ELISABETH S. MCCOY - Business Director
(Co-Owner) Tumbling

Elisabeth Stonebreaker McCoy is currently the Business Director and founder of Integrity School of Dance in Elgin, Illinois.  Elisabeth is living her lifelong dream of running a business that aspires to elevate students in dance and the opportunities of personal development that accompany this discipline.  Elisabeth trained as a dancer and began teaching at the age of 16 at Gould Academy of Dance Arts, in Elgin.  She then attended the University of Georgia where she received a Varsity Cheerleading Scholarship and graduated with a degree in Business Science.

After leaving her corporate employment to raise children, Elisabeth poured her heart into volunteering for her church and community through local non-profit organizations, including Elgin Junior Service Board (JSB). While she served as JSB’s Follies Production Chairperson and President, it was revealed to her that “work” and “passion” could coexist and it was time to pursue her new career.   

Elisabeth recently founded Integrity Dance Foundation which provides community outreach through event-based performances in an effort to showcase dancers and award scholarships for those in need.  She continues to teach as a tumbling instructor.  Elisabeth is a mother of three children and enjoys her busy life of balance.  She especially appreciates the challenge and opportunity to encourage and enhance the lives of local youth through the art of dance and an effective business model.

KELLY HILL - Artistic Director
(Co-Owner)  Ballet, Pointe, Youth & Teen Company Director

Kelly Hill, after an accomplished career as a dancer, is now the Artistic Director and co-founder of Integrity School of Dance. Kelly is thrilled to provide a studio for technical and artistic growth to the community from which she was raised. Kelly trained under the direction of Lisa and Frank Boehm, Larry Long from the Ruth Page Foundation and received a full scholarship to Lou Conte Dance Studio, home of the world re-known Hubbard St. Dance Company. Kelly is a founding member of River North Chicago Dance Company where she spent 10 wonderful years touring and performing throughout the country under the Direction of Sherry Zunker and Frank Chaves. She was a principle dancer in two documentaries filmed during this time; “Reality of Dreamer and “River North Rising.”

Kelly toured extensively through out the US and Canada performing in many industrial shows. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and has appeared as a principle dancer in several featured films including: “Just Visiting”, “Soul Survivors” and “Road to Perdition” starring Tom Hanks.  She also danced with the eight-city tour for DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting Aids) under the direction of Harrison McEldowney.

After retiring from the professional world, Kelly received her B.F.A. from National Louis University. Kelly was also the Co-Diretor of of the dance program at the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Larkin High School in Elgin from 2000-2017. She spent 27 years teaching at Gould Academy of Dance Arts in Elgin prior to acquiring the studio and 8 years at Inspire School of Dance in Naperville. Many of her students have received scholarships to prestigious colleges, summer programs and conventions throughout the country. Her students are also currently performing in dance companies, broadway shows and commercial work in the US and abroad. Kelly is a mother of two, amazing sons and is thrilled to nurture the talent of young artists within the suburban community at Integrity.

AMARA BARNES - Jazz

Amara Barnes, from Bartlett, IL, is an accomplished and experienced dancer/teacher with an extended background in training and molding students into accomplished and versatile dancers. Trained by Watmora Casey and Sherry Moray, she gained attention at various summer programs such as Orlando Ballet, Lines Ballet, and Ballet Austin with her classical and contemporary versatility on a full scholarship. She then started teaching at age 16 and her guidance has led many dancers onto many college/conservatory programs nationally.

Driven by her classical training and continuous performance work, she takes pride in providing the best teaching possible for various Chicagoland dance studios such as A&A Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Symbiosis Arts, Salt Creek Ballet, etc. As a dance instructor, her constant goals include the ability to develop flexibility and mobility in students while assessing and improving the skills with well versed forms of ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance styles.

She recently started the Creative Movement program at Symbiosis Arts for any special need and autistic children and adults in the Chicagoland area to help them improve their fine motor and cognitive skills through dance and music therapy. In addition to her current dance and teaching job functions, she graduated with a Masters degree in Child and Clinical Psychology. She was then recognized for her commitment and dedication and therefore currently takes Psychology Doctoral school at Rush Medical Center on a full ride graduating this May.

