Studio Stories: Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance with Stephen Schroeder - Season 9, Episode 112

Stephen Schroeder began his dance career at the ripe age of 6,
danced for a couple years then picked it back up before high
school. While pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance
from the University of Colorado at Boulder, he danced
professionally with local Boulder companies Blue Moon Dance
Theater, Helander Dance Theater, David Capps/Dances, Interweave
Dance Theater, The Boulder Ballet and other local independent
artists. Upon completing his degree in 2001, he moved to
Minneapolis and continued his career with Zenon Dance Company. In
the Twin Cities area he also performed with Minnesota Dance
Theater, TU Dance, ARENA Dances (more about that in a moment),
Nautilus Music Theater, The Minnesota Opera, Cathy Young Dance,
DanceCo and local independent artists Megan Mayer, Penelope
Freeh, Nic Lincoln, Devin Carey, and the Flamettes. He also
guested with Sean Curran Company out of New York City. 


While in college he also began his journey in the backstage
technical and production elements of dance performances working
closely with Robert Shannon, the Technical Director of the Dance
Department at the time. He worked shows for the CU-Boulder Dance
department and Macky Auditorium as well as locally with the
Colorado Dance Festival. Once moving to Minnesota, he continued
to work the technical side of productions as the touring
technical director for Zenon Dance Company and ARENA Dances.


Currently he is the Technical Director for the Dance Department
at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.


While dancing in ARENA, he met Stephanie Laager and eventually
they would marry and spawn three wonderful children, Paityn and
twins Rylan and Beckett. Presently they are all living and
thriving in Nowthen, MN with the menagerie of animals that make
up the Sparkle Ranch.


"I'd like to thank Mathew for this opportunity to have a
conversation and reminisce. Thanks for all the good times, and,
well being a matchmaker too!"