Meet our Faculty

STUDIO OWNER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Krissie Odegard Geye is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Expand Community Arts Alliance, a nationally recognized group of arts organizations dedicated to sparking community dialogue through art. She oversees the four organizational branches within the alliance: The Dance and Music Academy, The Trifecta Dance Collective, the Metamorphosis; Fearless Evolution experience, and Phosphorescent Theatrical Productions.

The Expand Community Arts Alliance's four companies share a mission: to ignite community dialogue through art. Working together, they inspire connection and catalyze social change. This is achieved through deepened partnerships with diverse community organizations, raising awareness, fostering artistic leadership, and expanding the reach of compassion, empathy, and artistic integrity throughout the alliance.

Aa a presenter and master clinician and adjudicator, Krissie has shared her expertise at the International Dance Pedagogy Conference and Performance Festival, (New Mexico) Peridance (NYC), the Big River Dance Festival (West Virginia), CRU Dance Regionals and Nationals, and the United States Tournament of Dance National Finals (Atlantic City).

Her choreography has been featured at the Spring Choreography Showcase at Peridance (NYC), Jennifer Mueller's "Hatch" series (NYC), the Detroit Dance Festival, the Minnesota Fringe Festival, the Big River Dance Festival, and the Exchange Choreography Festival (Tulsa, OK). She has also conceptualized and produced four full-length works at Anita's Way in Times Square and was the awarded first place in in the Ovation TV-sponsored National Choreography Competition.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Macala Bartucci is a dedicated, passionate, and ever-evolving dance artist. Originating from the Chicagoland area, Macala began her early dance training at the Dance and Music Academy under the direction of Krissie Odegard Geye and Carrie Patterson, and most recently in 2025, graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. During her time at CSU, Macala had the great opportunity to work with many esteemed individuals, including guest artist André Megerdichian, and faculty members Judy Bejarano, Chung-Fu Chang, Grace Gallagher, and Madeline Jazz Harvey. Outside of her involvement with the CSU dance program, from 2021-2024, Macala was also a member of Trifecta Dance Collective’s second company, TDC2. 

Continuing her professional endeavors, Macala has had the privilege to work on multiple projects with gracegallagherdance, a collective that aims to make dance accessible, unite communities, and empower emerging artists. Currently, Macala is a Company Apprentice for Solarium Dance Company’s third season. 

Aside from her own dancing, Macala has grown a love for teaching and choreographing. She is contracted with the Evanston Dance Ensemble acting as the Assistant to the Artistic Director and has loved getting to set work and interact with all the students. Macala cannot wait to return to Dance and Music Academy for her first year of teaching with the studio! 

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Colleen graduated with a degree in kinesiology as a dance major from Indiana University. Since moving to Chicago in 2010, she has performed with Zephyr Dance, Dropshift Dance, Ology Dance, Tapestry Dance Company, Project 606, and Trifecta Dance Collective. She has performed at notable venues including the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center, and The Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Colleen has performed and presented her choreography in Chicago, as well as in NYC with Awakening Movement Project. Colleen was a faculty member for the Dance Masters of Wisconsin workshop in 2016, instructing contemporary and jazz. In 2017, she co-produced Where Beauty Rises, a multidisciplinary performance at Links Hall with the non-profit Photoserve. All proceeds went to the clean water organization Wine to Water. The following year Colleen visited Uganda with Photoserve and Surge for Water, who is dedicated to bringing communities safe water solutions. Teaching dance lessons at some of the Ugandan schools was an incredible experience! Continuing her work with a community focus in 2018, she and co-choreographer Joanna Meccia received an Independent Artist Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to create Dance Across Chicago -- a series using live music, dance, and technology to bring free performances to public spaces and two Chicago public high schools. In 2020, Colleen collaborated with Dropshift Dance on a film project celebrating dance amidst the challenges of the pandemic. Colleen continues to grow her technical knowledge with Pointe workshops through The Ballet Blog and expand her coaching skills with Competition Judge Mental Wellness Awareness Training with Danscend. Some of her other interests include yoga and spending time in the great outdoors, which inspires her choreography. Most of all, Colleen's DMA students inspire her and she looks forward to teaching them each week!