NICKIE DEL RE-MASION - Jazz

With her love of performing and explosive style, Chicago native Nickie Del Re Masino’s vast experience includes touring the country as a world renowned Radio City Rockette in the annual production “Radio City Rockette Christmas Spectacular,” "The Masquerade Village Show in the Sky” at the Rio Suites Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, the World Cup opening ceremonies, and featured role in “Dance Chicago,” “Jazz Hot,” and Lisa Boehm’s annual production of the “Nutcracker Suite Ballet.” Nickie has performed with recording artists such as Tony Bennett, Richard Marx, Kristine W. and Jon Secada. She has choreographed and performed in numerous industrials across the United States and has appeared in commercials for Reebok, Rio Suites Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and the Broadway musical “The Producers.” You may have also seen her ‘eye-high’ kicks as a Radio City Rockette on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and her choreography was spotlighted on NBC’s Americas Got Talent in 2014. Nickie has been teaching for more than 25 years and is one the original faculty members of “Street of Dreams” dance convention. She receives high praise for teaching award winning choreography, exceptional technique, and a strong work ethic, which has advanced many of her students to the professional level. Nickie’s never-ending passion for dance keeps her students inspired and devotion strong to reach full potential.

MELANIE DALALY-SLOBODECKI - Junior Company Director, Contemporary Jazz

Melanie Dalaly-Slobodecki (originally from Naperville, IL) fell in love with dance at a young age. She always knew she wanted to pursue the art form professionally. She took residency in Pittsburgh, PA from 2014-2018 to earn her B.F.A at Point Park University and Conservatory, graduating magna cum laude.

At Point Park, the program was multi-faceted, with training in Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary Partnering, Dance History, Kinesiology, Improvisation, and Composition. Prior to Point Park, she had the privilege of studying under the direction of Lizzie MacKenzie at Extensions Dance Company in Chicago where there was a strong focus on contemporary, jazz, ballet, partnering, improvisational work, and pointe.

Post college, Melanie realized her favorite thing of all was teaching and choreographing for the next upcoming generation of artists. Teaching at multiple studios across the Chicagoland area, she likes to focus on a strong foundation of technique with an equal emphasis on exploration of movement in her classes. Since her start in 2017, she has set choreography for studios in both the Chicagoland and Indiana area. Her choreography has received many accolades, and her work has been accepted into shows such as Dance Chicago. She has also been on faculty as an adjudicator for StarQuest Dance Competition since 2021, providing feedback for dancers all over the United States. Whenever Melanie is asked what her favorite part of her job is, the answer is always watching her own students blossom and evolve into accomplished young adults— both inside and outside the studio.

BRIANNA DOWELL - Leaps & Turns, HS Dance Team Prep

Brianna grew up in Elgin and has been dancing since the age of 3. She trained in several styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, pointe, and hip hop. Brianna graduated from Larkin High School where she was a member of the dance team.

While in high school, Brianna began teaching ballet and has taught on and off since then. In college, she was a four-year member of the Carthage College Dance Team. She has enjoyed volunteering her time to teach as well as teaching at other local studios since. Currently, she is the JV Dance Coach for Geneva High School.

CHRISTINA FEE - Children’s Dance, Ballet, Jazz

Christina Fee, originally from Schaumburg, Illinois, started dancing at the age of three. She grew up dancing at the Schaumburg Park District and later, Rise Dance Center under the direction of Jan Powers. She danced four years on Schaumburg High School’s Varsity Orchesis team, serving as captain her Junior and Senior year. She continued her dance training and education after high school by attending Ball State University where she majored in Dance and later graduated with her BFA in Dance Performance. Post graduation, she grew a passion for teaching and began to teach dance to children throughout the Chicagoland area. She also had the opportunity to be a coach for Schaumburg High School’s Poms and Competitive Dance teams. She currently works full time as an insurance specialist in Chicago and is excited to continue her love for dance by teaching at Integrity for the summer and fall dance seasons!

HANNA FLORES - Children’s Dance

Hanna has been dancing since the age of 4. She trained in numerous dance genres including ballet, jazz, contemporary, pointe, and tap. Hanna spent her childhood years dancing at Gould Academy of Dance Arts which was acquired by Integrity School of Dance in 2013! She danced from the age of 4 until she graduated high school in 2018. Hanna was the captain of her dance team at Hampshire High School. She also has previous experience teaching dance, and is so thankful to be back teaching, especially at the studio she grew up dancing at.

This December 2022, Hanna will be graduating from Elmhurst University with a child psychology degree as well as a minor in social work. Hanna has a huge passion for kids, and she believes that instructing children provides positive growth for both her and her students. She strives to develop a love for dance in younger children and to help them progress into beautiful people and dancers.

