Coaching
Staff
Jenny Raiche, Head Coach
jenny.raiche@district196.org
651-683-6969, ext. 98829
Coach Raiche will enter her seventh year as the Head Coach of the Lightning Dance Teams. Jenny is the Vice President of Camps and Special Events for Just For Kix, Inc. a full-service dance event and retail dancewear company. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Communication Studies and Business Management. She was also a member, choreographer and student coach of the nationally ranked Gustavus Dance Team. Jenny is a former member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader coaching staff and is the Director of the Miss Dance Team Minnesota Competition. In 2003, Coach Raiche was awarded Minnesota “Coach of the Year”. She choreographed for the Outback Bowl pregame and halftime shows in 2007 and 2008, has been featured in ‘Dance Spirit’ and ‘Dance Teacher’ magazines, and served on the Board of Directors for the MN Association of Dance Teams for the past four years.
Jessica Mahr, JV Head Coach
Jessica.mahr@district196.org
Jessica will return for her third season with the LDT. Jessica is originally from Centennial High School and went on to the University of MN where she received her B.A. in Dance. She has lived in Los Angeles, CA for 6 years where she was the Director of the Dance Department and Head Coach of the Dance Team at TAFT High School. She returned to MN last year and took over the Dance Dept. at Eastview along with coaching the LDT. Jessica has also worked for Just For Kix for 14 years.
Shannen Pickens, Assistant Coach
Shannen Pickens is returning for her third season with the LDT. Shannen is a 2005 graduate of Eastview and currently attends the University of Minnesota where she studies in the Graphic Design program. Shannen represented Minnesota at the Miss Dance Team USA competition in 2005 where she made it to the second round of finals and finished 7th in the nation! Shannen was a member of the national champion, Gopher Dance Team in 2006. She also works as a Just For Kix staff member in the summer months. Coach Pickens works with the Varsity Jazz and JV Kick teams.
Jessica Gerber, Assistant Coach
Jessica.gerber@district196.org
Coach Gerber will return for her third season as the assistant coach for both the JV and Varsity teams. Coach Gerber is originally from Mankato Loyola High School where she was a member of the dance team. She attended the University of St. Thomas where she was also a member of the dance team there. She is currently teaching English at Eastview High School and is also the advisor of the school newspaper.
Lindsey Carter , Assistant Coach
Coach Carter is returning to the LDT for her fourth season this year and will be assisting part time with the Varsity Jazz team. She is a 2001 graduate if Eastview High School. Lindsey danced at Larkin Dance Studio for most of her life. She attended Arizona State University for 2 years where she was a member of the Dance Team. In 2003 she transfered to the University of Minnesota where she was a member of the 3-time defending national champion, Gopher Dance Team. Lindsey currently works at The Line Up as a costume account rep.
Toni Damico, Assistant Coach
The LDT welcomes Toni for her first year as the coach of the JV-2 Jazz team. Toni is an Eastview grad and was a member of the LDT where she won 3 State Championships. Toni trained at Dyan's World of Dance, was a 4-year member of the LDT, and is currently performing and competing on the University of Minnesota's Premiere Dance Team. She is also a model for Kelle Co, The Line Up and Just For Kix.