MUSIC/THEATRE/VOICE INSTRUCTOR

Emily Ann Brooks is a teaching artist, choreographer, director and performer thrilled to be on the DMA team. Regionally, she’s performed at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Enchantress/Silly Girl in Beauty and the Beast), Drury Lane Theatre (Cinderella, The Little Mermaid), Florida Studio Theatre (Ruby in Dames at Sea) and the Marriott Theatre (Zaneeta in The Music Man, Ermengarde in Hello, Dolly!, Janet in The Magic School Bus, A Christmas Story, The Wizard of Oz, and Big Fish), along with Seattle’s Second Story Repertory, 5th Avenue Theatre, and Village Theatre. On the other side of the table, she’s associate directed/associate choreographed Waitress at the Paramount Theatre, assistant directed/assistant choreographed James and the Giant Peach at the Marriott, assistant directed Lookingglass Alice at Lookingglass Theatre Company, and choreographed In His Hands at First Floor Theater, A Christmas Carol at Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Inanimate at Theater Wit, and The Fantasticks at Paradox Theatre Works. Emily graduated with honors from Northwestern University with a theatre major (focused on musical theatre performance and choreography) and world literature minor. Along with extensive choreography work for Northwestern’s mainstage, she directed and choreographed her senior honors thesis Going on Seventeen, recently published in Northwestern’s Undergraduate Research Journal. With 14+ years of experience in theatre and dance, and 10+ years teaching dance and theatre to students of all ages, Emily is passionate about celebrating the unique creative voice and agency of each individual artist, encouraging confidence, empathy, discipline, collaboration, and a fearless sense of play.

FACULTY LEAD; CONTEMPORARY DANCE, DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Tori Cartee is the founder and director of Solarium Dance Company, a nonprofit company dedicated to inspiring individual change, destigmatizing mental health, and contributing to the betterment of humanity within and beyond its communities. She received a B.A. in Dance with a focus on Dance Performance, Choreography, and Theory from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. From 2019-2023, she danced with Trifecta Dance Collective, ultimately landing as a Principal Dancer and Choreographer for the company and artistic director of the second and youth companies.

As a choreographer, her works have been performed across stages in the greater Chicagoland area as well as at festivals and showcases across the nation including Charlotte Dance Festival, American College Dance Association, Wake Forest Dance Festival, Loose Leaves Showcase, Trifecta Dance Festival, Peridance Spring Choreographers’ Showcase, Alluvion Dance Chicago’s Emergence, Detroit Dance City Festival, Noumenon Dance Ensemble’s “In this Neck of the Woods,” the Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival of Orlando, FL, and CU Dance Festival. Tori utilizes contemporary techniques and improvisational practices for movement generation, resulting in thoughtful, athletic, expansive, and experimental choreographic works.