COURTNEY GARCIA - Children's Dance, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap

Courtney Garcia is an instructor and Children's Dance coordinator at Integrity School of Dance. Growing up in Elgin,  she always loved to Dance. She started taking Dance classes at four years old,  and continues to learn and grow as a dancer to this day. Courtney is trained in many styles including, ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop. She graduated from Larkin High School, where she danced in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy. 

In 2002 when she began teaching, she realized that sharing her love of dance was her true passion. She has volunteered her time and skills to many local groups, charities and events. Her family,  work and accomplishments are things she takes great pride in. She hopes that through her work she can inspire dancers of all ages.

NOA GREENFELD - Children’s Dance

Noa Greenfeld is a valuable part of her community as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. In May 2023, she received her BFA in Dance with a minor in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Noa was a James Honors Scholar; the Events Coordinator for the student athletic board; and a Fine and Applied Arts Ambassador. She has performed in works by Sara Hook, Tere O’Connor, Roxane D’Orleans Juste, and Anna Peretz Rogovoy. Since graduating, Noa has returned to her hometown, Elgin, IL, to work as a marketing assistant with Revolution Dancewear, dance professionally, and teach in the Chicagoland area. She is certified to teach yoga and teaches ballet, contemporary, among other forms for dancers ages 4 to 18. She strives to connect with each dancer that comes into her class with a positive, uplifting approach.

VICTOR LUGO - Hip Hop

Victor Lugo is a dancer and choreographer from the Northwest Chicago suburbs. He works full time as an operating room nurse but always finds time to dance and perform with his company CODA (Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance). He has been training and dancing since 2017 focusing mainly in Hiphop, popping, house and choreography. He values the history and origins of hip hop and wishes to educate the younger generation about its culture. His notable credits include: hosting the Prelude Midwest Dance Competition in 2022 and 2023, competing at Prelude East Coast 2022, dancing with J. Worra at Lollapalooza, performing at Reveal Dance Chicago, competing at Maxt Out LA 2019 and many others.

KELLI MYHRE-BAHWELL - Tap, Musical Theatre

Kelli Myhre-Bahwell has been dancing since the early age of three and has taught at various studios in the Chicagoland area for over 26 years. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance from Illinois State University and has two Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Art, one from Elgin Community College and the other from The Illinois Institute of Art specializing in Graphic Design. Kelli has been a performer, judge and choreographer in numerous dance competitions and conventions and received many choreography awards. Kelli is also a judge for numerous competitions and has been judging for the past 11 years. Most recently she has been a judge for the Lifetime TV show “Dance Moms”. Kelli currently teaches at Larkin High School in the VPAA as one of the dance instructors. Teaching dance is one of her passions in life and she enjoys sharing that passion with eager students. 

KRISTIN NELSON - Children’s Dance, Tap

Kristin started dancing at age 4, performing and competing in several dance studios in the Chicago suburbs. She deepened her love for dance in high school, taking classes at Inspire School of Dance in Naperville.

She got her BA in dance performance and choreography from Hope College, in Holland Michigan. During her time there she danced with their jazz and tap company, modern dance company, and traveling teaching company. She had the opportunity to perform twice with Chicago Tap Theatre in their Holiday show, and attend the Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary Intensive in New York.

Since her time at school, Kristin has been teaching, performing and choreographing in and around the city of Chicago. She has a Tap Teaching Certificate from The Chicago Human Rhythm Project.

Kristin loves to share her passion for dance with students and help develop them into artists themselves!

ELA OLARTE - Ballet, Jazz

ELA OLARTE, originally from Davao City, Philippines, is a Chicago-based teacher and choreographer. Ela has worked professionally with The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Cocodaco Dance Project Professional Company, Visceral Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, AJA Talent, Purus Motus Cinema, Brian McGinnis, Hanna Brictson (Dance For Life/Chicago Ideas), Jessica Miller Tomlinson, and Jon Sloven amongst others.  As a choreographer, Ela created work for Dance in the Parks’ 11th season.  She was awarded first place for her piece, “Nocturnal Detail” at the College of DuPage Choreography Competition (2017).  Additionally, Ela has presented work for A&A Ballet, Cocodaco Dance Project, College of DuPage, Detroit Dance City Festival, DanceWorks Chicago's Dance Chance, Foster Dance, and has produced independent dance films. Ela holds a BFA from The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago with a focus in Choreography and minor in Dance Pedagogy.  Further training credits and respective summer programs include The Joffrey Ballet, Visceral Dance Center’s Professional Scholarship Program, River North, Ballet Lab, and Hip Hop Connxion.

