DEBORAH JOAN LYSHOLM

“In her dance she has a very pure heart. 
It is great to see her dance.”
(The late Gregory Hines, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN)

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES: Deborah is a highly regarded tap dancer with rhythmic ability that reaches from classical to ethnic; from super-charged to delicate.  She takes you on a journey with incredible articulation. In July 2006 she performed to sold-out audiences at the Rising Dragon Jazz Club in Tokyo, Japan. In January 2006 she was a featured dancer on Carnival Cruise Lines in the opening act for Tony Award choreography winner, Jason Samuels-Smith.  Deborah pulls from her vast training in multiple dance disciplines to create highly original and engaging dance pieces. She has been a featured dancer in musical theater productions of Oklahoma! and Anything Goes and several music concerts including the Hot Summer Jazz Festival Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis, MN 2002); several Twin Cities’ Jazz clubs including the Quest, Bogart’s, Medina Ballroom, First Ave., Café Lurcat, Weyerhauser Theater, O’Shaughnessy Theater, Union Depot, Landmark Center, Minneapolis Convention Center, the Walker Art Center, and numerous local theaters, festivals and conventions.  She performed with the TAP DOGS at Mall of America and as a featured dancer in two PBS Public Service videos.  Deborah danced with the late Gregory Hines in Chicago (Auditorium Theater 1998) and in New York City (Alvin Ailey Theater 2001).  Each year Deborah coordinates several master dance classes with noted professionals and over the past few years has booked more than 25 engagements for Jazz musicians at some of the most prestigious Jazz clubs in the Twin Cities. Deborah is noted for her tap pieces that reflect her appreciation of the unique marriage between tap dance and jazz music.

“Sweetheart, you know how to dance. I can feel your passion” (Van Porter, world renown Tap dancer)

PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION, FOUNDING AND DIRECTION: Deborah’s teaching career is extensive and includes instructing dance classes at various private studios and public schools in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area from 1968 to 1997 when she founded and built her own performing arts school, Heartbeat Studios. She currently teaches over 20 classes per week in Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Musical Theater dance. Deborah has traveled to several cities in the US where she taught as a guest artist and to cities overseas including Geneva, Milan and Barcelona where she taught and established “sister-studio” relationships.  In December 2003, she traveled to Havana, Cuba on a US licensed tour to study Afro-Cuban religion and its influence on dance and music, and visited the Tony Menendes Studio to share the art of dance.  In April, 2005, Deborah traveled to the ARTN Dance Studio in Tokyo, Japan to teach master tap classes and established an official partner studio relationship between Heartbeat Studios and ARTN and developed a comprehensive teacher/student exchange program.  Deborah has taught master Tap and Jazz classes at Mankato State College, and specialized classes for individuals with mental and physical disabilities and provided movement coaching to singers and musicians.  In September 2005, Deborah initiated contact and negotiations to establish Heartbeat Studios as the official performing arts center for the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA franchise.  She is a director of the Beat Squad youth performance company for the Minnesota Timberwolves which performs at the Target Center during select games. 

“I would just like to thank you from the deepest part of my heart for being such an amazing, caring teacher. You nurture your students, and truly care about their futures and helping them to become not only better dancers, but better people.”
(Stephany Himrich, Heartbeat Studios' student)

PROFESSIONAL CHOREOGRAPHIC CREDITS: Deborah’s choreography is compelling and unique to each venue.  Her choreographic credits include choreographing/producing over 75 dance concerts in the Minneapolis, MN area; many theatrical productions including GREASE, Pippin, The Boyfriend, Anything Goes, The Wiz, and Oklahoma!; two PBS public service videos (Anti-smoking and World Hunger Awareness campaigns); Super Bowl Half Time Show; and numerous festival, holiday and benefit events and club engagements. 

“Deb’s choreography is innovative and highly original.”  (Dennis Swanson, community theater director)

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION: Deborah has trained extensively in Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Musical Theater dance since childhood. Her professional training includes ongoing private study with world renowned choreographers and traveling to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and overseas for intensive study programs.  TAP:  Private study with Dianne Walker, the late Gregory Hines, Tony Award winner Savion Glover, Tony Award winner Jason Samuels Smith, Bril Barret (Riverdance), Dr. Heny LeTang, Lane Alexander, Jo Jo Smith, the late Jimmy Payne, Barbara Duffy, Brenda Bufalino, Guillem Alonso (Barcelona), Van Porter, Christopher Eck and Josh Cyr (Tap Dogs), Tommy Tune, Lorraine Holscher, Chester Whitmore, Robert Reed, Peter King (Geneva), and more. JAZZ:  Jo Tremaine, Gus Giordano, Thommy Walsh, Marcus Alford, Jon Benoit, Bob Banas (movie West Side Story), Deborah Leamy (Broadway cast of FOSSE).  BALLET:  Robert Atwood (Alvin Ailey Dance Company), Jo Savino, Janet Smith, Ruth Baaken.  MODERN/MUSICAL THEATER:  Maureen Mansfield (Paul Taylor Dance Company) and Lorraine Holscher (Radio City Rockettes).  Deborah attended the University of Minnesota, Education and received her Training Program Development and Evaluation Certificate from the University of St. Thomas. 

“Deb is a beautiful dancer . . . her dancing is articulate and clean.”
(Dianne Walker, world renown tap dancer)

MEMBERSHIPS AND RECOGNITION: In February 2006, a feature article appeared in the International Tap Dance Association Magazine, ON TAP, regarding Deborah, her studio, and her establishment of teacher/student overseas exchange programs.  Deborah is a member of the International Tap Dance Association (ITA) and served on the board of the Metro Regional Arts Council and the Lake Alimagnet Arts Council.  Her journey to build Heartbeat Studios and the first-ever domestic violence law suit filed in the USA in Civil Court that she won (1996) has been featured in numerous newspaper articles and twice on the WCCO Channel 4 (CBS) “Dimension Report”.  Deborah is a sought after speaker on the prevention of violence in the home and appeared on The Minnesota Experience talk show.  She has given presentations to religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, public schools, medical organizations and governmental agencies.  Her presentations before the State of Minnesota Judicial and Legislative committees helped change the laws in Minnesota regarding domestic violence.  In 1998 and 2002, Deborah was nominated for the SGMA Heroes Award.

MISSION: Deborah’s personal and professional mission is to share the passion of dance with students of all ages and skill levels.  To continually create innovative choreography and produce professional concerts that incorporate multiple performing arts disciplines. To share the healing aspects of dance with the community at large and to connect with dancers locally and overseas for mutual respect and appreciation of dance as a universal language.