As an instructor with over a decade of experience, Tori believes her enthusiastic, authentic teaching style equips her students with the necessary dance and life skills for a career in the arts or otherwise. She prioritizes creating a safe and inclusive learning environment where students of all ages feel emboldened to be themselves. Tori prides herself on establishing a foundation of trust and open-mindedness in the dance classroom, leaving her students feeling open to incorporating a range of dynamics and new skillsets into their dance practice.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Kaleigh De La Cruz was raised in Chicago, IL where she started dancing at the age of three, under Krissie Odegard Geye and Carrie Muntz. In 2017 she was accepted into The Chicago High School for the Arts where she began training under Ted Seymour, Maan Almodovar, Teanna Zarro, Megan Wright, Tracey Franklin, Brandon Dicriscio, and Zineb Chraibi. From 2018 through 2021 she was a student intern with the Trifecta Dance Collective. Through this Internship, Kaleigh performed throughout the Chicagoland area and in New York City. She moved to Texas to continue her training at West Texas A&M University. She trained under Edward Truitt, Crystal Bertrand, and Sandra Miller. At WTAMU Kaleigh has had the privilege to learn from Kay Anderson, Mia Cunningham, Reagan Crandall, Stevan Novakovich, Kathryn Sydell Pikington, Autumn Eckman, and Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson. Along with Majoring in Dance Performance Kaleigh was also a member of West Texas A&M Spirit Squad from 2022 through 2024. She has performed at countless football games and basketball games. Kaleigh also served as Director for WTAMU’S Dance Academy from 2023 through 2025. There she helped nurture students' love for dance as well as carrying out administrative duties. Kaleigh graduated from West Texas A&M University in May of 2025 with a BFA in Dance Performance. Shortly after graduation Kaleigh had the privilege to perform in the 59th season of TEXAS the outdoor musical.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Originally from North Carolina, Madeline Douglas is a Chicago-based dancer and choreographer. She graduated summa cum laude from East Carolina University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography, along with a Certificate of Entrepreneurship. While at ECU, Madeline was selected as a student choreographer and presented work in a faculty concert. She also received an ECU Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Grant to choreograph and present a 22-minute work, As It Goes On, which was named a finalist at the Washington International Dance Festival in 2023.

Madeline has received additional training through Nova Linea’s Professional Intensive, Staib Dance Root Theory, Visceral Dance Chicago’s Professional Intensive, and the UNCSA Choreographic Residency Summer Intensive. Following graduation, she spent two years teaching and choreographing at Ballet and Performing Arts Centre in North Carolina, including creating choreography for their annual Nutcracker productions. In 2024, she choreographed and performed in a music video for Cashavelly Morrison’s album Meditation Through Gunfire.

Most recently, Madeline has performed as a guest artist with Nova Linea at Dance City Festival Detroit and the Midwest Arts Expo. In addition to her artistic work, she is the founder and owner of Alinement Dancewear. Her business has received multiple recognitions and grants, including the Accelerate Rural NC Summer Grant, ECU I-Corps Summer Grant, and Innovation Design Lab Summer Grant, and she was a finalist in East Carolina University’s Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Madeline is thrilled to be joining DMA for her first season and looks forward to continuing to engage with and contribute to the Chicago dance community.

MUSIC INSTRUCTOR

Daina Fischer is a Lithuanian-American dramatic soprano based in Chicago, specialising in opera, musical theater, jazz, and a cappella. She has performed across the Midwest and internationally. In addition to her performing career, Daina is an accomplished voice teacher and pedagogue with over thirteen years of teaching voice. She is also a choir and music director. Alongside her solo career, Daina is a founding member of the award-winning vintage vocal group “The Peppermint Patties” - one of Chicago’s most sought-after female singing groups.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Megan Hansen began her dance training at the age of three in the Chicago suburbs, studying at Denise Sabala Dance Studios in Lake Zurich, Illinois. In the spring of 2024, she graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. During her final semester, she was honored as the Presidential Scholar in Marketing. While at WMU, Megan performed in a variety of student, faculty, and guest works, including choreography by Seyong Kim, Monique Haley, Jared Baker, and Kelsey Paschich. She was also a member of the university’s touring company, Western Dance Project.

Since graduating, Megan has returned to the Chicago area, where she enjoys choreographing and teaching. She works with ID Dance Competition and serves as a teacher and assistant for the dance convention Chicago Dance Connection. Currently, Megan is in her second season with Still Inspired and her first season with Alluvion Dance Chicago.

FACULTY LEAD; HIP HOP DANCE, DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Kennedy Hayes is a performing & teaching artist from Chicago, IL. Her experience stretches across mediums: dance, film, music, and theatre. Her formal education started at College of DuPage with a focus in Dance & Theatre, as well as exploration of Musical Theatre in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program offered at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. During her time at SIUC, she was a member of Southern Illinois Dance Company, performed in student stage and screen productions, and coached young dancers at local studios.

