Kim Martinez | Artistic Director

Originally from the Twin Cities, Kim was born into a family of entertainers and dance instructors. She has spent her 40+ year career performing, teaching and nurturing the talent of young people here in the Twin Cities Area. She has taught master classes in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Tokyo. She considers her special talent is that of recognizing and developing talent in others, and thrives on seeing the best being brought out of young, dedicated performers.

Amber Rosah Keeley | School Director

Amber has been teaching ballet in the Twin Cities since 1993. Her performing career includes local and national dance companies such as Pacific Northwest Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet. She has worked with the Moscow Ballet and has taught ballet in Tokyo, Japan. Amber has been the school director and a company member since OOAL's debut in 2001.

David Bensussan | Company Member

David is a Theatre major at Metropolitan State University. He has been dancing with OOAL since the beginning and is now a valued member of the company. He loves OOAL and the people in it.

Jeremy Bensussan | Company & Substitute Faculty Member

Jeremy Bensussan is a Minnesota native. From an early age, Kim Martinez and Amber Erling Keeley have been his mentors and enjoys dancing for and with them to this day. Having recently graduated the University of Minnesota dance program May '10, Jeremy has danced with Out on a Limb Dance Company (charter member 2001), Joe Chvala and the Flying Foot Forum (since 2005), Keane Sense of Rhythm (Since 2006), The Eclectic Edge Ensemble (since 2008), and the Christopher Watson Dance Company (since 2009). He has also performed with the St. Paul City Ballet, Continental Ballet Company, as well as showcasing his choreography around the city's many performance venues.

As a teacher, Jeremy specializes in tap dancing. Having earned six Dance Magazine certificates of recognition from his participation in the Manhattan based workshop Tradition in Tap, Jeremy has taught seasonal, private and master classes around the Twin Cities and its suburbs for social groups and studios.

Allie Causin | Company & Faculty Member

Allie has been studying dance for 14 years under many different instructors, including nationally known Derek Mitchell, Svetlana Todinova, and Willy Shives. She has been with OOAL since it first opened in 2001, and has been a company member and ballet instructor since 2004. The best part of dance for her is when all the hard work, time, and effort pay off dancing on stage in front of friends and family in OOAL's fantastic productions! Currently Allie is going to school to get her degree in Elementary Education.

Carisa Drews | Company & Faculty Member

Carisa has studied under many nationally known instuctors such as: Tony Peyla, Ray Leaper, Desiree Robins and in New York at Broadway Dance Center. She is an award winning choreagrapher and a member of OOAL Dance Company.

Jake Erling | Faculty Member

Jake is an award-winning black belt who has been teaching Karate at OOAL for the last three years. His classes teach technique, style, power, discipline and respect.

Mykala Lind | Faculty Member

Mykala attends the University of St. Thomas and plans to attend law school in the fall of '07. Mykala has been dancing 16 years and has trained with some of the country's top instructors such as Paula Abdul, Liz Imperio and Charles McGowan.

Andrea Martinez | Company & Faculty Member

Andrea has been teaching in the Twin Cities for 10 years and has been a company member with OOAL since it's inception. She has performed with the Children's Theatre Company and has studied with the Pittsburg Youth Ballet.

Sara Martinez | Company & Faculty Member

Sara has been an OOAL company member since the beginning and taught in the training program for four years. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts.

Bridget Noltimier | Company & Substitute Faculty Member

Jessica Tice | Company & Substitute Faculty Member

Jessica Tice has been dancing for 9 years. Her training includes Midwest Youth Dance Theatre, Ballet Arts Minnesota's Springboard Apprentice program, and Out On A Limb Dance Company and School. She's participated in summer intensive programs with Madison Ballet, Ballet Arts Minnesota, Out On A Limb, American Ballet Theatre, and the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Jessica is currently attending the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul for pre-physical therapy and psychology.

Kathryn Blong | Company Member

Heather Mueller | Company Member

Karen Krueger | Company Member

Kevin Iverson | Company & Faculty Member

Allison Hall | Company & Faculty Member

Austen Browne | Company Member

Kristin Ostebee | Company & Faculty Member