MEET OUR FACULTY
Stephanie Michalowski
Owner/Instructor/Co-Company Director
Stephanie started dancing at the age of 3. She has studied many styles including: ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, & contemporary. Stephanie attended Illinois State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance Education. She was a member of the Illinois State Dance Theater where she had the privilege of working with many different choreographers. She has many years experience of preforming but her love for dance brought her to teaching. She has experience teaching ages from 18 months to adults. Since graduating she has taught at different dance studios around the area spreading her passion for dance. From there, she has decided to fulfill a life long dream of hers to open her own dance studio. Stephanie's goal is to share her love and passion for dance to all the students who attend her studio.
Owner/Instructor/Co-Company Director
Stephanie started dancing at the age of 3. She has studied many styles including: ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, & contemporary. Stephanie attended Illinois State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance Education. She was a member of the Illinois State Dance Theater where she had the privilege of working with many different choreographers. She has many years experience of preforming but her love for dance brought her to teaching. She has experience teaching ages from 18 months to adults. Since graduating she has taught at different dance studios around the area spreading her passion for dance. From there, she has decided to fulfill a life long dream of hers to open her own dance studio. Stephanie's goal is to share her love and passion for dance to all the students who attend her studio.
Kristin Hild
Instructor
Kristin began studying dance at the age of three. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pointe, and competed on both the state and national levels. Kristin is a graduate of Illinois State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in dance and a minor in accounting. She studied dance under the direction of Laurie Merriman. Kristin was a member of the University Dance Company for four years and received both Outstanding Freshman and Outstanding Senior Dance Member awards in those respective years. As a member of the company, she was privileged to work with a number of renowned choreographers. In Kristin’s senior year, she was honored with merit awards as well a scholarship for dance. After graduating in June of 1994, Kristin ambitiously opened Dance Motions in October of the same year. Dance Motions has been awarded Business of the Year and has been going strong for 19 years. Kristin has directed productions such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Polar Express. She founded the award winning Motions Dance Company in 1996 and has been one of the company directors ever since. Kristin has won numerous choreography awards and scholarships to Chicago dance studios and has had her choreography performed at Dance Chicago in 2009. Kristin is also a member of Chicago’s National Association of Dance Masters. Kristin enjoys working with students, not only through her studio, but through after school enrichment programs, school musicals, variety shows, choir concerts and dance teams throughout the Chicagoland area. Over the years, she has enjoyed watching her studio grow and her students becoming degreed and professional dancers who come back and teach at Dance Motions. Kristin’s passion is dance. Her goal is to instill that passion in every dancer that she teaches.
Instructor
Kristin began studying dance at the age of three. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pointe, and competed on both the state and national levels. Kristin is a graduate of Illinois State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in dance and a minor in accounting. She studied dance under the direction of Laurie Merriman. Kristin was a member of the University Dance Company for four years and received both Outstanding Freshman and Outstanding Senior Dance Member awards in those respective years. As a member of the company, she was privileged to work with a number of renowned choreographers. In Kristin’s senior year, she was honored with merit awards as well a scholarship for dance. After graduating in June of 1994, Kristin ambitiously opened Dance Motions in October of the same year. Dance Motions has been awarded Business of the Year and has been going strong for 19 years. Kristin has directed productions such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Polar Express. She founded the award winning Motions Dance Company in 1996 and has been one of the company directors ever since. Kristin has won numerous choreography awards and scholarships to Chicago dance studios and has had her choreography performed at Dance Chicago in 2009. Kristin is also a member of Chicago’s National Association of Dance Masters. Kristin enjoys working with students, not only through her studio, but through after school enrichment programs, school musicals, variety shows, choir concerts and dance teams throughout the Chicagoland area. Over the years, she has enjoyed watching her studio grow and her students becoming degreed and professional dancers who come back and teach at Dance Motions. Kristin’s passion is dance. Her goal is to instill that passion in every dancer that she teaches.