Currently, Kennedy performs as a founding member of Solarium Dance Company. She has collaborated with Chicago’s [chamber creative], a nonprofit space for movement, art, and healing rooted in street and concert dance traditions, as well as training with The Puzzle League, one of Chicago’s most decorated competitive commercial dance teams.

As an instructor, she has had the privilege to work with students in recreational & competitive programs in the Chicagoland & Greater St. Louis area, fostering confidence, somatic awareness, and technique comprehension in styles such as hip hop, jazz, and contemporary. She continues her own training in street & concert dance styles. She is thrilled to join the DMA faculty!

THEATRE INSTRUCTOR

Maya Lou Hlava is a professional actor, director, and acting coach with a strong presence in Chicago’s theater community. She has performed at renowned companies including Goodman Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Steep Theatre Company, Northlight Theatre, and Marriott Theatre.

Her on-camera work includes appearances in The Big Leap, Will Trent, and the feature film The Perpetrator.

Maya also served as Director of Broadway Bound in Wilmette for four years, where she mentored young performers and led musical theatre productions. As an acting coach, she is passionate about helping students build confidence, refine their craft, and find their unique voice. She is thrilled to begin working the DMA student population!

FACULTY LEAD; BALLET AND TAP DANCE, DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Born and raised in Papillion, Nebraska, Annalee grew up dancing and competing at Bellevue Dance Academy. She furthered her training as a teenager when she was invited to dance with American Midwest Ballet’s second company, giving her the opportunity to take class and perform alongside professional ballet dancers. To broaden her versatility, she spent the summers and winters training at a variety of intensives and festivals including Dance West, American Dance Festival, Next Generation Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Ballet Chicago as well as Ballet Nebraska and Oklahoma City Ballet on scholarship. In 2021 she had the opportunity to perform with the Live Entertainment Company at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. In May of 2022 Annalee Graduated with honors from The University of Kansas with a BFA in Dance performance and pre-physical therapy. At KU she was a member of the University Dance Company, performed and choreographed in student showcases, and took part in University Theatre productions. She received the dance and theatre program’s jump start award, Loren Kennedy scholarship, and Lee Family scholarship. Aside from her own dancing, she also has developed a love for teaching from her work at numerous studios in Kansas and Nebraska as well as a passion for choreography from work in studios, competition teams, and live theatre. Her fascination of the human body led her to receive her certification in personal training from NASM in 2021. She is ecstatic to continue her dance career in Chicago with Trifecta Dance Collective and as a DMA faculty member.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Sawyer McNamara, originally from Alpena, MI, is a dancer, choreographer, and instructor currently based in Chicago, IL. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Western Michigan University, as well as a Certificate in Dance Studio Management in spring of 2023. Throughout her time at Western, Sawyer received the opportunity to perform works by Seyong Kim, Monique Haley, Jeremy Blair, Kaitlyn Pollock, Kiki Lucas, Katy Copeland, and Kimberly Cooper of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. In addition to notable performances, Sawyer also served as a company member of Western Dance Project (2022-2023) under the direction of Kelsey Paschich. Upon graduation, Sawyer served as an apprentice for ConteXture Dance Detroit and a guest artist for Alluvion Dance Chicago. Currently, Sawyer serves as a guest artist for The Rooted Space Company, and a company member for Trifecta Dance Collective. 

In addition to performing and life as a company member, Sawyer has also found creative expression through choreography. Her work has been showcased in WMU’s 2022 Student Dance Concert, WMU’s 2023 Winter Gala Dance Concert, Modern American Dance Company’s 2024 Dare to Dance Festival, Alluvion Dance Chicago’s 2024 Emergence Festival, Trifecta Dance Festival 2025, Trifecta Dance Collective’s Vignettes, The LAUNCH Chicago’s Phases of Us, Trifecta Dance Festival 2026, and as Western Dance Project repertoire.

On top of life as a creative mover and choreographer, Sawyer enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge with younger generations of dancers. Sawyer currently works as an educator and choreographer for various studios in the Chicagoland area and Michigan. Sawyer looks forward to sharing another season with the students at DMA!

