Meet the Team Behind Dance Positive


  • Owner/ Instructor/ Choreographer

    Randie has been dancing since the age of 2. She grew up taking tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and ballet/pointe at Music General Dance Studio in Brainerd, MN.

    She has taken classes from many world-renowned dancers and choreographers including Mike Minery, Jen Silvas, Ashle Dawson, Melody Lacayanga, Sonja Taya, Mia Michaels, and many more.

    She was the highest scoring senior soloist at Hall of Fame Dance Nationals in Las Vegas her senior year and was part of a small group tap routine that received a perfect score at these same nationals. She also spent two summers tapping in an off-Broadway show in New York City.

    Randie has taught and choreographed at Studio One Dance School in Madison, WI, Dancin On Broadway in Maple Grove, MN, Music General Dance Studio in Brainerd, MN, and First City Dance Studio in Bemidji, MN. In the past, Randie has also served as a judge for Ovation Dance Challenge.

    Since becoming a choreographer, Randie’s routines have received multiple top scores and accolades including multiple choreography awards, highest scoring routines, and creative concept awards.

    Randie was awarded the National Dance Teacher of the Year at DX Nationals in 2026.

    Dance is Randie’s passion and she loves sharing this with her students and seeing how far she can take them in their own dance careers.

  • With over 15 years of teaching experience, Jackie brings passion, patience, and joy to every class she leads. Jackie is classically trained in ballet and has a deep appreciation for the artistry and discipline it instills, but her heart shines brightest in jazz and contemporary styles.

    Jackie loves working with dancers of all ages but her greatest joy comes from teaching younger students and watching their confidence and creativity blossom! Her goal is to create a welcoming, supportive space where each dancer can grow not only in technique but also in self-expression and love for movement.


  • Instructor/ Choreographer

    Izzy Brakke is a teacher and choreographer for the Dance Positive. Her styles are mainly based in Jazz, Contemporary, Jazz Funk, Ballet, and Improv. She has been dancing for 18 years and teaching for 2. She is a recent graduate of the CLI Conservatory in Southampton, Massachusetts. At this program she connected with many professional choreographers, dancers and artists! She was trained personally by Teddy Forance, Lucy Vallely, Sienna Lyons, Candace Brown, Al Blackstone and so many more. Izzy likes to focus her classes on fundamentals, technique, personal style, open mindedness, ect. This will be her first year choreographing for Dance Positive and she could not be more excited! Izzy’s future plans are to move to New York within the next year or so. She plans to pursue her passion for dance as a career in music videos, movies, on set experiences, live shows, and assisting many choreographers.

    Izzy currently lives in LA where she is working as a professional dancer. We are so grateful that she is still choreographing and teacher at Dance Positive whenever she is back in Minnesota!

  • Ava is an 11th grader at Bemidji High School with a strong passion for dance, music, and theater. She trains and competes in multiple styles of dance at Dance Positive, where she also teaches and choreographs. She is in her second year of Vocalmotive, Bemidji High School’s varsity show choir. Ava has been involved in numerous theatrical productions, both as a performer and choreographer, including; Hadestown, Something Rotten, Hats Off To Broadway, Anne of Green Gables, The Sword in the Stone, and The Wizard of Oz. She has also performed with Mask and Rose Women’s Theater, Bemidji Community Theater, and Bemidji High School.

  • Paisleigh is 16 years old and is a student at Nevis Public School. With over 13 years of dance experience, Paisleigh has grown up with a deep passion and love for dance. Throughout her journey as a dancer she has explored various styles, including, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, ballet, jazz funk, musical theater, Lyrical, tap, and open. She has been teaching dance classes for upward of 5 years. Her experiences in the dance world have shaped her not only as a dancer, but as well as a choreographer and teacher. 

    Dance has given Paisleigh countless opportunities to challenge herself, grow, achieve goals, accomplish dreams and create long-lasting memories. Through her many experiences she continues to develop her artistry while also finding new ways to discover, and express herself. She believes that dance is about more than technique,winning, and performing. It is about finding confidence in yourself, building connections, embracing individuality,and sharing a passion that brings people together. 

    As part of the Dance Positive staff, Paisleigh wants to continue to grow not only as a dancer but as a teacher. She wants to be able to help give others a place that they can discover their own joy, confidence, and freedom that dance can bring. She is overly grateful for the experiences, opportunities, and people who have helped shape her journey and cannot wait to do the same for her students. Above all, she hopes she can inspire others to follow their dreams, passions, and to always believe in themselves. Through every stage, every challenge, and every opportunity, she hopes for all her students to leave their own mark in dance. 

    “We will carve our place into time and space.” - Alessia Cara, Wild Things

  • Fenella Sommerville is currently pursuing her BFA in Dance at the University of Minnesota. She has been training in dance for 15 years and working with Randie Blumhagen for 10 years, first as a student and now as a Dance Positive Staff Member. Fenella has trained in all styles of dance and continues to do so. She loves working with students and sharing her love of dance and positive energy with everyone around her.