Dance Faculty

Gillian Bourke Kate Kinyon Gillian is a company dancer with StrikeTime Dance and has Kate holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and dance from the choreographed for Hope College, RMHS Orchesis and Vibe University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and has been a dance Dance Company. She holds a degree in dance education and educator for over 20 years. She has created and taught kinesiology from Hope College. She has been studying dance dance curriculum in the Public Schools and has since the age of 3 and excited to share her passion with previously owned her own performing arts school. She dancers of all ages. serves as the movement consultant for the national headquarters of KinderCare Learning Centers. Amy Braheny Amy has her Bachelors degree in Dance from the University Kirsten Markham of Iowa. She has studied with the Berkshire Ballet Theatre, Kirsten has been teaching dance for over 25 years in the The Rodriguez Dance Theatre and more. She has Chicagoland area. She received her dance training through choreographed for annual company performances, Ruth Page and in addition to receiving her community education workshops, recitals and has degree in Early Childhood Education. She choreographed a instructed master classes in ballet, pointe and modern dance team for 10 years with North Shore Dance and Drama dance! and was a company member of the Barefoot Hawaiian dance troupe. Susan Cohen

Susan has been teaching dance for over 10 years in the Chicagoland area. She has taught ballet, pre-pointe and Carla Ricchio pointe classes, along with creative movement and preschool Carla has been with the Arlington Heights Park District Dance program since 2002. She has over 30 years of dance dance curriculum. Susan’s choreography has been seen on training and performing. Carla attended several Master many competition stages throughout the years, and she is classes with Randy Duncan and attended dance classes at thrilled to be sharing her experience and love with the Gus Giordanos for years. Carla enforces a fun, positive and dance families at AHPD! serious learning experience for her dancers.

Chance Ennis Alyssa Sugisawa Chance studied on scholarship at The School in Alyssa has studied dance for over 10 years with experience NYC and trained with numerous Broadway professionals. in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Hip-Hop and He has performed with Nickelodeon Studios, the Radio City Musical Theatre. She has danced at Dorothy’s Dance Rockettes, the Ballet Company, Gregory Unlimited and Dena Marie’s School of Dance. Alyssa Hancock Dance Company, and Ballet 5:8 in the Chicagoland received her Bachelor’s degree from North Central College. area. He graduated from Anderson University with a Dance Performance degree. He enjoys teaching the next generation and is excited to teaching in Arlington Heights! Ashley Valencia Ashley grew up dancing in Centennial, CO at Centerstage Anna Erdman Starz Theatre and Dance Studio. She received her BFA in Anna studied at the Dance Academy of Antioch, Talent Dance from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, studying Forum, and Framework Dance Chicago. Her emphasis has ballet, modern, jazz, tap, flamenco, Russian character, West been Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Point, Hip Hop and African and choreography. Ashley has danced with Damsels, Modern. Anna has recently completed her Associates in the Matter Dance Company, Chicago Verge Dance Theatre and Arts from College of Lake County with a focus in dance. studied with Chicago Tap Theatre. Anna has also received honors for her tap dancing, including a scholarship to attend Chicago Human Rhythm Project. Lexie Van Skyock Alexia has danced since age 6 through Jenny’s Dance Centre Victoria Geraci and received her Associate of Arts from the College of Lake Victoria has been dancing for over 17 years. She began her County. She holds a B.A. in Dance from the University of training at Dorothy’s Dance Studio and continued at Golden at Urbana-Champaign, studying modern, jazz, hip Work of Art Dance Company, studying many styles and hop, improvisation and collaboration, ballet, and competing. She has performed with Giordano Dance Company and competed with Inspire Dance Company. Umfundalai. Alexia has evolved this passion into her love of Victoria has attended Harper College and currently is happy teaching, and enjoys sharing her excitement for movement to share her love of dance as an instructor around the in both dance and fitness environments. Chicagoland area. Danielle Wilder Jennifer Hicks Danielle has been dancing since age 4 and holds a BFA in Miss Jennie has trained at Dorothy’s Dancing Unlimited, Dance Performance and Choreography from Hope College. Dena Marie’s studio, Lou Conte Dance Company, and She was a backup dancer and choreographer for Shuree Hubbard Street Dance Company. She has been a member of Rivera and has danced in music videos, commercials, and our dance faculty since 2005 and served as a director of our multiple dance companies. She currently dances with Praize award-winning Vibe Dance Company for over 8 years, where Productions and teaches throughout the Chicagoland area. her choreography has received numerous awards. She is excited to be teaching in Arlington Heights!