About Us

Our Students, Parents & Instructors Are Family!

Meet Our Dynamic Instructor Team!

With 20+ Years Combined Experience, the Instructor Team At Hayward Fitness Fanatics Has
Outstanding Expertise in Dance Education!
​Nicole Nathan, Director
Nicole's dance journey started right here in the Hayward Community. Her classically trained aunt who also owns a successful dance school in Minnesota encouraged Nicole to take dance lessons at an early age and never stopped encouraging her to grow and learn. Nicole has taken ballet, modern, pointe, ballroom & hip hop lessons. She also spent many summers at Just For Kix dance camps and even organized the Hayward High School's one and only dance team when she was a Sophomore.
Her love of dance launched Nicole into deepening her knowledge of dance education - in 2021 she earned a certification from Dance Teacher University, which is affiliated with University of Las Vegas Dance Program. She believes strongly in self study and persists in her continuing education.
Being an influential role in young people's lives and sharing the power of what Dance can do for confidence, self-discipline and community is what drives her lead HDE forward into the future of exceptional dance education! 
Brianna Paine, Core Staff
With one glance, anyone would be able to tell Brianna is a well-trained and passionate dancer at heart! Her love of dance began early in life in her hometown of Oakdale, Minnesota where she studied various styles of studio dance, competition dance & also helped create her high school's dance team. As she went on to pursue her design degree in college, she stayed connected to her dance roots and eventually landed in Stone Lake, WI .... right onto the doorstep of the Hayward Dance Experience!
Brianna has a natural aptitude for choreography & creativity. Her dedication to teaching young people to enjoy dancing all while expressing themselves positively is bar none!
She, too, decided to complete her Dance Teacher Training with Dance Teacher University in 2021 and is truly an invaluable asset to making this program possible for our community!
Amelia Cummings

Amelia also started her dancing path here in the Hayward Community, taking lessons for many years under the direction of Pam Stuchal at the Hayward Dance Studio. She and Nicole were good friends and shared their love of dance together throughout High School. She was known for her grace and wonderful memory of choreography! Amelia has a true love for dance, especially for sharing that love with young people!
Amelia leads our PreK, Kindergarten & 1st/2nd Grade dancers with her firm, nurturing guidance and has been doing so since 2016! Her ability to display patience and kindness while being thorough is what all teachers hope to give their students in the classroom. She is truly amazing!
Joy Bakken

Joy also began dancing at a young age as she participated in her local dance team for many years! Her ability to help students find their inner confidence through dancing is what makes Joy stand out as an instructor. She sees each dancer as unique and capable, she takes special care to foster each of her students to be the best they can be both on and off the dance floor! 
Unparalleled is her expertise in classroom management and character development with our young dance students! We are truly thankful she has been part of our instructor team since 2019 - Ms. Joy will be receiving her Dance Teacher Certification this summer!
Leslie Lambert
Leslie rounded out the "Fab 5" in 2020 and she will be following suit in obtaining her Dance Teacher Certificate in summer of 2022!
If it wasn't for her mom and her best friend, Leslie may have never discovered her love for dance. She reluctantly went to her very first dance class in kindergarten and ended up dancing well into her college years. 
In 2013, Leslie graduated with her AD in Early Childhood Education. Having moved to Menomonie with her boyfriend, she transferred into UW-Stout to pursue her Bachelor's. While there, she joined Dance Ensemble, an entirely student run club that presented a recital of varying dance styles at the end of every semester. Leslie met two girls that quickly became close friends, and choreographed several dances with them. 
Her dance repertoire includes ballet and pointe, but she has never shied away from taking tap or jazz. Her desire to inspire and empower young students & women is what pushes Leslie to share her passion of dance & pursue further education!
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