Katie Lien McNeill owned Katie Lien School of Dance from 2001-2022. She began her dance training in North Dakota, studying with several local dance schools. During her childhood years, she performed on stage with Bob McGrath in “Sesame Street Live ” Celebrating 25 years on the Prairie Public television’s KidZone. Katie also performed in the Nutcracker with the Oakland Ballet, directed by Ronn Guidi.
In 2003, she starred as Annie, the female prisoner, in the musical “Chicago”, a Crimson Creek Production. That same year, Katie was selected to tour nationally with Dance Olympus-America as a VIP and was honored to assist renowned choreographers such as Sarah Jo Fazio, Gregg Russell, Frank Hatchett, Jay-T, Derek Mitchell, and Christina Woodard.
This pivotal time shaped her as a dancer and opened her eyes to the possibilities her students could achieve with the right instruction. Katie is trained in many styles of dance, including Ballet, Tap, Irish Clogging, Jazz, Musical Theater, Lycial, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. Her philosophy is that a dancer can always do more, so she spent many summers in NYC dancing at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and attending countless conventions. Because of this dedication, Katie received the 2005 “Teachers Choice Award” at the Dance Olympus-America Regional Competition.
She graduated from UND with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Science and Disorders and Minored in Psychology in 2009. Her choreography and students continued to win top marks at regional and national competitions year after year, until the recent sale of Katie Lien School of Dance in 2022.
Katie and her husband Joe reside in Chanhassen, and have two children Shea & Quinn.