Director of “Dance & Dessert” since 1995. She believes that our connection to the body is key to self-awareness.
Mary’s treasured family includes husband Bill, son Joey (Kathryn), daughter Hannah (Dane), and grandkids Gabe, Claire, Louie, Etta, & Sylvie. She also owns a real estate business through Trilogy Real Estate in the Fergus Falls area.
FFSD Archive Coming Soon
Generations of dancers since 1982 have trained at the studio, performed in annual concerts, and continued their connection to dance in many different ways.
The FFSD Archive highlights past performances, photos, and memories from the studio’s history.