Allison takes over NIACC Dance Team

Elyssa Allison begins her first season as the head coach of the NIACC Dance Team in the 2023-24 school year.

Allison was the NIACC Dance Team assistant coach for two seasons under Tina Wihlm, who started the NIACC Dance Team and stepped down after the 2022-23 season after seven seasons.

"I'm very excited to take on the role of head coach as it something I have dreamed of doing," Allison said. "I truly love the dance team and the community involved with it.

"Tina Wihlm has taught me a lot about trusting the process when bringing a routine together before state competition or a home performance. She has shown me how much of a difference it can make to have a coach who truly believes in your along with the value of each individual dancer brings to the team."

In the 2022-23 season, the NIACC Dance Team placed second in Jazz, second in Pom and third in Hip Hop at the Iowa State Dance competition in the community college division.

In her first season as an assistant coach in 2021-22, the NIACC Dance Team placed third with its Hip Hop routine at the Iowa State Dance competition in the community college division.

"I feel honored to be able to carry on the legacy (Wihlm) created in this team," Allison said. "I'm looking forward to building this season's team and extending the success of the NIACc Trojan Dance Team."

Allison is currently the director and head instructor of the Mason City Just For Kix dance program.

She received her bachelor's degree in Dance/Private Studio Teaching from Mankato State University in 2021.

Allison was on the NIACC Dance Team from 2016-2018 and graduated from NIACC in 2018. She was a team captain during her sophomore season on the dance team.

She was on the award-winning Newman Catholic Dance Team from 2012-2016.

Allison grew up in Mason City and was a dancer at Denny's School of Dance throughout her youth where she studied tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical and pointe.