Kelli Myhre-Bahwell
Instructor
Dancing has been a part of Kelli’s life since the early age of three. She has been teaching dance at various studios in the Chicagoland area for the past 21 years. Kelli received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Dance from Illinois State University and also received two Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Art. One from Elgin Community College and another from the Illinois Institute of Art specializing in Graphic Design. She has been a performer and choreographer in numerous dance competitions and conventions and received many choreography awards. Being a teacher and choreographer has taken her to many places including England and Guatemala where she was an international choreographer/teacher hired to do master classes and be a co-creator for an entire concert. Teaching dance is a passion and dance is her way of life. Kelli’s choreography was selected for the American College Dance Festival – Great Lakes Region two years in a row. Some of her most recent choreography accomplishments include earning outstanding choreography awards from Dupree, Symposium, LA Dance Force & Footloose Dance competitions, creating choreography for “Journey to Oz”, “Adventures in Wonderland”, “Pocahontas” & “Aladdin” for the Children’s Theatre of Elgin. Kelli has also served as a judge for various dance competitions where her area of expertise includes lyrical, contemporary and advanced tap dance styles. We are so happy to have Kelli teaching with us and we look forward to her creative choreographic works.
Instructor
Dancing has been a part of Kelli’s life since the early age of three. She has been teaching dance at various studios in the Chicagoland area for the past 21 years. Kelli received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Dance from Illinois State University and also received two Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Art. One from Elgin Community College and another from the Illinois Institute of Art specializing in Graphic Design. She has been a performer and choreographer in numerous dance competitions and conventions and received many choreography awards. Being a teacher and choreographer has taken her to many places including England and Guatemala where she was an international choreographer/teacher hired to do master classes and be a co-creator for an entire concert. Teaching dance is a passion and dance is her way of life. Kelli’s choreography was selected for the American College Dance Festival – Great Lakes Region two years in a row. Some of her most recent choreography accomplishments include earning outstanding choreography awards from Dupree, Symposium, LA Dance Force & Footloose Dance competitions, creating choreography for “Journey to Oz”, “Adventures in Wonderland”, “Pocahontas” & “Aladdin” for the Children’s Theatre of Elgin. Kelli has also served as a judge for various dance competitions where her area of expertise includes lyrical, contemporary and advanced tap dance styles. We are so happy to have Kelli teaching with us and we look forward to her creative choreographic works.
Corinne Reggio
Instructor/Co-Company Director
Corinne has spent nearly her entire life dancing and has been shaping young dancers for the last 15 years. She has experience teaching all disciplines and styles of dance for all ages and abilities, with a strong background in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern. Corinne has studied and trained with some of Chicago's elite dancers and choreographers; Ellen Werksman, Nana Shineflug, Rosemary Doolas, Frank Chaves, Kelly Hill, Margaret Palmer, among many others. She was among some of the first graduates at Larkin High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy and has since continued training throughout Chicago and New York City. Her performance history includes Midwest Dance Collective, Dancewerks Productions; Dance Chicago, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Secret Garden Ballet, Legs and Lace, Nightmare on Chicago Street, along with many other concerts, collaboratives, and commercial events. She has been a judge for Triple S National Competition, Des Plaines Dance Idol, and the Dancewerks Memorial Scholarship, and is currently on staff at a number of studios in the northwest Chicago suburbs. While Ms. Corinne’s passion is sharing her love of dance with her beautiful students, her other passion is being Mom to her two sons and a number of her rescue animals.
Instructor/Co-Company Director
Corinne has spent nearly her entire life dancing and has been shaping young dancers for the last 15 years. She has experience teaching all disciplines and styles of dance for all ages and abilities, with a strong background in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern. Corinne has studied and trained with some of Chicago's elite dancers and choreographers; Ellen Werksman, Nana Shineflug, Rosemary Doolas, Frank Chaves, Kelly Hill, Margaret Palmer, among many others. She was among some of the first graduates at Larkin High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy and has since continued training throughout Chicago and New York City. Her performance history includes Midwest Dance Collective, Dancewerks Productions; Dance Chicago, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Secret Garden Ballet, Legs and Lace, Nightmare on Chicago Street, along with many other concerts, collaboratives, and commercial events. She has been a judge for Triple S National Competition, Des Plaines Dance Idol, and the Dancewerks Memorial Scholarship, and is currently on staff at a number of studios in the northwest Chicago suburbs. While Ms. Corinne’s passion is sharing her love of dance with her beautiful students, her other passion is being Mom to her two sons and a number of her rescue animals.