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Katherine (Kate) Moorhouse was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She began her dance training with the Dance and Music Academy under the direction of Krissie Odegard Geye. Kate supplemented her year-round training with summer intensives at the Cecchetti Council of America, Fort Wayne Ballet, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Orlando Ballet School, and UNCSA Professional Studies Intensive. She continued her dance education by attending The Chicago High School for the Arts as a dance major, where she worked with Kim Sagami, Ted Seymour, Sarah Ford Thompson, and Maan Almodovar. In 2018, Kate was invited to join Trifecta Dance Collective as a Student Apprentice and performed with the company across the Chicagoland area and in New York City during high school. Following graduation, Kate moved away from Chicago to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She recently obtained her BFA in Contemporary Dance and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship in May 2023. While at UNCSA, she has trained with Brenda Daniels, Sean Sullivan, Kira Blazek Ziaii, Ming-Lung Yang, Ashley Lindsey, and Abigail Yager. Her performance highlights include works by Igal Perry, Shen Wei, José Limón, Juel Lane, Gaspard Louis, Kira Blazek-Ziaii, Wesley Williams, Mariana Oliveira, and Ashley Lindsey. Kate also had the pleasure of collaborating with Garen Scribner and Danielle Rowe in their 2021 dance parody, “Swan Lake: Cancelled” and their upcoming parody film, “Shellbreaker.” Additionally, Kate is the choreographer of the first-ever musical film from UNCSA’s School of Film, “Homer: Great Teller of Tales” in 2022. She was one of the founding members of UNCSA Live, an interdisciplinary student-led group that put on shadow cast performances for the student body, where she served as co-choreographer and dance captain. In 2021, she was invited to become a member of Trifecta Dance Collective’s second company, TDC2, for their inaugural season. She made her debut with TDC2 at Trifecta Dance Festival in March of 2022. Kate is looking forward to teaching at DMA where her love of dance began!

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Carrie Patterson, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, began her training with the Atlanta Ballet, and continued training in the summers with Houston Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Luna Negra Dance Theater. In 2011, Carrie graduated cum laude from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Psychology. After graduation, Carrie spent the 2011-2012 season dancing as a trainee with the Louisville Ballet. In the summer of 2012, Carrie moved to Chicago where she spent 2012-2013 season as a trainee with Thodos Dance Chicago. Carrie has also danced in Chicago with Rephrase Dance Collective, Project606 Dance, and Nomi Dance Company. She choreographed works for the Louisville Ballet in their New Works show of 2012, Thodos Dance Chicago’s New Dances, and Nomi Dance Company’s Instrumental. She has directed national youth companies with CRU Dance, United States Tournament of Dance, and Metamorphosis Fearless Evolution. She has also served as a judge for various CRU Dance. Carrie currently serves as Co-Founder/ Executive Director of the Trifecta Dance Collective and Trifecta Youth Company, Metamorphosis Fearless Evolution, and serves as an Administrative Staff for The Dance and Music Academy. Carrie is also a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor. In 2020, Carrie launched her own business, Illuminate Dance, which comprises Illuminate Dancewear and Shine Your Light Dance Competition.

MUSICAL THEATRE ARTISTIC PRODUCER, THEATRE INSTRUCTOR

Amanda Newman earned her BA in Musical Theatre Performance from Columbia College Chicago and her local theatre credits include shows at the Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Porchlight Theatre, and Pride Films and Plays, as well as choreographing Carnival for Lost Note Theatre Company. She has also danced with companies including From the Hip Dance Project, Tikvah Company of Artists, and RASA Dance Chicago. In 2016, she toured nationally with Letters From Home, a tap-dancing and singing duet of 1940’s music. She has been teaching for over 10 years, working with students of all ages, teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Musical Theatre, as well as music and vocal coaching, and choreographing Hairspray! and Grease with casts of over 100 middle-school students. She also earned a teaching certification from the Cecchetti Council of America in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet to further her knowledge of instructing classical ballet technique to beginning-level dancers. She is currently represented by Paige Model and Talent and continues to professionally perform as a dancer, actor, and singer. Amanda is also an NASM Certified Personal Trainer with specializations in Corrective Exercise and Youth Exercise. As a teacher, Amanda aims for her students to find the courage to try new things, to gain satisfaction through achievement, and to appreciate the life-long joy that dance and performance can bring.

