Biography
Vreni Graveline, owner and director of Gail Wildfong School of Dance has been dancing for over 40 years. Trained at GWSD under the guidance of Gail Wildfong, she studied the Cecchetti method of ballet along with jazz, tap, and pointe. She travelled regularly to dance conventions and competitions, further refining her skills. Vreni was later mentored and coached by Ms. Bethany Lenhart, a former president of the Cecchetti Council of America (CCA). Through this training, she earned her Cecchetti teaching certificate with honors in Grades I – IV and is now able to send students to take exams as well. Many of her students have successfully earned student certificates with honors.
While attending Eastern Michigan University, Vreni pursued a degree in elementary education with an early childhood endorsement. She broadened her dance expertise, training in hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, gymnastics, and musical theater. She continued her ballet training through the CCA and took master classes with renowned professionals, including tap master Anthony LaCascio and hip hop artist Barry Youngblood.
Vreni was part of the Eastern Michigan University (EMU) dance team at the start of her college career but soon discovered her true passion for dance through auditions and performances with the EMU dance program and studios in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. Her teaching journey expanded as she worked with Randazzo School of Dance in Ypsilanti choreographing a jazz piece for their annual recital as well as directing studios in Dexter and Milan, MI. Eventually, she partnered with her sister, Heidi Wuerthele, to open Dance Xplosion.
Upon graduating from EMU, Vreni began her career as a kindergarten teacher at St. Helen Public School in Roscommon, MI. Being back near Gladwin, Vreni was invited by Gail Wildfong to take over the studio, and she has been leading it ever since. Her extensive dance knowledge and classroom teaching experience have provided her with the skills to give children a structured and positive dance education. Over the years, her students have earned numerous awards for both solo and group performances. Under her leadership, the studio has achieved high honors with students consistently earning top scores, overall high-point awards, and recognition for entertainment and artistry.
More than anything, Vreni is passionate about creating a fun, engaging, and supportive dance environment for students of all ages and abilities. She takes pride in helping young dancers develop their talents while instilling confidence, discipline and a lifelong love of dance and music.