Cadence Niccum
Instructor/Co-Company Director
Cadence Niccum is a dance educator, coach, choreographer and performer. Dancing for 21 years, she further developed her education at Illinois State University, earning a degree in Dance Education and Health Education. Throughout Cadence’s dance experience, she has had great performance and choreography opportunities. As a young dancer, she competed at various competitions throughout Illinois. While in high school, Cadence began assisting and choreographing for both recreational and competitive dancers. As a senior in high school, she was the captain of her high school dance team, while also teaching her own classes at a nearby studio.
During her time at Illinois State University, Cadence immersed herself in dance, whether it was through performing, choreographing, taking class, or coaching. Cadence was not only a member of the Dance Program, but was also a four year member of the official dance team of Illinois State University. Gaining teaching experience, Cadence was the head coach of a local junior high competitive dance team and taught at a well known dance studio. Throughout her five and a half years, she participated in ten auditions for the Illinois State pre-professional dance company. As a member of the company, she worked closely with her instructors and had the opportunity to learn from many esteemed choreographers such as, Stephanie Pizzo and Anthony "Ynot" Denaro.
Instructor/Co-Company Director
Cadence Niccum is a dance educator, coach, choreographer and performer. Dancing for 21 years, she further developed her education at Illinois State University, earning a degree in Dance Education and Health Education. Throughout Cadence’s dance experience, she has had great performance and choreography opportunities. As a young dancer, she competed at various competitions throughout Illinois. While in high school, Cadence began assisting and choreographing for both recreational and competitive dancers. As a senior in high school, she was the captain of her high school dance team, while also teaching her own classes at a nearby studio.
During her time at Illinois State University, Cadence immersed herself in dance, whether it was through performing, choreographing, taking class, or coaching. Cadence was not only a member of the Dance Program, but was also a four year member of the official dance team of Illinois State University. Gaining teaching experience, Cadence was the head coach of a local junior high competitive dance team and taught at a well known dance studio. Throughout her five and a half years, she participated in ten auditions for the Illinois State pre-professional dance company. As a member of the company, she worked closely with her instructors and had the opportunity to learn from many esteemed choreographers such as, Stephanie Pizzo and Anthony "Ynot" Denaro.
Jelyssa Ramos
Instructor
Since the age of ten, Jelyssa knew her feet belonged to the dance floor. Embracing her Spanish heritage, she began training in Bachata & Salsa before branching off into Hip-Hop. As a recreational, competitive and professional dancer, Jelyssa has been fortunate enough to train under premiere educators in both Chicago & Los Angeles. Studying under Sam Renzetti, Matt Pumanes, Gil Mata, Cameron Lee, Nika Kiljun, Hollywood, Kolanie Marks & Antoine Troupe, Jelyssa has contracted versatility that is unmatched. In 2015, Jelyssa was given the special honor to perform alongside Team USA for a performance tour across China. Her continuous training has led her to not only be a featured dancer on Netflix’s “Soundtrack” , a backup dancer for Grammy nominated DJ Steve Aoki, and Fox’s “Empire”, but also at WE Day Chicago featuring Jordan Fisher & Monique Coleman. In 2019, Jelyssa moved to Los Angeles to join LA’s exclusive elite training facility, KreativMndz Dance Academy as both a dancer and creative strategist. Since relocating back to her hometown in Chicago, Jelyssa has high hopes to educate young dancers to become industry professionals.
Instructor
Since the age of ten, Jelyssa knew her feet belonged to the dance floor. Embracing her Spanish heritage, she began training in Bachata & Salsa before branching off into Hip-Hop. As a recreational, competitive and professional dancer, Jelyssa has been fortunate enough to train under premiere educators in both Chicago & Los Angeles. Studying under Sam Renzetti, Matt Pumanes, Gil Mata, Cameron Lee, Nika Kiljun, Hollywood, Kolanie Marks & Antoine Troupe, Jelyssa has contracted versatility that is unmatched. In 2015, Jelyssa was given the special honor to perform alongside Team USA for a performance tour across China. Her continuous training has led her to not only be a featured dancer on Netflix’s “Soundtrack” , a backup dancer for Grammy nominated DJ Steve Aoki, and Fox’s “Empire”, but also at WE Day Chicago featuring Jordan Fisher & Monique Coleman. In 2019, Jelyssa moved to Los Angeles to join LA’s exclusive elite training facility, KreativMndz Dance Academy as both a dancer and creative strategist. Since relocating back to her hometown in Chicago, Jelyssa has high hopes to educate young dancers to become industry professionals.