-Where quality dance instructors provide quality dance education-
Setting high standards for excellence in our faculty starts at the very top. That's why for 48 years, Miss Linda's has strived to bring the young dancers in our community the best possible instructional experts around to create enduring experiences for every student.
Linda Fuller, better known as "Miss Linda," began studying as a young girl at Virginia Maupin’s Dance Studio in Minot, ND and has been dancing ever since. She has become a staple in the Great Falls and Montana arts communities as a performer, instructor and advocate of the arts. Performing work includes percussionist in University and Municipal bands, former member Great Falls Symphony; dancer in Mod Moms and ‘Lectric Ladies companies; theater roles Annie (Miss Hannigan), Anything Goes (Bonnie), Sweet Charity (Charity), Mame (Gootch), Sound of Music (Mother Superior).
Linda has choreographed for concerts, fully staged theatrical productions, cabarets, revues, school shows and more including local Dancing with the Stars, Marie Osmond’s Meet Me in Montana tour, Oklahoma!, The Music Man and 39 years of Miss Linda’s Spring Productions. She has served on the Montana Arts Education Council, Montana Dance Arts Association Board, and numerous committees and groups supporting and developing all arts in Montana.
Linda is co-founder of the Dorothy Monagin Music Endowment, a music scholarship program supporting Montana kids, and co-produced the very successful Big Band Broadcast last year at the Mansfield Theater. Linda has a BS in English from Minot State University in ND and holds teaching certifications in dance from Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America, James A. Rozanas method for gymnastics and tumbling, Mary Mayta Aerobics and Kelopecz Pilates.
Her passion for the performing arts and their benefits to people of all ages is what drives Linda to make sure anyone wanting to explore their creative side or expand their imagination can do so at Miss Linda's.
Sarah Dassinger
Sarah Dassinger comes to Miss Linda’s from Kansas where she trained in Cecchetti ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop. She has competed and received national awards in jazz and hip-hop from Co.Dance (Paula Abdul), Tremaine and West Coast Dance Explosion. Sarah has performed with Bowery Dancers and Topeka Ballet Ensemble where she performed Les Sylphide, Fantasia Corrette, LaBoutique Fantasque, Missione A Bombay and others.
Sarah is a graduate of Drake University and while there she taught and directed their Dance Team. She will be teaching ballet, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary as well as directing the Great Falls Ballet Ensemble and co-directing the Young Dancers Company. She served as Secretary on the Montanan Dance Arts Association board and is currently Treasurer, she is a wonderful addition to our dance family.
Wendy Masterson
Wendy Masterson is a talented and sought-after master teacher, somatic practitioner, arts administrator and movement specialist with over 35 years of experience. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Dance, is a certified BMCSM Practitioner, a Somatic & Infant Developmental Movement Educator, is certified in GYROTONIC® and owner of The Motion Space, LLC in Great Falls.
A former professional ballet dancer, Wendy has worked with prestigious educational organizations and professional dance companies including 25 years on the dance/director at Interlochen Arts Academy in MI. She spent 15 summers as an administrator at President and Mrs. Ford’s Vail International Dance Festival working with elite dancers, choreographers and pedagogics from around the world. She has been the Director of Program Development at Kinesthetic Learning Center for 5 years. She is currently serving as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Body-Mind Centering Association. As a leader in the field of dance pedagogy and artistry, Wendy has presented at the International Association of Dance, Medicine, & Science conferences in Washington, DC; Seattle, WA; and Basel, Switzerland and at the BMCA Annual Conference 2013 in Boulder, CO. Miss Linda is delighted to have Wendy as part of the ballet faculty.
Darby Rubino
Darby Rubino has had a passion for dance since the age of three. Growing up training and performing in all styles of dance she knew she wanted to pursue it as her profession. This led her to Texas State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education. While attending university Darby was invited to perform in choreography showcases, senior theses and the faculty’s Open Door Dance Theatre, a program featuring multiple original choreography works from pioneers of Modern Dance. She also assisted in the production of dance events.
