Coaches

Angela Nieman celebrates her 23nd year as Head Coach of the 2008-2013, 2015-2018 State Champion Washington High School Highsteppers. Angela has also taught algebra, Spanish, and German classes at Washington High School, and currently, teaches "Introduction to Dance" as a program for the fine arts division. She was elected to serve on the inaugural National USASF Dance Advisory Panel and currently serves on the NASC.
In 2001, Angela started her own dance studio, Champion Legacy. In 2014 her all male Open Hip Hop team brought home a Gold Medal from Dance Worlds, followed by all Large Senior Hip Hop in 2015.  In 2018 Small Senior Jazz and Large Senior Pom brough home the coveted title of World Champion.. The teams have won a total of 12 medals at Dance World, and the team is one of the only studio teams to compete and place in the top 6 in all four styles at the 2017 Dance World. These styles included Pom, Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical.
In February 2013, Coach Nieman received the DX Legacy Award for her lifetime achievements in coaching cheer and dance, and just recently Angela was also recognized as one of the top three studio owners in the nation by the USASF.
Coach Nieman’s oldest daughter, Ashley, has her master's degree in counseling and was a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader from 2012-2015. Her son, Josh, is a graduate of Washington High School, and her youngest daughter, Anna Kate, is a gratuate of University of Cincinnati.

Brooklin has been dancing for 20 years and specializes in pom, jazz, and contemporary. She trained at Champion Legacy Dance Academy, where she contributed to multiple world championship titles, including three gold medals in pom and two in jazz at the USASF Dance Worlds. In the spring of 2023, she graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Dance. Over the course of five years, she was a member of the award-winning Minnesota State University Mankato Dance Team, helping secure seven UDA National Championship titles.

Choreography credits include South Dakota State University (SD), Minnesota State University Mankato (MN), Champion Legacy Dance Academy (SD), Rapid City Central HS (SD), Tea Area HS (SD) Almost Famous Dance and Cheer (IA), Huron HS (SD), Murphysboro Devil Dazzlers (IL), Washington HS (SD), Beresford HS (SD) Shining Fame Performance (MN), and Premiere Dance Complex (SD).

Joslyn has been a dedicated member of Champion Legacy for as long as she can remember. She began her dance journey at the age of 4 and spent 12 years training and performing at Champion, where she was a part of two World Championship teams. After transitioning into coaching, Joslyn is now in her fourth year of guiding and inspiring the next generation of dancers. Her passion lies in helping dancers grow both in skill and confidence, while fostering a positive and supportive environment. Having experienced the joy of dance at all levels, she is committed to sharing her love of dance with others, creating a lasting impact on her students.

Anna Kate Nieman is is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a business and marketing degree . An avid dancer and teacher, she participated on the National Champion Bearcat Dance Team at the U of C, and has been an enormous asset as a coach at Champion Legacy for past six years. Anna Kate does choreograph for Champion Legacy in Sioux Falls, and also currently takes a lead role in helping with choreography for other surrounding high schools and colleges.

Anna Kate was a member of four State winning dance teams, and has been with winning teams at Champion Legacy, bringing home numerous Gold, Silver and Bronze World Championships. In addition to her competition choreography, Anna Kate also teaches classes and workshops in jazz, contemporary, hip-hop and other dance technique, with a specialization in the "turning technique."

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