Dance Academy

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Samantha Newman

Ms. Samantha has a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts Studies from Brigham Young University. Her emphasis was on playwriting, costume and makeup design. Ms. Samantha grew up in the Chicagoland area and began dance training at age 3 in Ballet, Jazz and Tap, with a primary focus on Tap. Ms. Samantha has taught Tap, Jazz, Modern and Creative Dance to children, teens and adults in studios in Utah and Illinois since 2005. She brings to our program years of experience in dance and working with children, a background in theatrical production, and enthusiasm for bringing dance to her students.

Sheila O’Connor

Ms. Sheila has been involved with Irish Dancing since she was 6 years old. She has been with the Weber School of Irish Dance from the beginning and will begin her 26th year as a teacher with them this Fall. She is also a school teacher who works with elementary age students with learning disabilities. The Weber Dancers have been working with the St. Charles Park District for many years. They are beginning their 20th dance season this year with them and are looking forward to another exciting year of dance.

Ellie Tate

Ms. Ellie is a graduate of St. Charles North High School and is pursuing a professional career in theater. As a student at the Beth Fowler School of Dance, she studied hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, acrobatics, ballet/pointe and tap. Ellie has held many lead roles that require advanced dancing abilities, ranging anywhere from tricks and turns to body awareness and character portrayal. At Elevate Performing Arts, she has choreographed and directed large group numbers for children’s theater. Ms. Ellie’s enthusiasm for dance is palpable, and she combines this sense of joy and fun with teaching dance and theater to young students.

Tatiana Bulgarelli

Ms. Tatiana is a junior at St. Charles North High School and is a member of the St. Charles North Drill Team. Tatiana grew up dancing from age 3 and has refined her technique at both Ambition Dance and 3rd Street Dance. She has experience with hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, jazz and ballet. Tatiana has been committed to dance and leadership roles including Peer Leadership at St. Charles North and advanced dancing abilities, ranging from technique and turns to leadership and independence. Last year, Tatiana co-choreographed a lyrical/contemporary dance and her team won second place at state! She is very excited to come show her love for dance while having fun!

Hailey Doornbos

Ms. Hailey is a junior at St. Charles North High School. She has been dancing since she was three in the Kane County area. Hailey has been on a dance team and has competed for the last four years. Hailey has also taught in the St. Charles North Star Kids Preschool for the past two years. She is looking forward to teaching what she loves to the students of the St. Charles Dance Academy.

Heather Carpenter

Ms. Heather has been dancing for over 25 years, with invitations to train at various classes, conventions and workshops in Michigan, Illinois, California, New York and London. She danced competitively for most of her youth as well as performed in numerous on stage productions, finding her passion for teaching and choreography at a young age. She has been instructing recreationally and competitively for over 10 years. More recently she has instructed and choreographed at numerous studios throughout the Chicagoland area. She is mostly known for her innovative, unique and theatrical concepts and is very excited to be able to share her experience and passion for dance with dancers of the St. Charles Dance Academy.

Lora Vodicka

Ms. Lora is a proud Summa Cum Laude graduate of Illinois State University with a B.S. in Theatre Education and extensive dance & fitness background. At Illinois State University, she danced in various shows and with multiple companies including The Who’s: Tommy, Evita, West Side Story and the Illinois State Dance Theatre. Ms. Lora also choreographed ISU’s production of How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying as well as many other High School and Community productions. She received her AFAA Group Fitness certification in 2013 and became a Licensed Zumba and Barre Fitness Instructor. With over 25 years of dance and theatre experience and 13 years of teaching under her belt she has developed strong classroom management skills, creative lesson plans and a true passion for education. Ms. Lora is very excited to share her knowledge of dance, theatre and fitness with St. Charles Park District.

Olivia Wiggins

Ms. Olivia is a recent high school graduate. She studied dance with the St. Charles Dance Academy for 14 years, including as a member of the Dance Company Team. She has also studied at Elite Academy of Dance and Dance Arts Center of St. Charles. Ms. Olivia also has experience in child care and greatly enjoys teaching younger children. Another passion of hers is working with animals. You might see her if you are ever out at Primrose Farm. Ms. Olivia is excited to continue her experience with the Dance Academy now as an instructor, having the ability to teach young students and share her passion for dance.

Lynette Vyhnanek

Ms. Lynette began dancing at the age of three and continues to dance. She is trained in Ballet (minor pointe work), Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Zumba, and Contemporary. In High School, she was a Member and Choreographer for the Conant High School Orchesis Dance Team. She continued her dream throughout college where she became the Vice President and Choreographer of the Harper College Dance Team. After earning her degree in Elementary Education, she went on to teach preschool and dance. She has taught Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Technique, Contemporary, Poms, Cheer, Zumba, and “slashy” classes for ages 2- adult. Shortly after she became the head coach for the JV Poms team at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora. At the time, the JV team had not competed. Lynette organized a competition team and took home only first and second placements in their division. Lynette has choreographed many solos, duos, and groups that hold First Place National Titles. Lynette has been trained through Donna Johnson, Bruce Stegmann, Vicki Summers, Garth Fagan, and many more. Lynette, a local member of St. Charles, enjoys spending time with her family (husband and twins), boating, going out to dinner, and going to Blackhawks games. Lynette is so pleased to be teaching the St. Charles Dance Company Teams.

Lynn Kalita

Ms. Lynn. comes to the program with over 30 years of dance instruction experience. She has taught for the Aurora Dance Studio, the Fox Valley Park District, Copeland Dance Academy, Lynn Kalita Dance Center, and the Geneva Park District. Beyond ballet, tap and jazz, Ms. Lynn also enjoys choreographing musical theater performances, such as Pocahontas, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast and 42nd Street for local theater groups and clubs. She herself has danced with the Aurora Dance Studio, Mary Kay Neumann, Stone Camryn School of Ballet, Tommy Sutton Dance Studio, Lou Conte Dance Studio and Ruth Page Foundation of Dance to name a few. Ms. Lynn is excited to share her passion with young dancers.