High Temperature Dance Academy
Est. 2017
Every instructor at High Temperature is highly educated and qualified. We truly have an inspiring team of dance educators that not only make taking class fun, but also encourage each child to be their authentic self while growing into successful young adults.
Tympest Hora
Owner/Director
Tympest Hora, the director of High Temperature Dance Academy, is a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Performing Arts with a Dance emphasis and a minor in General Business. Tympest and her husband, Mitchell, live outside of Fairfield with their newest and most exciting addition to their family, their daughter, Celeste.
Tympest has been in dance for over twenty five years, and has been competing and performing since the age of four. Her passion for dance has given her many opportunities and experiences throughout her adult life, including: performing in Disneyland and interning with Professional Dance Academy, being elected as the Orchesis I Dance Company President at ISU in 2016, receiving State and National titles, professionally judging for Symposium Talent Contest and - most importantly - allowing Tympest to share her love, knowledge, and experiences with others within and outside of the dance world.
Tympest has wanted to own her own dance studio since the age of thirteen, and can't wait to continue experiencing all that HTDA & the community has to offer! Her commitment to each individual student, and her passion for creativity and teaching are what make High Temperature Dance Academy so special.
Katie Six
Dance & Tumbling Instructor
Katie Six is the Human Resources Manager for Dexter Laundry, Inc. She is a graduate of Simpson College with a degree in International Business minoring in French. Katie began her dancing career at the age of 5, right here in Fairfield, Iowa at Le Cygne Dance Academy. Katie continued dancing and doing cheer while in college as well as teaching youth dance in Indianola, IA during her college years. Katie was a dance teacher for Melissa’s Stairway to the Stars for both recreational as well as competitive dance for 16 years where she continued to attend teachers’ workshops and dance educator events. Katie was a judge for Symposium Talent Contest for 10 years as well as had the opportunity to perform at Disneyland with her daughter, Tympest. Katie currently lives in Fairfield, IA with her husband, Jeff and son Kanon and truly enjoys teaching dance and sharing her passion and creativity with all her students along side her daughter, Tympest.
Mary Shearon
Dance & Tumbling Instructor
Mary is the Senior Accountant at Hawthorne Direct, LLC. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Finance and minors in Economics and Dance. Mary's love for dance began at the age of 5 at Glenda's Studio of Dance in Keokuk, Iowa. She enjoyed dance and cheer through out middle school and high school. While attending college, she continued dancing with UNI Orchesis Dance Company and Iowa's Best Muscle Dance Team. Mary also enjoyed sharing her passion for dance with young dancers in Cedar Falls, Iowa through Young Peoples Dance Theater. She has continued sharing this passion at High Temperature Dance Academy since 2019. Her favorite part of teaching dance is watching the growth of creativity and confidence in her students.
Shelby Moquin
Dance & Tumbling Instructor
Shelby moved to Iowa City in 2008 and began taking competitive dance classes in 7th grade at Debut Dance. Shelby has attended numerous competitions and conventions throughout her dance career. As her love for dance grew, so did her passion for teaching. In 2021, her family relocated to Keosauqua, IA where she discovered the wonderful High Temperature Dance Academy community. She is very excited for this year to begin and to share her dance knowledge with all ages of students!
Outside of dancing, Shelby is currently a sophomore earning her BA in Journalism and Mass Communication through Drake University’s online program. You can often find her hanging out with her family, friends, and three cats!
Jaelyn Hesseltine
Dance & Tumbling Instructor (Ages Creative to Mini)
Jaelyn Hesseltine is a Financial Production Analyst for Eichelberger Farms, Inc in Wayland, IA. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Jaelyn played all the sports growing up; volleyball, basketball, track, and softball, where she learned to be a team player. It wasn’t until high school when she decided to become a part of the high school drill/dance team. From the age of 12 to the end of her high school years, Jaelyn would babysit frequently for some of the families around her community. When she was asked about teaching at High Temperature Dance Academy she was so thrilled to be able to be with kids again! She feels very blessed to be able to do both jobs of which she loves, one being alongside her best friend, Tympest! Jaelyn feels that the kids have helped her grow & learn so much already from her first year at HTDA in the 2020-2021 season, and is so excited to continue growing and learning in the coming years!
Tasha Beghtol
Dance Instructor
Tasha began dancing at a young age in My Pleasant, Iowa where she eventually became the owner and instructor of her childhood studio, The Dance Academy. After 13 years, she transitioned away from the studio to finish up a graduate degree and pursue new opportunities. Dance wound up finding her again in Washington Iowa, where she taught at Stairway to the Stars for 14 years and met one of her favorite dancers, Miss Tympest.
Tasha's love of ballet drives her passion for the importance of basic technique and development. She also enjoys jazz and contemporary with an occasional flair for hip hop. Tasha has coached and choreographed for High School Dance Teams in Mt. Pleasant, Washington, Highland & WACO. She's excited to join the team at High Temperature and meeting many new favorite dancers!
Emily Hora
Dance & Tumbling Instructor
Helen Drish
Dance & Tumbling Instructor
Jessica Koontz
Office Manager
