Members
Gracie Fries (Co-Captain)
Gracie is a freshman here at NMU from Kingsford, Michigan pursuing a bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship and a minor in dance. Her passion lies in the musical arts with sixteen years of dance instruction (mainly tap and jazz) and vocal lessons. In her free time, she enjoys playing bass and singing lead in several local bands. She hopes to continue being a co-captain of the Hip Hop Crew and show her passion for dance through her choreography. Being one of the first of her family to attend college, she is proud to be a “Wildcat” with much support from her family and friends.
Leah Christensen (Co-Captain)
Leah is a Pre-Med, Biology-Physiology major of sophomore status. She danced for 11 years at the Conservatory of Dance, trained in all aspects of dance including; ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, and hip-hop. Competitively danced for 2 years under North Fire Dance Company. She is a co-captain of the NMU Hip Hop Dance Crew and is also the president of the club. She has been on the team for 2 semesters and hopes to continually grow the Crew's roster, events, performances, and skills.
Miranda Straka (Co-Captain)
Liz Caputo
Liz is a double major in criminal justice and psychology Applied Behavioral Analysis. She's on her third year at Northern Michigan University and will be graduating in 2019. She has been dancing for 18 years with a focus on hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical.
Lyndsie Chesnic
Lyndsie is majoring in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. This is her first semester being a part of the Hip Hop Crew and has no previous dance experience.
Emily Driesenga
Emily is a freshman and this is her first full year of dance. She is double majoring in Sports Science and Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management and double minoring in Biology and Dance.
Haley Dodds
Haley is a cosmetology major and will be graduating May 2018. In her free-time she enjoys hiking and binge watching New Girl.
Charlie Edwards
Charlie is a junior at Northern Michigan University. He was born in Marquette, MI, but spent his early childhood years in Engadine, MI before moving to Marquette in middle school. He has been dancing for ten years, receiving training in all genres of dance, competing at various regional and national dance competitions, and took workshops at several dance conventions. In 2013, he was crowned Mr. Teen Ultimate Dance at the Cathy Roe Ultimate Dance regional competition in Howell, MI. Charlie was an International Dance Idol semi-finalist at the 2014 International Dance Challenge National Finals in Chicago, IL, and a Dancer of the Year semi-finalist at the 2015 Dance America National Finals in Chicago, IL. At NMU
Charlie majors in English Writing and is double minor in Dance and Computer Information Systems. When he is not writing an essay for one of his literature courses or in dance class perfecting his technique, you can find him either choreographing a routine for the annual NMU Dance Concert, rehearsing with the NMU Hip Hop Dance Crew for our next big performance or at play practice for an upcoming musical theatre production. When he graduates from NMU, his plan is to work in any and all aspects of professional writing, ranging from becoming a best-selling author to writing for a newspaper or magazine. Charlie also plans to become a dance teacher so he can teach and inspire the next generation of young dancers. He says, "The stage is my second home and will continue to be for many years to come."
Emily Grzesiak
Emily has been on the Hip Hop Crew since her freshmen year at Northern. Her major is Psychology, and she hopes to obtain a PhD further down the road in her academic career. Her hobbies include dancing, hiking, volleyball, and camping and she hopes to be apart of the NMU Hip Hop Crew until she graduates.
Julianna Moscato
This is Julianna's junior year at NMU and her first semester on the Hip Hop Dance Crew. She is majoring in Radiography and Clinical Health Science and will graduate in May 2019. She is also the president of the Dance Association (a dance club on campus) and has been dancing for about 16 years.
Jenae LaFleche
Jenae is a cosmetology major and has been on the crew for 2 semesters. She says, "Dancing is lyfe!"
Jamie-Lynn Urban
Jamie is a sophomore at NMU, majoring in Psychology in Behavior Analysis while double minoring in Dance and English. She has been swing dancing for 5 years.
Aleesa Gatton
Claire O'Malley
Claire is a freshman here at NMU, majoring in Art and Design. This is her first semester on the Hip Hop Crew and brings 5 years of gymnastic experience to the team.
Breanna Demaline
Breanna has been a Crew member for three semesters. She is a Pre-Vet Biology major and a Chemistry and Psychology minor. Breanna had no dance experience before she joined the Crew other than participating in color guard.