Darby has experience teaching ballet, jazz and modern technique as well as choreographing for children and adolescents. She has also taught drill team. With her hometown studio in Abilene, TX, Darby traveled to NYC to study at Broadway Dance Center. She trained at Burklyn Ballet Theatre Summer Intensives and also worked there as an assistant counselor. She has performed on Carnival Cruise Lines, at Disney World and at the Orange Bowl Halftime Show. Additionally, Miss Linda’s is delighted to have Miss Darby as a member of the team!
Steve Olson
Steve Olson is a part of the Act I Theatre Company team here at Miss Linda's and music director for Ballet Ensemble. A native of Belt, MT, he holds Bachelors Degrees in Music Performance-Piano and Music Education from the University of Montana. He is an accomplished pianist and violinist playing with the Helena, Glacier, Missoula, Billings, and Great Falls Symphonies. He also sang in the Missoula Symphony Chorale.
He has also done music arrangements and original compositions. Steve is currently the orchestra director at CM Russell High School. Another group under his direction is The Big Sky Telemann Players, a local GF baroque music ensemble. In addition he has a love for musical theater and has participated in and/or musically directed "Two by Two," "The Wizard of Oz,", "Sound of Music," "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," "Into the Woods," and Peter Pan to name a few. Steve says he couldn't be happier to be part of such an awesome team at Miss Linda's!
April Wendt
April’s love for performing began at the age of three right here in Great Falls, MT. As she grew up she participated in countless productions acting, singing, dancing, and growing her technical theater skills. This ongoing love influenced her to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts from Carroll College graduating in 1998. While there, April was in an original production that toured to Seattle, WA and was honored to be in two different original productions that performed off-Broadway in New York, NY. Not long after graduating, she was hired to be an Improv player for “The Stage Door” in Fayetteville, NC. When her father became ill with cancer, she returned home to Great Falls to care for him. For ten years, April was the head drama, debate, and speech coach for Simms High School. Also during this time, April helped out with local community theaters, lending her acting, improv and technical theater skills.
In 2011, April began designing lights full time for the University of Providence. Throughout the years, she has not only designed the lights, but also acted in the productions. Once again in 2013 she returned to the New York Musical Festival stage in New York, NY playing Janis Joplin in the University of Providence’s production of “The Dead Legend.” During the 2018-2019 school year, April energetically directed the UP Improv Players. When COVID-19 hit, the University of Providence Theater closed its doors. Lost without theater in her life, April went in search of a new theater family. Graciously Act I allowed April to participate in their spring zoom sessions and she fell in love! April is extremely thrilled to be joining the Act I family permanently!
Kaylee Osentowski, or ‘Kaylee O’ as she’s known to us, is a Miss Linda’s alumnus. A graduate of CMRussell High School, Kaylee had an impressive career at the University of Montana which saw her graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre (emphasis Stage Management), a Bachelor of Arts in Dance (emphasis Choreography/Performance) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (focus Management and Entrepreneurship) with Certificate in Entertainment Management. While in Missoula she worked as a choreographer, stage manager, performer and technician for college and professional organizations including Montana Repertory Theatre, Cohesion Dance Project and UM programs including Spring Awakening, Dance up Close, Summer and Smoke, Fall Studio Works and the American College Dance Association presentations. Kaylee’s choreography includes original pieces Farewell Ophelia, How Easily Broken and Honey Hot, the musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and drill team routines.
Kaylee also attended the esteemed Disney College Program and worked at Walt Disney Parks and Resort in Toy Story Land and Star Wars Launch Bay. After leaving UM she returned to Orlando to work as Company Production Stage Manager with Young Star Musical Theatre for Hairspray and Peter Pan. She has worked teaching children and adolescents dance and theatre throughout her training and into her professional career. Miss Linda’s is simply over the moon to have Kaylee back with us and sharing her artistic talents.
Kaylee Osentowski
