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!"