Dane Nelson and Jenna Racine are both born and bred West End-ers, back in the UP after almost a decade away. These two are looking to take a leap out of their comfort zone and dance the night away as a part of this year’s DWOS cast!
Jenna Racine graduated from Westwood High before embarking on her medical training. After graduating from Minnesota, Michigan State, and spending five years at UW-Madison, Jenna rounded out her tour of the Big Ten this year by taking a position with the University of Michigan as the only Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist to live and work in the UP. She danced ballet and tap as a child, but her dancing career is now limited to the kitchen dance parties she has with her and Dane’s two little kids, Jack (age 5) and Caroline (8 months). When she’s not taking care of pregnant women and her small children, Jenna enjoys spending time at the lake, tackling any kind of puzzle, and rewatching her favorite sitcoms.
Dane, a native of Ishpeming, also graduated from Westwood High School. He earned a business degree from NMU and embarked on his financial services career with Wells Fargo and later, Peninsula Bank. Currently, he holds the position of Director of Permanent Placement Services at Robert Half International, overseeing multiple locations in Wisconsin.
Engaged in various community activities, Dane served on the board of the Negaunee Invitational Tournament, the Ishpeming/Negaunee Chamber of Commerce, and volunteered with the UP 200 sled dog race and Ishpeming Noon Kiwanis Club. Beyond his community involvement, Dane enjoys cooking for family and friends, golfing with his son at Wawanowin Country Club, and exploring Marquette County’s beautiful landscapes on his mountain bike. The running joke is Dane stood in 20% of the weddings in Marquette County from 2002-2015. They are hoping their extensive network of family and friends, and all of their dance party practice will give them a leg up on the competition.