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Our Dance Centre Instructors

Ms Samantha DeRango

Ms. Samantha DeRango

Samantha DeRango is a passionate and dedicated dancer from Arlington Heights, IL. She started her serious dance training in high school. She graduated with a minor in Dance Education from Elmhurst University. Samantha has since taught dance at Rolling Meadows High School and the Elmhurst Park District sharing her expertise in hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet and modern dance. With experience in both competitive and performance dance, Samantha’s versatile skill set and dynamic teaching style leave a lasting impact on her students. Her unwavering dedication, love for dance and passion for sharing the art of creative expression are what most excited her about joining the Pavillion’s dance family!

Ms Shannon Brodie

Ms. Shannon Brodie

Instructor
Shannon began her dance training at age four with Mim Eichmann at Midwest Ballet Academy in Downers Grove. Her passion for dance then took her to Northern Illinois University where she received her B.F.A. in dance performance. During her training at N.I.U. Shannon had the privilege of performing soloist roles in numerous ballets re-staged by Randall Newsom, including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Paquita,” and “Giselle.” She has also performed as a guest artist with Midwest Ballet Academy, Rockford Dance Company, and State Street Dance Studio. In 2007 Shannon Joined NoMi Dance company, and as a founding member, she has continued to perform with the company for the last several years. In July of 2013 Shannon was mentioned in a Review of NoMi Dance Company by Tribune critic Sid Smith who wrote: “…a collaboratively fashioned solo for Brodie, bittersweet and smart… toe work and turns, in a backstage scenario boosted by Brodie’s strength and carefully crafted nonchalance…” Shannon also performs with Winifred Haun and Dancers as a company member, and had the opportunity to perform in the Martha Graham inspired performance series “Vision Faith Desire”. Shannon has had the honor of working with choreographers such as Joshua Blake Carter, Paul Christiano, Autumn Eckman, Lizzie MacKenzie, Nick Pupillo, Ahmad Simmons and Jessica Miller Tomlinson. She has continued to share her love of dance through teaching in the Chicagoland area at numerous studios for the last 10+ years. Shannon is excited to continue to share her passion for dance with her students here at the PDC!

Mr. Tre' Dumas

Tre’ Dumas

Instructor
Tre’ is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University with a B.A. in Mass Media Arts with a concentration in Speech and Theatre Arts. He has taught and performed regularly at festivals including the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, the L.A. Tap Fest, the St. Louis Tap Festival, Maui Tap Experience, Detroit Tap Festival, Third Coast Rhythm Project, Calgary Tap Summit, Chicago Tap Summit (which he co-founded), North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival, Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival and Columbus Taps. He was featured in the North American and European tours of Riverdance. He partnered with Bril Barrett to create M.A.D.D Rhythms, and the M.A.D.D. Rhythms Tap Academy. Mr. Dumas lived in Stuttgart, Germany, where he created an all ages/all levels tap program at the New York City Dance School. He performed Duke Ellington’s classic, “David Danced” with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, he portrayed a fiery tap dancing preacher in the vignette “Dance Like David” in director/choreographer Derick Grant’s “Imagine Tap”, and co starred w/Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards in the critically acclaimed independent film “The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang”. He was also seen on the only aired episode of Secret Talents of the Stars dancing with R&B songstress turned tap dancer, Mya. He was also became a member of Jason Samuels Smith’s ACGI. Creator of Chicago’s newest professional tap ensemble, Jus’LisTeN, he recently accepted a position as an associate director with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project. He debuted his first full production featuring Jus’LisTeN entitled, “Tap Like Water” as part of the annual Dance Chicago performance series. Aside from his beautiful daughter, Lauren, his greatest joy lies in dancing and sharing his love and knowledge of his art form with others.

