Elke Mischke

Bio

Ms. Elke was born in Milwaukee, WI and raised in Omaha, NE. She started dancing ballet when she was 4 years old. In high school she was a member of her high school dance team and studied Modern dance as a member and performer with the Omaha Modern Dance Collective. In the summers she taught dance camp with the Universal Dance Association. At Marquette University she was also on the dance team and took dance classes at Marquette University and Danceworks. She graduated with bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and criminology.

In 1997 Ms. Elke started teaching at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Mequon. She taught social and competitive dancers. In 2001 she was the supervisor of the studio working with the new student department. In 2004 she became in the manager. In 2006 she was given the opportunity to purchase the studio.

As a ballroom dancer, Ms. Elke competed with her students and her professional partner, Dana James, across the country. Mr. James and Ms. Elke were the Fred Astaire Dance Studios Open Rhythm champions in addition to many titles from various competitions.

In teaching, whether its students or her staff, she likes to make learning easy and fun. She teaches to impart knowledge so that the student can apply learning to real world situations on and off the dance floor. Also, she wants her students to go for it and make mistakes so they can learn from them.

Ms. Elke loves the energetic studio atmosphere and strives to make the studio a community of dancers. She wants every student to be enriched by dance and encourages the students to experience dance in anyway they can, through social events, performance and competition.

When Ms. Elke is dancing, nothing in the world makes her feel so alive! When she is not dancing, she enjoys spending time with family, reading and cooking.

"If a goal is easy, its not a good one. Your goal should makes you nervous and excited. It should jar your teeth." - Dick Mundt