MUSIC/VOICE INSTRUCTOR

Alison has been teaching music for over 16 years and enjoys sharing her passion for singing and musical performance with her students. She received her Master of Music Education at VanderCook College of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Outside of DMA, she is a music educator in a public school setting. Her varied teaching experience includes general music, chorus, rock band ensemble, and private music lessons. In her spare time, she sings, plays guitar, and writes music with her band “Treat Yourself” at local venues in the Chicagoland area.

She is passionate about teaching music and instilling a love for all genres of music. Her focus in the private lesson setting is on teaching musical skills and technique, while embedding social emotional development, such as self-confidence and teamwork.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Melissa Peterson is a dance educator, choreographer, and movement artist who has over a decade of experience working in studios, dance companies, and pre-performance programs. Her choreographic works in the competitive dance world have earned numerous awards at both the regional and national level.

Melissa began dancing at the age of three and received extensive studio training throughout her youth. After graduating, Melissa continued her dance education at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Melissa received her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique in 2018 and incorporates its principles into the classroom through an emphasis on alignment, strength, and injury prevention. 

Professionally, Melissa has choreographed and performed with the Frisco Ballet, a non-profit ballet company, for the past nine years. She also danced for four years as a company member with the nationally recognized imPULSE Dance Project, a modern-contemporary dance company based in Arlington, TX. Melissa is especially proud of her students’ accomplishments, many of whom have performed with collegiate dance programs and dance teams.

Melissa is passionate about creating work and teaching in a way that challenges dancers to grow while staying connected to their artistry and love of dance. She is thrilled to be joining the DMA faculty!

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Wade Schaaf (They/Them) hails from the Chicago area and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater arts (emphasis on dance performance). During their professional career, Wade danced for multiple companies including the Ohio Ballet, State Street Ballet Santa Barbara, The Omaha Theater Ballet, Thodos Dance Chicago, and River North Chicago Dance Company. During their time dancing, Wade worked with numerous choreographers like Septime Weber, Stephen Mills, Frank Chaves, Laurie Stallings, and the Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking. Wade had the privilege to dance such roles as Tybalt in Robin Welche’s Romeo and Juliet, Snow King in Welche’s The Nutcracker, and Jonathan in Kennet Oberly’s “Dracula” as well, had the role of Mayor Carter Harrison set on them in the Thodos/Reinking collaboration, The White City.

After retiring from the stage, Mx. Schaaf went on to open Chicago Repertory Ballet in November of 2011. The company premiered to the headline review, “A Bright Debut for Chicago Repertory Ballet.” (Sid Smith, The Chicago Tribune). Since the debut of CRB Wade has gone on to create such exceptional works as, Le Sacre de Printemps, The Four Seasons and their full-length ballet adaptation of Shakespeare’s MACBETH. Mx. Schaaf continues to steer the company through its vision of challenging our concept of ballet both in form and structure to create ‘dance that defies labels’.

Outside of the studio, Mx. Schaaf has a variety of interests ranging from visual art to health and wellness. Wade is certified in both the Pilates method (through Power Pilates) and RedCord and is happy to enrich the lives of many through fitness.

MUSIC/THEATRE/VOICE INSTRUCTOR

Kim has been teaching piano and voice for approximately 20 years now, and enjoys all kinds of music! She trained classically at the Music Institute of Chicago, competing on solo piano, and with both classical and musical theatre voice. At Ithaca College, where she earned a degree in Musical Theatre Production, Kim sang for Janet Funderburck-Galvan and studied under Beverly Patton, among others, while nurturing her love of musical theatre. After some years working professionally, Kim began building a private studio that she continues today.

