Pom & Dance Studio
Meet the Team!
The Danz Kraze staff is committed to making connections and bringing out the fullest potential in each of our students. Our staff is trained, supportive, and professional. Get to know the instructors that help create the magic and joy of dance at Danz Kraze each day!
Sara Kulig Owner/Director
Sara graduated from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education. She was a four-year member of her award-winning high school dance team, earning many awards and contributing to her team as a captain and choreographer. She taught at Danz Kraze for four years before becoming Owner in 2013. Sara has been the Varsity coach at Eau Claire North High School since 2011. While coaching at North the team has won several Midwest Grand Championships, Conference Championships, Regional Championships, and has placed in the top five at the WACPC State Dance Competition many times. In 2015, Sara was inducted to the Badgerette Pom Pon Hall of Fame. She is also Acrobatic Arts Certified. Sara continues to coach at Eau Claire North and resides in the area with her husband and two young boys. Sara believes that being part of a dance team has taught her many important life lessons. She is passionate about what she does and believes that coaching dance is one of the most rewarding things she will ever do.
Emily Smith
Assistant Director
Emily graduated from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in 2022 with majors in Spanish, French, and Business Communications. She was recently married to Andrew and they live in the Eau Claire area. She has been teaching at Danz Kraze since 2016. Emily was a student at Danz Kraze before she became a four-year member of her high school dance team. In high school she received many honors, including team captain for two years and being named most dedicated by her teammates three years in a row. Emily was a member of the first team All-Conference dance team. She also performed with Badgerette All Star Talent Tour all four years of high school, was named a Badgerette Danz Star, and a Badgerette Camp All Star twice. Emily was also named to the WACPC All-State dance team for three years in high school.
Mallory Pieper
Coach
Mallory is currently a student at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire studying elementary education and art. She started her dance training at Danz Kraze when she was three years and continued taking classes all through high school. She was a four-year member of her high school's dance team and earned many honors, including being named second team all conference for three years, first team all conference for one year, and was voted Most Valuable Dancer by her teammates. She was also named a Badgerette Dance Star multiple times and an All Star her senior year. She participated in the Badgerette All Star Talent Tour at Disney World for three years. Mallory has been teaching at Danz Kraze since 2022.
Larissa Frank
Coach
Larissa works for the City of Eau Claire and lives in the area with her fiancé Sean. She has been teaching at Danz Kraze since 2014. Larissa was a student at Danz Kraze before she became a four-year member of her high school dance team. She received many honors while in high school, including two-year team captain and being voted by her team as most dedicated for three years in a row. She was named to the second team all conference for three years. Larissa performed with the Badgerette Disney All Star Talent Tour for two years and was also named a Badgeretee Dance Star and summer camp All Star. After high school she coached the Fall Creek dance team, who earned second place at WACPC State Dance competition. Larissa was a staff member of the Badgerette Pom Pon company during the summer of 2014.
Olivia Pieper
Coach
Olivia graduated from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in December 2023 with a major in Education. She has been coaching at Danz Kraze since 2018. She began dancing at the age of three and has been trained in Pom, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Kick. In high school Olivia was a three-year captain and four-year member of her school's varsity dance team. She received many honors during her high school years including first runner-up Miss Badgerette of the Midwest, one second team all conference honor, three first team all conference honors, and was named to the WACPC All State dance team for two years. She was also voted most dedicated two years in a row by her teammates. Olivia performed with the Disney All Star Talent Tour all four years of high school and was also named a Badgerette Camp All Star and Dance Star.
Kristen Hartzel
Coach
Kristen began dancing at age five in the styles of ballet, tap, and jazz. She was a four-year member of an award-winning high school dance team and was named to the first team all conference for two years. She earned a spot on the Wisconsin All Star team and traveled to Australia, where she performed at various venues, including a professional rugby game. Kristen was a one-year member of the UW-Stevens Point dance team. While continuing to study dance in college, she gained further experience in modern, musical theatre, and contemporary. Upon returning home to Eau Claire, Kristen coached area award-winning high school dance teams for nine years and has been teaching at Danz Kraze since 2004. She is Acrobatic Arts Certified and has received training as a WACPC tech judge. Kristen lives in Eau Claire with her husband and two children and is the program coordinator at the L.E. Phillips Senior Center.
Morgan Waters
Coach
Morgan grew up dancing at Dan Kraze and is currently a student at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Morgan was a four-year member and two-year captain of Danz Kraze's high school Elite team. She was her class salutatorian. She was named to the Badgerette All State team her freshman and Senior year and the WACPC all state team her sophomore and senior year. She performed with the Disney All Star Talent Tour for two years of high school and was named a Badgerette Camp All Star twice, as well as a Dance Star. She has been teaching at Danz Kraze since 2020.