Ms. Ashley Valencia

Ms. Ashley Valencia

Instructor
Ashley Valencia grew up dancing in Centennial, CO at Centerstage Starz Theatre and Dance Studio. After high school Ashley continued her dance education by receiving her BFA in Dance from Stephens College in Columbia, MO. While in college she studied ballet, modern, jazz, tap, flamenco, Russian character, West African and choreography. She studied under Jan Miller, Deborah Carr, Mary Rotella, Christopher Morgan, Nancy Lushington, Lars Rosager among many others. Post college Ashley moved back to Colorado for a year where she danced with Damsels while teaching at her childhood studio, Centerstage. Ashley then moved to Chicago and had the privilege to dance with Matter Dance Company, Chicago Verge Dance Theatre and study with Chicago Tap Theatre. While in Chicago, Ashley also coached and taught dance technique to award winning high school color guards and dance studios around Illinois. After five years in Chicago, Ashley moved to Connecticut and taught at Get Up ‘N Dance in Bristol, CT for three years. She also danced with DanceWorks Boston, Fantango Dancers and Dimensional Dance. Ashley is excited to be back in Chicago to continue to teach and dance with our dancers at the PDC!

Ms. Josephine (Josie) Star

Ms. Josephine (Josie) Star

Instructor
Josie was born and raised in Marshall Missouri began her dance training at Broadway Bound Dance Studio under the direction of mentor Torey Spitzig. Josie graduated with a B. F. A. in Dance and departmental honors from Webster University. She has extensive performance experience in concert and competitive dance, as well as, multiple years of teaching experience. While at Webster she had to honor of working with artist such as Xi Zhao, Gregory Dawson, Tara Webbe Filomena Cacciatore, Anotonio Douthit-Boyd, Maggi Dueker, Beckah Reed and many others. Josie has had the privilege of training with companies across the United States, some of them including Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Backhaus Dance and Visceral Dance Chicago. She has most recently danced professionally in St. Louis with Consuming Kinetics Dance Company, and Ballet 314. Her teaching journey has included positions as Instructor/Choreographer for Broadway Bound Dance Studio and Dance Productions Unlimited. Josie is thrilled to further her dance career with Inaside Dance Chicago and cannot wait to become apart of Pavilion’s dance family!

Ms. Alecia Corey

Ms. Alecia Corey

Instructor
Alecia began her dance training at the age of 3 at the Mount Prospect Park District. She was trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical and Modern. During her time at the park district she was a member of The Impulse Dance Ensemble and Ballet Expressions under the direction of Amy Hubert and Kimberly Klinger. In high school she continued dancing on her high school dance team as well as her Orchesis Company. Alecia graduated from Carthage College in 2022 with a B.A in Choral Music Education and a minor in Dance. During her time in college she had many opportunities to perform as a part of her dance minor program as well as her college’s dance team. She had the chance to choreograph with her college groups as well as at a local studio. She looks forward to getting to continue her dance career and getting to share her passion with future dancers.

Ms. Jaclyn Schwartz

Ms. Jaclyn Schwartz

Instructor
Jaclyn began dancing at the age of four and grew up training under the direction of Pavilion Dance Centrestaff. She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Lyrical, Pointe and Poms dance team. She is a graduate of DePaul University with a B.S. in Biology. She was a member of Elk Grove High School’s Orchesis program and DePaul University’s dance team. She has contributed choreography to local award winning performance companies and dance teams, including our Pavilion Dance Connection! She loves that she can continue to share her passion for dance with her students and families here at the PDC and is looking forward to continuing to direct and choreograph for our Nationally Award winning Ignite and Ignite Sr. competition dance companies!

Ms. Megan Heller

Ms. Megan Heller

Instructor
Meg began her dance training at the Pavilion Dance Center. Over her 13 years of dance training there, she studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Tap Funk, Acrodance and Modern. She continued her training as a part of the Elk Grove High School’s Orchesis Program. Meg graduated from Hope College in 2017 with a B.A. in Business Management. She was involved in the dance program at Hope College by taking classes, performing and teaching. Meg has been a member of The Outlet Dance Company for three years. Dance has always been a passion of Meg’s and loves being back where it all started by teaching at the Pavilion Dance Centre.


Ms. Brenna Sanaghan

Ms. Benna Sanaghan

Instructor
Ms. Breana began her dance education at the Pavilion Dance Centre when she was just four years old. She was a member of the Pavilion Dance Connection Company throughout middle school until her transition to Elk Grove High School’s Orchesis team. There she was a choreographer and costume director and competed on the dance team her senior year. She is trained in ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, lyrical, jazz and hip-hop.

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