MARGARET PALMER - Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tumbling

Margaret Palmer was trained by Lisa and Frank Boehm in Elgin, Il. Later she received a scholarship to Lou Conte dance studio and enjoyed learning from Chicago’s best-Claire Bataille, Ginger Farley, Lou Conte and Birute Baracaite, to name a few. As an adult, she became a founding member of River North Chicago under the direction of Mark Dow and later Sherry Zunker. She appeared in the first WTTW documentary “Reality of a Dreamer”. She has also performed with the Second City Ballet, Cerque/Rivera Art Experience and enjoyed a brief apprenticeship with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Margaret currently teaches and choreographs across the NW suburbs and is Co-Director of Larkin High School VPAA Dance Program. She is proud to be a part of Integrity School of Dance and to be working with the Performance Company.

LUKE PILALIS - Hip Hop

Luke has been training in all styles of dance for the past 23 years. From elementary to high school, he performed competitively on Aspire Dance Company in Bloomingdale, Illinois. After graduation his dance career led him to compete on America's Got Talent, Season Nine, where he and his dance partner qualified for the Semi-Finals. He has been teaching tap and hip hop across the Midwest in the forms of recitals, intensives, and competitive choreography for the last decade. Currently, he is the head hip hop coach at Center Stage Dance Studio for Aspire Dance Company.

KALEIGH SCHOCK TYTON - Ballet, Pointe

Kaleigh Schock was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She started training for her professional career at the age of 15 at Faubourg Ballet School in Hanover Park. In 2005, Kaleigh moved to NYC to train at Ellison Ballet-Professional Ballet School at the age of 16. She continued to train at Ellison Ballet for three years. In 2007 she was a supplemental dancer with Cincinnati Ballet, she then joined Ballet West II in Salt Lake City in 2008. After 2 years with Ballet West, Kaleigh decided to attend school at the University of Cincinnati, where she attained a BFA in Dance and a minor in Communications, along with joining Nevada Ballet Theatre her Junior year in 2012. While with Nevada Ballet, Kaleigh has danced roles that include:  the lead Russian Girl in Balanchine's Serenade, Striptease Girl in Balanchine's, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty, Zelma from Giselle, and Summer Fairy in James Canfield's production of The Nutcracker. Kaleigh attended School of American Ballet, Orlando Ballet and American Ballet Theatre summer intensives on scholarships. Kaleigh has danced with Elements Contemporary Ballet in Chicago and is currently dancing with the Madison Ballet. Awards include top 12 in YAGP finals in 2007 and 2008, as well as top 12 in YAGP in the pas de deux category. In 2007 she was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School of England's Graduate Level at the YAGP finals. 

JOYCE SMITH - Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe, Pilates

Joyce Smith began her initial training in classical ballet and pointe with Lisa Boehm and continued studying in the Chicagoland area. She later began her training in the techniques of Martha Graham and José Limón while completing her undergraduate degree as a scholarship dance major. She has also studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and has been fortunate to deepen her study with master classes and intensives with numerous dance artists.

With her range of training in both classical and modern dance, Joyce had the opportunities to dance the diverse repertory of numerous choreographers; one of her favorite experiences was dancing in Paul Taylor’s iconic Aureole. Joyce enjoyed dancing professionally for independent choreographers as well as modern based companies and spent ten years simultaneously working behind the scenes in arts administration and dance production for organizations that include The Juilliard School Dance Division, Vanderbilt Summer Dance Festival, New York State Summer School of the Arts School of Dance, the American Dance Legacy Institute, and Illinois Summer School of the Arts. She currently offers technical & marketing assistance for dance studios and organizations which includes building and maintaining websites, assisting with registration and scheduling software, and creating social media marketing.

Joyce has been teaching dance for over twenty years. She has also taught auditions, staged dances, and served as a rehearsal assistant and ballet mistress for companies and schools. In addition to teaching dance, Joyce earned her Pilates Mat certification through New York's PhysicalMind Institute and is a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher, having completed her 200-hour yoga teacher certification.
 

