Owner/Director

Makenzi (Gangwish) Schnase

Makenzi Schnase, previously Makenzi Gangwish, is the owner and director of Next Gen Dance Company. Makenzi was born and raised in Hastings. While attending Adams Central High School, Makenzi was a member of the Stars Dance Team and trained at T’Dance School of Performing Arts under previous ownership. She took numerous classes including, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Clogging, Modern, Lyrical/Contemporary, Pointe, and Bellydancing. Makenzi was an instructor while at T'Dance and was a member of the T’Dance Elite Competition Team. During her time in high school, Makenzi attended the Wyoming Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival, OCU Broadway Bound Dance Camp, and took classes at Broadway Dance Center. Following her graduation from Adams Central, Makenzi attended the University of Central Florida (UCF) where she obtained her Bachelors of Art Degree in Legal Studies and Dance Minor. While obtaining her Dance Minor, Makenzi was selected to be a teacher’s assistant in the Advanced Ballet, Advanced Tap, and Advanced Jazz classes. Makenzi was also a part of the RUKUS entertainment group during her time at UCF. Makenzi proceeded on to law school at Barry University School of Law and is presently practicing law in South Central Nebraska.  Since her time back in Hastings, Makenzi has continued to be involved in the dance community. Makenzi has provided Summer Technique Camps to local highschool level teams and choreographed top placing routines for local highschool dance team state competitions. She was previously an assistant coach to the Hastings College Dance Team. While being involved with local dance teams, Makenzi also teaches various styles of dance classes including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Clogging, Lyrical/Contemporary, Acrobatics, Modern, Pointe, Strength and Technique, and Pom.

Instructor/Choreographer

Alaina Kuhns

Alaina Kuhns is an instructor and choreographer with Next Gen Dance Company. Alaina was born and raised in Sidney, Nebraska. During high school, Alaina was part of the Sidney High School Dance Team. She was awarded two Nebraska State Dance Runner-Up awards in the Class B Kick and Class B Hip Hop categories.  Alaina continued to further her education and dance technical training at Hastings College where she studied finance and communications. She was also a 3-year member of the Hastings College Dance Team. While she was a member of the Hastings College Dance Team, Alaina danced competitively through the NAIA Collegiate Division and participated in weekly performances in support of various Hastings College sporting events. Alaina had the opportunity to further her dance knowledge from instructors from various entities, such as TRIBE99, with Hastings College. Following her graduation from Hastings College, Alaina went on to work at Five Points Bank in Hastings as a Personal Banker and Consumer Loan Officer.  She has also spending her second year with the coaching staff of the Hastings College Dance Team and recently has been named the Head Dance Team Coach for the Hastings College Dance Team! Alaina has years of experience working with high school dance teams and providing technique camps and competition choreography. Most notably, Alaina has choreographed for the Silver Lake High School Dance Team leading them to back-to-back championships at the Nebraska State Dance Competition in the Class D Jazz category in 2022 and 2023. In addition to her work with high school dance teams, Alaina has taught hip-hop and acrobatics at T'Dance School of Performing Arts. 

​

Instructor/Choreographer

Emily Struss

Emily Struss is an instructor and choreographer with Next Gen Dance Company. Emily was born and raised in Hastings, Nebraska. Emily advanced her dance training at T'Dance School of Performing Arts under previous ownership. Emily received training in various styles of dance including; Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Clogging, Lyrical, Pointe, and Modern. During high school, Emily was part of the Hastings High School Tigerettes. She was captain her senior year.  Emily continued to further her education and dance technical training at Hastings College where she studied Elementary Education. She was also a 4-year member of the Hastings College Dance Team. While she was a member of the Hastings College Dance Team, Emily danced competitively through the NAIA Collegiate Division and participated in weekly performances in support of various Hastings College sporting events. She also holds 2 First-Team All American honors and 2 All Conference honors from her time on the Hastings College Dance Team. Emily had the opportunity to further her dance knowledge from instructors from various entities, such as TRIBE99, with Hastings College. Following her graduation from Hastings College, Emily will be working at Hawthorne Elementary School in Hastings as a first grade teacher.  She has also started coaching the Hastings High Tigerettes! Emily has years of experience working with high school dance teams and providing technique camps and competition choreography. In addition to her work with high school dance teams, Emily has taught jazz, lyrical, pom, hip-hop and strength and technique classes at T'Dance School of Performing Arts. 

Instructor/Choreographer

Josi Sharp

Josi Sharp is an instructor and choreographer with Next Gen Dance Company. Josi was born and raised in Bladen, Nebraska. While Josie attended Silver Lake High School, she was a member of the dance team where she was a captain for three consecutive years and led to the team to win back-to-back Nebraska State Dance Jazz Championship titles. Josi advanced her dance training at T'Dance School of Performing Arts under previous ownership. Josi received training in various styles of dance including; Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Clogging, Lyrical, Pointe, Modern, and Pom.  Josi has had the opportunity provided to her in high school to visit New York City where she participated in various classes at The Broadway Dance Center. After graduating from Silver Laker High School in 2023, Josi continued her education and dancing career right here in Hastings at Hastings College where she is also part of the Hastings College Dance Team. Josi will be a sophomore at Hastings college this year as she participates in her second year on the Hastings College Dance Team. Josi continues to work towards her dream of becoming a radiologic technician. During her freshman season, Josi earned a spot on the Game Day Team and Competition Team. She also received the All American American Title. Josi is excited to share her love of dance with the dancers at the Next Gen Dance Company!

Instructor/Choreographer

Liv Kucera

Liv Kucera is an instructor and choreographer with Next Gen Dance Company. Liv was born and raised in Hastings and attended Hastings High School. She currently works full time at the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce. During her Highschool career, Liv was a 3 year member of the Hastings High Tigerettes dance team until a hip injury cut her senior dance year short. During her sophomore year on the Tigerettes Dance Team, Liv was selected to be on the State Dance Competition Team. Through her life, Liv has obtained over 15 years of dance training while attending T'Dance School of Performing Arts under previous ownership. Liv received training in various styles of dance including, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Pointe, Pom, and Modern. Her favorite being Modern and Lyrical! In 2015, Liv danced in the Great Russian Nutcracker production as a Party Girl and Spanish dancer. After graduating from Hastings Senior High School in 2022, Liv continued her education in Hastings at Central Community College as a Criminal Justice Major. She hopes to become a Juvenile Probation Officer after she graduates in December of 2024. Liv’s goals for all of the dancers she teaches is to be able to give them a space to express themselves and tell a story through movement. Liv is beyond excited to return to her dance roots after healing from a hip injury to teach at the Next Gen Dance Company!