Solveig
Director of Operations
Solveig grew up dancing in the Twin Cities, studying ballet and the Vaganova method, as well as jazz, at SPB. She graduated from Augsburg College with a degree in Music Education, both vocal and instrumental, and is currently finishing her PhD in Historical Musicology through the U of M. Music and dance have always been major aspects of Solveig’s life. While continuing to take adult ballet classes, Solveig taught piano lessons for over a decade, including at Cadenza Music here in St. Paul, MN. From 2016-2017, she had the opportunity to spend a year in Norway doing research for her dissertation. When she was ready for a break from teaching and academia and began looking for a new challenge, she started doing some arts administration work and found she really enjoyed it!
Solveig has shopped at Grand Jeté her whole life, and she developed a relationship with Ruthena Fink, the founder of Grand Jeté, both through the store and through dancing with her at SPB. Solveig has always had a great amount of respect for Ruthena, recognizing also that Grand Jeté has a very important place in the dance community. She sees Grand Jeté as a place where different people can come together, from different dance styles and backgrounds, and enter into a common experience outside of their own studio or community. As Director of Operations, Solveig now seeks to continue the legacy of Grand Jeté and its role in the dance community.
When she’s not at Grand Jeté, Solveig is probably with her two-year-old son, cooking, knitting, reading, playing Wordle or playing/studying music!
Heather
Professional Shoe Fitter and Retail Associate
Olivia
Professional Shoe Fitter and Retail Associate
Born and raised in Minneapolis Minnesota, Olivia trained at Hopkins Dance Company for 15 years under the direction of Leslie Daly. Olivia’s pre-professional training included summer programs with Milwaukee Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet. After graduating in 2018, Olivia continued her dance education at The University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. Majoring in Ballet Performance, Olivia had the privilege to dance roles in Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Cinderella, Balanchine’s Serenade, and several other modern pieces. In 2020, Olivia joined Ballet Fantastique as an Apprentice for the 2020-2021 season and continued dancing with Ballet Fantastique as a Company Corps in 2021-2022.
During her time in Eugene Oregon, Olivia managed Dancers Closet, a dance wear and shoe store. Her main position at this store was fitting new and experienced dancers for pointe shoes. Olivia has 2 years of professional pointe shoe fitting experience and is excited to continue her work at Grand Jeté.
Grace
Social Media and Mobile Sales Manager/Pointe Shoe Fitter
Grace began dancing at a young age, taking ballet, tap, jazz and pointe. After college, she began ballroom dancing and immediately fell in love with the art form as well as with Dancesport and competing. Having a passion for sharing her love of dance and teaching as well as performing, Grace began as an instructor at Cinema Ballroom in 2015, where she continues to teach full time and compete both with students and with her professional partner. She and her partner won the Rising Star Smooth at Heart of America in August of 2022.