Her teaching philosophy centers around fostering a love of music in her students - one that will stay with them regardless of their future pursuits. She is a strong believer in the importance of fine arts in young people’s lives, and delights in talking about all the benefits of music, dance, drama, art. Kim is proud to be able to teach children such valuable skills as persistence, teamwork, and discipline in a fun manner and loves seeing students reach new goals. She is especially excited to be partnering with DMA since it has been such a meaningful part of her own daughters’ lives!

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Katie Scuderi began dancing in the Chicago suburbs at the age of 3. Training primarily at the American Dance Center, she performed throughout the Chicagoland area with the studio’s performance team. 

In May 2024, Katie graduated from the University of Iowa with a BFA in Dance. Within her collegiate experience, Katie trained with profound choreographers including Flock, Armando Duarte, Jennifer Kayle, Eloy Barragan, and Kieron Sargeant. She was selected to perform at the 2022 Iowa Presidential lecture as well as the 2022 ACDA conference. Katie was also a part of the University of Iowa’s touring dance company, under the direction of Melinda Myers and Todd Rhoades from 2022-2023. During her college career, Katie was a part of Trifecta Dance Collective 2 for the 2023-2024 season, performing a work choreographed by Tori Cartee at the Trifecta Dance Festival. Recently, she participated in the Visceral Trainee Program under the direction of Nick Pupillo.

Katie is excited to be a part of the DMA faculty! 

FACULTY LEAD; POM AND ACRO DANCE, DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Haley, a native of Chicago, began her training at the Edgebrook Dance and Music Academy under the direction and support of Krissie Odegard Geye where the foundation of her love for dance and community took root. She then had the privilege of continuing her dance education with the Visceral Studio Company directed by Nick Pupillo. There, she was fortunate to receive training from some of the finest teaching professionals of the Chicago Dance Community. In 2016 along with two other former DMA dance students, Haley was a member of the Taft Eagles Poms Team which won the Chicago Public High Schools Poms Competition Championship.

In May of 2020, Haley earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Iowa along with a BA in Entrepreneurial Leadership. At Iowa, she studied and performed under an accomplished Dance Faculty, whose focus on ballet pedagogy, dance history, and the role of dance in society inspired her desire to teach. She was also fortunate to perform works of Charlotte Adams, Eloy Barragan, Armando Duarte, Kristin Marrs, Jennifer Kayle and noted guest choreographers Shannon Alvis and Brian Enos.

Haley is thrilled to be a member of the DMA faculty as a full time instructor and director of the GBS Allstar Titans and Edgebrook Allstars. In the summer of 2023, she received her certification in Module 1 of Acrobatic arts and plans to receive certification for Module 2 in the next coming months. For Haley, the ability to share the joy of dance with the next generation while supporting them as individuals has become her true passion. Haley is grateful to return to her home studio and come full circle to become a part of Trifecta Dance Collective as a company member, and a part of the DMA faculty.

MUSIC/THEATRE/VOICE INSTRUCTOR

Caleb Swick (he/him) is a Chicago based actor and teaching artist. He is an ensemble member with Inkwell Arts at the Morton Arboretum where he has also been seen in The House at Pooh Corner, Mama and the Papa Goose, Winnie the Pooh, and Hans Christian Andersen. Throughout Chicagoland, you may have also seen him in SpongeBob the Musical (Gary/Foley Artist), Mrs. Claus (Sid), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Swing), The Prom (Nick), and a new workshop of An American Tragedy (Gilbert Griffiths). While studying theatre at North Central College, he was in productions such as Peter and the Starcatcher (Smee) and A Midsummer Nights Dream (Demetrius). Outside of performing, he works as a nanny and taught theatre with Chicago Music and Acting Academy. He is so excited to start getting to know everyone!

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Marialena Tamvakis was born in Athens, Greece, where she began her dance training at Χορός Κίνηση Ρυθμός. After relocating to Chicago as a teenager, she continued her training at Dance and Music Academy under the direction of Krissie Odegard Geye.

