Dorothy Lundstrum – 20th Century Visionary and Women Business Owner

Dorothy Lundstrum started her legacy of dance and youth development in 1927, at a time when women were the minority in the workforce. Despite the odds, Dorothy built an incredible artistic legacy at the Lundstrum Studios in the Ascension Club in North Minneapolis. Dorothy was a teacher and a mentor to thousands of Northside students over the years. A talented performer herself, Dorothy taught dance, song, charm, and fashion at the studio she operated with her two sisters: Marion who played piano and Lorraine who taught singing.

Dorothy ,was also a fixture in the North Minneapolis business community. In fact, the Lundstrum archive contains a newspaper clipping featuring Dorothy Lundstrum as one of the first women-owned-businesses to receive a loan from her local West Broadway branch of First National Bank of Minneapolis, pre-curser to today's U.S. Bank.

Dorothy was a model of grace and poise to her students.

Dorothy never wavered in her commitment to bring exceptional opportunities for success to her students. For over 70 years, she mentored thousands of students, teaching song and dance, positive behavior, self-worth, virtues, and good citizenship. As a single woman, she dedicated herself to her students, guiding them through life's challenges. In addition to regular classes, she took students under her wing, even traveling with them to New York every year to expose them to top talent and make professional introductions to advance their performing careers.

Dorothy’s vocation and dedication to mentorship lead to many student successes and positive community impacts and many of her students credit her for their success. Some of Dorothy's protégé's opened their own dance schools across the Twin Cities, such as Marcia Chapman (Minnesota Dance Theater/Ballet Arts), Kay Marie and Carol (KMC Dance Studio), Sharon Boland Puccio and Dyan Ferrell, (a NYC Rockette who operated Dyan's World of Dance). Dyan was also mother of the famed Twin Cities choreographer Michael Ferrell who started the Alive and Kickin company for 55+ performers. Dorothy's alumni also include successful women in business, such as Andrea Hjelm, President of Moore Creative Talent, Barbara Burwell (Miss Minnesota and Miss USA) and Mary Williams (Miss Minnesota). Dorothy’s many students also include a amazing range of national and local performing luminaries: Prince, Liberace, actress Arlene Dahl, dancer Juliet Prowse, and the acclaimed Andrews Sisters.

Dorothy and the Casserly sisters and mother Lois Melsha Casserly.

Dorothy (right) and her sister Lorraine (left), who taught voice

Dorothy with student

While Dorothy passed away in 1998, her connection to Lundstrum is still being felt through five of her former students, the Casserly sisters. These sisters carry on Dorothy's legacy at Lundstrum Performing Arts, continuing to teach and plants seeds of opportunity in the northside community and beyond.