Lee Christianson (Dance 2023) Returns to Campus for Guest Class

September 30, 2026

Lee Christianson (Dance 2023) returned to Perpich this week to work with current Dance students alongside Heather Klopchin, Director of St. Olaf College Dance Department, where Christianson is continuing his dance education.

Heather Klopchin, Director of St. Olaf College Dance Department (left) and Lee Christianson (Dance 2023) (right) pose with the Perpich Dance students. Christianson is now a senior at St. Olaf College.

During the modern dance class, Christianson helped demonstrate movement and reconnect with the community that shaped his artistic development. He was impressed by how quickly students moved from initial nerves to confident, expressive collaboration.

“The students quickly opened up to joyous engagement and jumped right into movement,” Christianson said. “They were silly, expressive, and conversational, but they were also hard workers and knew how to stay on task.”

One memorable moment came during an improvisation exercise, when dancers began making eye contact and responding to one another’s movements. As the students connected through movement, the energy in the room shifted.

“Humanity in dance is incredibly impactful,” Christianson said.

Christianson hopes students recognize that guest classes can be both challenging and fun, and that bringing their authentic selves into the studio is essential to their growth as artists.

“No one can dance exactly like you, and you’ll enjoy yourself more when you’re not trying to be someone else,” he said.

Returning to Perpich also reminded Christianson of the lasting impact of his education, particularly his work with Perpich dance instructor, Mary Harding. Lee, who is now a senior at St. Olaf, credits his time at Perpich with expanding not only his technical skills but also his understanding of dance history, culture, anatomy, teaching, and choreography.