Our Dance Centre Staff

Dance Coordinator
Jessica began her formal dance training with the Fine Arts Department at Riverside-Brookfield High School under the direction of Melinda Haines. There, she was a featured performer in new works by Chicago based modern and jazz choreographers; Jeff Hancock, Aimee Page and Wilfredo Rivera. Jessica joined the Lady Rockstars dance team in 2005 and performed hip hop and pom-dance routines for the American Basketball Association's home games, including performances at the United Center and the Chicago Cultural Center. She continued her dance studies at Columbia College Chicago where she had the pleasure of performing historically significant re-constructed works by Twyla Tharp, Doris Humphrey and Shirley Mordine. There, she trained with nationally renowned dance faculty; Angie Hauser, Darrel Jones, Jan Erkert, Carrie Hanson, Margi Cole, Pam McNeil, Liz Burritt, Paige Cunningham, Jimmy Payne Jr., Jeff Hancock, Natalie Rast, Emily Stein, Kirby Reed and Peter Carpenter. She graduated with honors in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance. She was recently a founding member of MaryAnn McGovern and Dancers and has performed in numerous independent projects and dance showcases throughout Chicago. Jessica has always enjoyed sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with performing arts enthusiasts and has been teaching, choreographing and directing dance and fine arts programming in and around the Chicago land area for over nine years. She is looking forward to a fun and exciting year of dance with Pavilion Dance Centre faculty, students and families!

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 9 years. Shannon is excited to continue to share her passion for dance with her students here at the PDC!

Instructor
Tre' received most of his early dance training and his first teaching experience at Tommy Sutton's Mayfair Academy of fine Arts on Chicago's south side. He's 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 various 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, among others. Mr. Dumas 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, and performed at jazz and R&B clubs by night. He performed Duke Ellington's classic, "David Danced" (originally danced by Dr. Bunny Briggs) with Bill Russo, Orbert Davis and 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's taught and performed extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Germany as well as other parts of Europe, and South America and proudly 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 and receiving the same as well.

Instructor
Mary has been teaching the sport of baton twirling for over 25 years. She is a certified teacher and judge with the National Baton Twirling Association. She began twirling at the age of 7 and won numerous state and national titles as an individual and as part of a group. Her love of twirling is why she continued teaching and developing her own groups. Her groups have won 8 National titles and over 20 State Titles. She has also taught many Miss Majorette of Illinois winners. She won the prestigious award of Corp director of the year in 2004 presented by the National Baton Twirling Association. She resides in Elmhurst with her husband Bill and her two daughters Stephanie and Samantha. Both girls have been active in competitive baton twirling.

Instructor
Stephanie is a graduate of Elmhurst College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. She has been involved in twirling and dancing since the age of 4. She has been in competitive twirling since age 4 and has won numerous State and National titles in baton, pom and dance. She was captain of the National Champion Wood Dale Stars. She twirled for her high school and was also captain of her dance team. She continues to expand her abilities with additional classes in dance at Elmhurst College and Elk Grove.

Instructor
Rachel began her dance training at the age of three at the Itasca Park District. She later began taking classes right here at the Pavilion Dance Centre and was part of the Moving Force Dance Company. She later trained under the direction of Lisa, Kimmy, and Lori Pendzimaz with Jagged Edge Dance Company. She was also part of Lake Park High School's Dance Ensemble and the 2014 state champion Varsity Lancettes Dance Team. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. In 2018, Rachel graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Loyola University Chicago, where she was part of Loyola's Dance Company. Over the years she has had the opportunity to choreograph a number of performance pieces as well. Rachel is currently a dancer with Outlet Dance Company. Rachel is excited to teach at the Pavilion Dance Centre because it was an integral part of her early training and is where she discovered her true passion for dance!

Pavilion Dance Connection Company Director and Instructor
Jaclyn began dancing at the age of four and grew up training under the direction of Pavilion Dance Centre staff. 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 Ignite, Mini, Junior and Teen level performance companies!

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!