MDC Faculty

Doreen Zimmermann, Artistic Director and Company Owner

Doreen grew up in East Germany, where she trained in classical ballet, modern dance (Martha Graham), and jazz from a young age. After years of training, she became a certified dance instructor and had her own studio in Germany before moving to the United States in 2001.

After taking a break from the dance world, she had the opportunity to teach dance to children in Rancho Murieta and quickly formed the Murieta Dance Company in 2012, training at the Murieta Health Club for the next nine years. From dancing for fun to competitive dance, the classes grew, and so did the need for a bigger home for the company.

In 2021, the doors opened to a brand-new studio for dancers in Rancho Murieta, and it has been home to the Murieta Dance Company ever since.

Over the past years, Doreen has produced multiple award-winning choreographies and continues to enjoy working with children of all ages.

Beyond the studio, Doreen enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Maddy Carges, Assistant Director, Choreographer

Maddy has been dancing since she was 4 and started teaching in her teens. She joined our studio in 2023, bringing experience that includes college dance classes and teacher training. She is also a psychology major at Folsom Lake College.

She teaches both recreational and competitive dancers in a variety of styles, with a focus on technique, performance quality, and confidence.

She especially enjoys teaching contemporary and tap, as well as working on jumps and leaps, which were some of her strongest skills as a dancer.

Maddy is passionate about creating a supportive and fun environment that encourages dancers to push past what they think they can do and grow as confident individuals.

Alexa Herman, Ballet

Karina Welch, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical

Karina brings a strong foundation in both technical training and injury prevention to her classes. With several years of competitive experience in Jazz, Contemporary, and Lyrical, and three years in a pre-professional ballet training program, she is passionate about helping dancers build both artistry and technical excellence.

She is dedicated to helping young dancers develop strength, body awareness, and healthy movement habits that support longevity in dance.

She is excited to share her knowledge and love of dance with students, empowering them to grow as strong, expressive, and technically sound performers.

Zach Conrardy, Hip Hop, Jazz

Zach Conrardy is a dancer, dance teacher, and performer based in Northern California.

He was a member of the 2021-2022 Sacramento Kings Dance team and the 2020-2021 Sacramento Kings Street Team. He has danced with Chapkis Dance in Fairfield, California, and Theory Dance in Folsom, California.

He loves teaching, as it is a great way to give back to his community through the art of dance.