Meet the Artists
Cathy Wind
founder, artistic director
Cathy Keane Wind has performed with such great tap artists as Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, and is a student of the Maestro Lane Alexander. Her passion for art has given her the opportunity to work with the Queen of Sweden, Dr. Maya Angelou, Regis Philbin, Garrison Keiller, Bill Irwin, the Umbilical Brothers, and the Boy’s Choir of Kenya. Cathy has taught dance classes at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, St. Cloud State University, and the University of Minnesota, as well as many reputable dance studios.
Cathy was nominated for a 2011 Minnesota SAGE Award for Outstanding Dance Educator, and for over 15 years she has choreographed musicals for Wayzata High School. Currently, Cathy is teaching inner-city youth in St. Paul, thanks to grants for KSR’s Community Outreach Program.
Cathy is the co-artistic director of Keane Sense of Rhythm Tap Company. KSR has performed around the US, Canada, and Europe, including performances with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, the Minneapolis and Thunder Bay Fringe Festivals, as well as the International Dance Festival in Ladek Zdroj, Poland.
Ellen Keane
founder, executive diretor
Ellen Keane is thankful for her life in dance and believes this gift of dance training should be accessible to everyone. She is the executive director of Keane Sense of Rhythm Tap Company and teaches at University of Minnesota Theater & Dance Department. Keane teaches beginning through advanced professional tap dance with a goal of using dance as physical and mental health for adults, kids and underprivileged youth.
Ellen is a producer Minneapolis Human Rhythm Projects, Fringe shows and National Tap Dance Day. For the past 10 years, her focus has been mainly rhythm tap — one Broadway gypsy claimed that every class with Ellen is a master class.
Ellen is most proud of the creation of the Youth Tap Ensemble in 2002. Dancers ages 8-18 audition for placement annually. She especially enjoys working with talented and passionate youth in master classes, workshops and residencies.
Ashley Gonzalez
Youth Tap Ensemble Director
Ashley Gonzalez is a tap dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Central Minnesota. She is a member of Rhythm Street Movement, performing in shows around the Midwest. She is a sought after choreographer and teaches tap at several studios in the Twin Cities.
Ashley Gonzalez
Youth Tap Ensemble Director
Ashley Gonzalez is a tap dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She was born and raised in Central Minnesota. After attending her first tap festival in August 2013, Ashley began to pursue tap dance. From there, she started to attend tap festivals all around the U.S. to learn from professional tap dancers that were thriving in the tap industry. She began training under the direction of Chloe Arnold and Ricci Milan, growing and exploring in the art form. She expanded her training by studying under Sarah Reich and Aaron Williams where she has had a strong focus on technique and musicality, while continuing to travel all over the world to learn from other various tap professionals.
Ashley graduated from University of Northwestern- St. Paul with a double major in music with a vocal emphasis and business administration. She has a passion for rhythm and learning. She currently performs as a tap dancer with Rhythm Street Movement where she has been part of various shows and performances: Waking Up, Humbug, and various driveway tours. In past, she has performed at the 2018 Governors Ball Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, and the 2018 MLBA All Star Pre Party Concert in Washington DC. She has also performed in the Disney Newsies Broadway Musical at the University of Northwestern- St. Paul. In addition to this, Ashley has performed and competed internationally, receiving a bronze medal for her tap solo at the IDO World Performing Arts Cup in Seoul, South Korea. She also received a bronze medal at Dance World Cup Championships in Offenburg, Germany for a tap duet.
Carla Bode
teaching artist
Carla Bode has duel degrees in Dance & Theater Education and English Education and a Holistic Health Studies Master’s Certificate from Saint Catherine University. She teaches creative movement at several early childhood schools in Minneapolis and is thrilled to be teaching Tappy Hours and community education classes for Keane Sense of Rhythm.
Carla Bode
Teaching Artist
Originally from New Ulm, Carla Bode has duel degrees in Dance & Theater Education and English Education and a Holistic Health Studies Master’s Certificate from Saint Catherine University. She is also a certified RYT 200 yoga teacher.
Carla has served as a dance specialist for several arts magnet middle and high schools. She has also taught for many various non-profits, colleges, and private schools in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. She also creates and performs with the Rural Route Dance Ensemble.
Currently, she teaches creative movement at several early childhood schools in Minneapolis, and is thrilled to be teaching Tappy Hours and community education classes for Keane Sense of Rhythm.
Jensen Freedman
teaching artist, choreographer
Jensen Freedman, LA native, has been enjoying the art of tap dance since the age of 3. Jensen has been training for 15 years with Tap Into The Network/ TITN Intensive, working with Gregg Russell, Angela Carter, and Ryan Lohoff. She teaches Dance Fit, Footworking and Tap 4 / 5 on Tuesday evenings.
Carla Bode
Teaching Artist
Jensen Freedman, LA native, has been enjoying the art of tap dance since the age of 3.
As a young dancer, Jensen was a featured dancer in two LA-based dance companies: Tap Sounds Underground and Rithem Dance Company.
Jensen has been training for 15 years with Tap Into The Network/ TITN Intensive, working with Gregg Russell, Angela Carter, and Ryan Lohoff.
Jensen excels in creating commercial tap work and has been featured in Dunkin' Donuts and Kikkoman Soy Sauce commercials.
Board of Directors
Dennis Anderson, President
Ann Mockovak
Maggie Brickson, Financial Officer
Sara Schreier
Shonni Krengel, Secretary
Rev. Dr. Darcel Hill
