Pavilion Dance Centre Instructors
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
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!
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. 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. 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
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. Breana 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.
Ms. Alyssa Senese
Instructor
Started dancing at age two and has over fifteen years of experience, including dancing for over a decade at the Pavilion Dance Centre. She has trained in ballet, jazz, modern/contemporary, lyrical, pointe, poms, hip hop and tap. Alyssa was a Pavilion Dance Centre dance company member for five years and a founding member of Thrive Company. Through Thrive Company training, she learned her passion for choreography and teaching. She also volunteered as a dance camp teaching assistant. In high school, she was a varsity competitive dance team member as a freshman and participated in orchesis. Alyssa is currently a two year varsity dance team captain, choreographer, and a member of student led dance clubs at school. Alyssa is happy to continue to share her love of dance with the Pavilion Dance Centre community.
Ms. Karolina Kachnowski
Instructor
Began her dance journey at Pavilion Dance Centre when she was just three years old. She started off in Junior company, and through seven years she transitioned through other companies where she then ended up in Thrive company. In Thrive company she started her journey as a choreographer. Since the start of attending Elk Grove High School she has been a part of the Orchesis team for four years now. There she has been a performer and choreographer. She has also been a part of her Competitive dance team for 3 years now. She is trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and tap.
Ms. Rachel Lore
Instructor
Began her dance training at age 3 at the Itasca Park District. She later began taking classes at thePavilion Dance Centre for 6 years, and was part of the Moving Force Dance Company. She trained under the direction of Lisa, Kimmy, and Lori Pendzimaz with Jagged Edge Dance Company. She was 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 throughout this time. In 2018, Rachel graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Loyola University Chicago, where she was part of The Dance Company. In 2020, she graduated with her MEd in School Counseling at Loyola and is now a full time middle school counselor. Over the years she has had the opportunity to choreograph a number of performance pieces. Currently, Rachel is a member of Outlet Dance Company which runs out of Elk Grove Village.
