Artistic Team

Shirley Van has been instrumental raising the visibility of the art of dance to the greater Green Bay area. She opened Shirley Van’s Dance Studio more than 60 years ago and continues to teach there today. Shirley founded The Young People’s Ballet Company, known today as The

Dance Company, and was co-founder of the Green Bay Chapter of Adventures Movement. For nine years, Shirley acted as the choreographer and director of the Green Bay

Packers cheerleaders and spent six years at St. Norbert College as an instructor in Movement and Dance in the Theatre Department. She was recognized with the Fort

Howard Paper Company John P. Cofrin Award for her contributions to the artistic life in our community. Shirley studied classical ballet at Stone and Camryn Ballet School. She also studied under the direction of Gus Giordiano, Luigi, Joe Tremaine, Matt Mattox and Fran Scanlon. As Artistic Director of The Dance Company, she has

choreographed and directed many shows, including more than 40 Nutcracker performances, Cinderella, Aladdin, Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Beatrix Potter and The Little Mermaid.

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Carrie Wielgus has more than 40 years of dance experience, including more than 25 as a dance/ gymnastics instructor at Shirley Van’s Studio. She is a 38-year member of The Dance Company, serving 21 years as Dance Captain and is now Show Director. During her career with The DanceCompany she has appeared in The Nutcracker (Young Clara, Adult Clara, Fritz and various suites and ensamble dances), Beauty and the Beast (Beauty – paired with Mike Palubicki), The Little Mermaid (Ariel – paired with Marc Darling from The Milwaukee Ballet), Aladdin (Jasmine), Pinocchio (Pinocchio), Velveteen Rabbit (Velveteen Rabbit), Cinderella (Cinderella – paired with professional lead male dancer from Joffrey Ballet Company), Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty) and Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit). Carrie also competed in rhythmic gymnastics and was an All-American gymnast in vault at UW-LaCrosse. She choreographed Bay Port High School musicals for five years. Carrie is a 29- year employee of Schneider National and the proud mother of company alumna Morgan Wigman. Carrie would like to express her thanks to Shirley for giving her the opportunity to dance and now teach, “I carry her wisdom and strength in every step and in every class I teach. She is my mentor and second mom.”

Jami Goodman started her dance career at Shirley

Van’s Dance Studio at the age of 2. She performed in her first Dance Company show, Beauty and the Beast, as a guest dancer at age 4. As a member of The Dance Company, she has performed in many productions, including Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Frozen (Elsa), The Lion King (Nala), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Cinderella (Cinderella), and The Nutcracker (Clara, Sugar Plum Fairy). Jami’s 30+ years of dance experience also includes being a

member and coach of the West De Pere Dance Team, earning state titles in both her dancing and coaching roles. Today, Jami is the Library Media/Instructional Technology Specialist at West De Pere Intermediate School and a dance instructor at The Dance Company. Jami is honored to continue her involvement with The Dance Company, following in the footsteps of Shirley, Carrie, Mike, and others who have inspired her over her these many years.

Michael Palubicki was a principal dancer with The

Dance Company from 1979 to 1986. Since then, he

has returned to perform with the Company as a guest dancer and Stage Director. His roles include Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. He also has an interest in theater both as an actor and director. Michael performed in Mousetrap, Lion in Winter, Deathtrap, I Hate Hamlet and Dracula to name a few. his music theater credits include 1776, Music Man, West Side Story, Man of La Mancha and Oliver; directing credits include one act plays as well as main stage plays for Community Theater such as How the Other Half Loves, Wedding of the

Year, Christmas Carol and Prisoner of Second Avenue. Children’s Theater is also of interest to Michael both as a director and set designer.

Bryanna Gauger started her dance career at the age of 5 and furthered her dance education at Waterford Dance Academy in Lindenhurst, IL where she studied ballet, tap, and jazz. Bryanna participated in numerous performance opportunities including performing with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. She also performed in over a dozen musicals with Christian Youth Theater. Bryanna has been a part of The Dance Company since 2009. She has been performing with The Dance Company ever since, including productions of The Nutcracker (Clara/Sugar Plum Fairy), Cinderella (Fairy Godmother), The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), and Frozen (Olaf). Bryanna enjoys teaching 4th grade at Dickinson Elementary School and sharing her love and knowledge of dance as a dance instructor. Bryanna would like to thank Shirley, Carrie, and Jami for continuing to provide her with opportunities to grow as an instructor and choreographer as well as her family for their never-ending support.