Meet the Team

Aaron VanDanacker

Voice Teacher, BFA Blueprint Program Director

Aaron is a multi-certified voice teacher, specializing in commercial/contemporary (theatre) and classical vocal styles. In addition to teaching and conducting, Aaron is an active performer and an in-demand music/vocal director and pianist for touring, professional, amateur, and educational theaters throughout the United States. Aaron’s students range from high schoolers to professional actors and singers, all focused on achieving significant vocal growth that translates to exceptional performance and artistic opportunities. As his students can attest, he specifically designs each lesson to meet the needs of the singer in the room and his students find fast, effective results through this method. Aaron has dedicated his career to creating pathways for performers to soar to new heights!

Tegan Jones NewKirk

Dance Teacher, Choreographer

Tegan is our expert dance teacher. With 16 years of competitive dance experience in tap, jazz, ballet, and contemporary styles, plus 20 years in musical theater and 9 years of coaching, She brings comprehensive expertise to dance training and choreography. Tegan specializes in building technical proficiency across multiple styles while developing the performance quality and character work that musical theater demands. Her approach integrates foundational technique with storytelling, helping students learn to embody character and narrative through movement. Tegan is dedicated to helping performers develop the technical skills and expressive abilities needed to excel in auditions and productions.

Barry Anderson

BFA Blueprint Acting Coach

Barry Anderson is an NYC-based actor, songwriter, and coach. Barry portrayed Bob Crewe for six years in the Broadway and National Tour companies of Jersey Boys. He also appeared on Broadway as Aaron Schultz in Legally Blonde The Musical. His regional theatre credits include Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, Charleston Stage Company, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, The Little Theatre on the Square, and many others. His recent television credits include FBI: Most Wanted, Bupkis, Halston, Law & Order: Organized Crime, The Blacklist, Billions, and American Horror Story. Barry is also a songwriter and is currently developing three new musicals. He holds a music education degree from The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. More info at: barryandersonactor.com.

Elise Karlstad

BFA Blueprint Student Advisor

Elise is a passionate theatre artist and educator dedicated to helping students grow in confidence and creativity. She will graduate this year from Otterbein University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance. She is a winner of the Spotlight Triple Threat New York Experience, she also volunteers and works closely with Spotlight Education. This semester, she is gaining professional experience through an internship in NYC with Avalon Artist Group, and she loves supporting young artists as they discover their unique voices.

Jordan Rivera

Social Media Manager

Jordan is the Social Media Manager at AV Vocal Studio, creating the educational content our followers love to see. She is currently a senior at Lakeville South High School, where she is the student director of their Concert Chorale and an LSHS Theatre captain. In 2025 she was selected as one of 24 students in Minnesota in the Triple Threat program through Spotlight Education at Hennepin Arts. She has grown so much as an AV Vocal Studio student over the last three years and will be attending Ithica College next year for a BFA in Acting.