AMY VANWAGENEN - Senior Company Director, Jazz

Amy VanWagenen is a graduate of Iowa State University, majoring in elementary education. Through the university she got to student teach in New Zealand! She was a member of the Iowa State University competitive dance team all four years she was in school. She has been involved in competitive dance since the age of 7 and has traveled all over the United States in numerous regional and national dance competitions. She has studied under some of the biggest names in dance in the Chicago area and has been trained in classical French and Russian ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, tap, kick and pom. She has choreographed for high school and college dance teams as well as for dance studios, many of which won artistic awards and first place at competitions. Amy has coached the Geneva High School Varsity Dance Team since 2013 and coached the team to become IHSA State Champions in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The team got the opportunity to perform at the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, Florida in 2015 and has been given numerous opportunities throughout the years. Amy has also been on staff at Universal Dance Association since 2008 as a high school and college instructor and head instructor, as well as a judge for regional and national competitions. She has traveled national and internationally with the company, her most recent trips being London for the New Year's Day parade and Mexico to judge a national competition. Amy couldn't be more thrilled to teach at a studio as rewarding, inspirational and dedicated as Integrity School of Dance!

DANIEL AGUIRRE

Daniel Aguirre has been dancing hip hop since the age of five and dancing professionally since the age of 18. Daniel has classical training, but hip hop is his passion. Under the tutelage of Marchello Lee Daniel was able to backup dance for acts like Drew Sidora, Jennifer Hudson, Ludacris, and Wacka Flocka Flame. He has taught master class workshops, conventions, competition pieces, as well as recreational classes. Daniel is well versed in classic hip hop styles such as popping, breaking, and waving, but his main style is animation. With 12 years of experience Daniel has realized that his path is that of a teacher.

SARA BIBIK

Sara Bibik was a founding member and principal dancer of River North Dance Chicago. After retiring from the stage she was named Workshop Director and Artistic Administrator seamlessly transitioning one passion to another.

Dedicated to training and mentoring future generations of dancers, Sara has served as guest faculty for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Western Kentucky University, and the Virginia School of the Arts where she was honored to have been a commencement speaker. Sara is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She teaches full-time in the Chicagoland area.

Sara is also the Dance360 Program Director at DanceWorks Chicago, producing workshops for aspiring professional dancers. She created Skin Tones: Classical Ballet Positions | Fine Art Portrait Guide a project that provides educational fine art prints featuring dancers of all skin tones. Sara also produced JOY: Ballet Coloring Pages, celebrating diversity in ballet images which is featured on SaraBibikDance.com, her platform to distribute educational and joy-filled activities for dancers and their support teams.

JESSICA BREWSTER

Known for her contagious energy and dedication to her students, Jessica Brewster is passionate about creating a space where dancers can become honest storytellers. Since finding her calling in teaching over nine years ago, she has made it her focus to train students who use a clear vocabulary of refined technique as the backbone for authentic movement. This drive stems from her own multi-faceted education. In her formative years, training intensely in both ballet technique at the Faubourg School of Ballet and in the convention circuit with Perseverance Dance Company, she learned the value of placement within the confines of contemporary movement. Her dedication to these disciplines led her to many title wins and afforded her the opportunity to perform the work of such choreographers as Dee Caspary, Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, and Travis Wall, and most recently garnered her the recognition as the recipient of numerous choreography awards including two, consecutive acknowledgements from the Youth America Grand Prix.

Now, blending an MFA in Art from the Cranbrook Academy of Art—as well as a Minor in Dance—with lifelong mentorship from such instructors as Watmora Casey, Nickie DelRe, Tatyana Mazur, Missy Ridgway, and Lizzie MacKenzie, Jessica brings a unique voice to the instruction of dance. Her students are artists who move to be moving. Jessica hopes to impart this rare form of work ethic and open vulnerability into every student that sets foot in her classroom.

CHRISTIAN SOSA

Christian Sosa started dancing at 15 in high school and since then has trained in various Latin styles such as Salsa, Bachata, & Cumbia being a student/faculty member of Ivangel Dance Studio (Elgin, IL) then broadening his training in classical styles such as Jazz, Ballet & Contemporary with Urban Dance Concept (Elgin, IL). He’s been a part of various dance companies as a member and in directive roles with Ascension Performing Arts (Chicago, IL), DLD Professional Dance Company (Downers Grove, IL) and CODA (Chicago, IL). He is extremely excited to continue following his dreams and to share his he[art] with the community. 

Christian has performed and choreographed for various events around the Chicagoland area such as World of Dance: Chicago, World of Dance: Championships, Prelude Midwest, Elgin Short Film Festival, Elgin Fringe Festival, Nightmare on Chicago Street, Freespace Dance Festival and has performed with world renowned artist OnSean Zion as a backup principal dancer in a Latin Cabaret.

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