Grace Mutchler
Early Childhood Faculty
In 2004 at the early age of 3 years old, Ms. Grace attended her first Academy performance, “Dancing on a Moonbeam” with her mother, who had been watching her dance since before she could even walk. She immediately fell in love with dance and joined the Academy shortly after in her first Mommy & Me class. Ballet quickly became her first love and sparked a dream to one day become a dance teacher!
Grace trained for 19 years in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Improv. She was a member and officer for the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) during her final high school years. She has attended many dance intensives/workshops and performed in community and outreach programs including events for Lifeways, BHDT, and Flutter Productions.
Grace was a mentor for many years within the Academy and contributed a guiding hand to the success of the Teaching Assistant program, achieving her dream of becoming a dance instructor at the early age of 17. Her love of dance, children, and making a difference in people’s lives is evident in every class she teaches.
Grace recently began a full-time career with Black Hills Works as an Employment Support Specialist which has helped further her patience and understanding for everyone she encounters. Through BHW she is now certified in CPR & First Aid and is a Safety Care Professional, which allows her to provide an extra safe environment for our dear young dancers. Also, growing up as the eldest daughter with 6 siblings, she has learned gentle disciplinary tactics that intertwine love and logic. Because of these experiences and many others, she now has an excellent way of keeping her young dancers engaged and works to instill in them a love of learning dance!
Ms. Grace is embarking on her 5th year teaching at the Academy, where she is excited to celebrate the magic of childhood through the art and gifts of dance!