Marialena pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning a bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education. While dance was not her formal major, she remained deeply connected to the art form by founding the university’s first ballet student organization alongside fellow dancers. Through this organization, she continued performing, teaching, and choreographing throughout her college years.

Marialena currently works as both a dance and Greek teacher and is pursuing her master’s degree at Northwestern University. She is excited to continue dancing with TDC for her second season and is grateful for the opportunity to keep sharing her passion for movement with her community.

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Ava Wichser Foerster graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Conservatory at the University of Missouri Kansas City where she received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with an emphasis in Ballet and a minor in Communications.

Originally from Minnesota, Ava began her dance training at the age of 3 at St. Croix Ballet. She furthered her dance training at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Classical Ballet Academy and Indiana University. Ava has studied under Gelsey Kirkland, Michael Vernon, Nilas Martins, and Victoria Schneider. Ava Wichser Foerster graduated Magna Cum Laude from The Conservatory at the University of Missouri Kansas City in 2020 where she received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with an emphasis in Ballet and a minor in Communications. While at UMKC she performed works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Gregory Dawson, Cleo Parker Robinson, Gary Abbott, DeeAnna Hiett, and Paula Weber. Ava started her professional career as a member of Kansas City Ballet under the direction of Devon Carney. She also danced professionally with Wylliams Henry Contemporary Company, and Musical Theatre Heritage performing the role of Louise in their production of  'Carousel. Ava has danced internationally in Athens, Greece at the 51st and 63rd World Congress on Dance Research.

Since moving to Chicago in 2020, Ava has danced and choreographed professionally with Trifecta Dance Collective, Still Inspired, Movementum Dance Project, Joel Hall Dancers and Alluvion Dance Chicago.

Ava has been teaching various genres and techniques for 10 years and is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique and Dance Educator Mental Wellness Training by Danscend. Ava is influenced by movement that comes naturally to a dancer's body and currates her classes to feel inspiring yet technical. She strives to create a welcoming space in the studio for students to grow not only as dancers but as human beings.

FACULTY LEAD; AERIAL SILKS AND LYRA, DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Originally from Park Ridge, Heather holds a BA in dance from Columbia College Chicago and both a 200 hour Power Yoga Certification and a Yoga Sculpt Certification from Corepower Yoga. She can currently be seen getting sassy onstage with the Joel Hall Dancers with whom she has danced with for the majority of her career. Heather has travelled both nationally and internationally with the company and has danced in many of Mr. Hall's world premieres. Other dance credits include Aerial Dance Chicago, Rasa Dance Chicago, Jarrett Rashad Dance Theater, Nick Cave’s “Heard”, Paul Sanasardo, Ballet Entre Nous, Trifecta Dance Collective, Lucid Banter Project, D.I.A.L and numerous independent choreographers and appearances in music videos. Dance has taken her all over the world performing on stages in multiple festivals and concerts across the U.S.(Spring Into Dance St. Louis, Jazz Dance World Congress, IABD in Dayton OH, Anita’s Way in Times Square NY, Dance USA, Fontainebleau in Miami Beach FL) as well as overseas in Liverpool as part of a yearlong celebration of their LEAP program's 10th anniversary. Heather continues to train and develop her artistry at the Joel Hall Dance Center, Ruth Page, Dovetail and Visceral Dance Center in addition to sprinkling in some yoga and aerial into the mix for good measure. She began her aerial journey with classes at Aerial Dance Chicago and continued on to dance with the company for a few seasons. She currently trains in aerial throughout the city at ADC, Aloft and CAA and is looking forward to once again travel for out of state workshops and intensives. Heather is grateful to be directing, choreographing, mentoring and teaching aspiring dancers throughout both the city and the suburbs when she is not performing. Her work can be seen on stages across Chicago ranging from youth to professionals in a variety of genres. Dance and the arts are the perfect medium to say what words cannot and after the past year of tragedy, uncertainty and fear, is what the world needs more than ever. She is honored to be returning to the Dance and Music Academy faculty for another season and is excited for all the new adventures to come.