Olivia’s dance career began the same as many young dancers: in her living room. She first took the stage in local theater productions and quickly found that while she loved acting and singing, her heart was firmly in dance. From these early experiences, Olivia was captivated by choreography and inspired by all things dance. 

She began extensive training in ballet, tap, modern, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary during her formative years. Beyond competitive dance, Olivia participated in dance throughout the community: competing with her high school’s varsity dance team, choreographing for youth theater productions, and implementing and leading an Orchesis program at her school. 

Olivia attended Grand Canyon University to study Dance Performance and Dance Education. In her studies, she took courses in choreography, early childhood education, dance technology, and dance technique. When transferring to online instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivia joined the Communications program to further develop her skills in communication, leadership, and marketing.

After moving back to the suburbs of Chicago, Olivia taught at multiple studios and most recently served as Assistant Director at a competitive dance studio. In addition to growing a strong competition program and implementing a rich dance curriculum, Olivia focused on developing a supportive and motivating studio culture. Olivia is grateful for the mentorships that dance has provided her along the way and aspires to be a similar mentor for each of her students. 

Olivia is driven to choreograph both visually and musically unique dances that challenge her dancers technically and artistically. She aims to create intentional, moving choreography that is fresh and dynamic. Her recent pieces have received choreography recognition, numerous special awards, and overalls at both local and national dance competitions. 

Olivia is a lifelong learner and has continued her education by attending dance intensives, conventions, and online seminars in both dance pedagogy and leadership. She participated in training to become a certified Giordano Jazz Instructor. Olivia is also passionate about social-emotional learning and its importance in dance education. She is a certified Danscend Mental Wellness Dance Educator, committed to building confident and resilient dancers.

As she steps into the role of owner and artistic director of Dreams Dance Academy, Olivia looks forward to further investing in a studio culture that fosters creativity, relationships, and teamwork. While providing high-quality dance instruction remains a top priority, Olivia is also committed to creating long-lasting relationships with her students and guiding them in following their dreams, achieving their goals, and finding their paths in life. 

Community Image Award 2016, St. Charles Chamber of Commerce

Rainbow Kids Yoga Certified Instructor 

Success Principles Certified Trainer

Founder of Live Your Purpose

2021 Member of the Year, International Dance Entrepeneur's Association

2022 Developed and released  Pop-Up Camp planners nationwide, in partnership with Rhee Gold's Dance Life

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Jenny has been dancing for over 30 years and studied  jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and musical theater.  She has been teaching since 1999 throughout the Chicago area.  

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From her first ballet class at the age of 3, Jenny had a passion for dancing and performing.  Throughout her youth, she danced at Palmer’s Dance & Gymnastics and Dorothy’s Dancing Unlimited. Jenny also performed in theatrical productions such as "The Nutcracker" with Pennsylvania Ballet Company and "The Night Before Christmas" with Dayton Ballet. She participated in dance team and Orchesis throughout high school, in addition to continuing studio classes. Jenny was the only freshman accepted as a Company member for Orchesis (dance troupe), which is also where she got her start choreographing. Her start in choreographing sort of happened by accident while recovering from a spinal fusion surgery from '95 - '96.  When she graduated from Lake Park High School in 1999, she started teaching dance under the direction of her former dance instructor, Mary Pilalis, and fell in love with teaching. After teaching for 2 years while earning an associates degree at College of DuPage, she attended Illinois State University and graduated with a BA in Communications. She began teaching again part time when she graduated college. Her full time focus was on her career in the Communications field until 2012.

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In 2012 she realized where her true passion was, and that is in the studio with her students. After focusing on her career for 10 years, she decided to pursue her dream of teaching full-time. Jenny formed Dreams Dance Academy – a true life-long dream. She started "Dreams Dance Academy: The Traveling Studio" in July 2012 by renting space at community and fitness centers in three towns, and it skyrocketed from there. DDA reached 85 students in just five months. In August 2013, Jenny obtained her own studio space in La Fox to accommodate the quickly growing program.  And in August 2015, DDA moved to St. Charles to a 3-studio facility which she hopes to call home for a very long time now that we can accommodate our growing program. The current home is truly the dream studio she always envisioned in her mind! In summer 2019 as the studio continued to grow at a quick rate (right before the pandemic!), DDA expanded again and added an additional 1,100 square feet to accommodate a 4th dance room.

Jenny continues to attend both teacher trainings and studio owner conferences, as she believes in the importance of continuing education to keep the studio, technique, and teaching skills at DDA top notch. Teaching and business ownership is always evolving - so as professionals, we must continue to train and educate ourselves. She has written various stories for Dance Studio Life Magazine, and DDA has also been featured in DSL articles such as "Studio Style" and "Competition Dancers: The Early Years." In August 2016, Jenny became one of the first members of the International Dance Entrepreneurs Association. In 2021, she was named Member of the Year at the annual DanceLife Teacher Conference. She is also a volunteer mentor for the INCubator program at STC East, providing mentorship to high schoolers in this business program

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Jenny is especially passionate about teaching the 9 and under age group. These are critical years in a dancers training and she firmly believes in instilling the proper fundamentals from the star...but in a fun, engaging way that molds young, new students into passionate, properly trained dancers. 

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In March 2020, she began what would be the most challenging chapter in her life as a business owner and studio director. One of the positives that came from the pandemic, was creating a virtual studio program in just a few days. Jenny launched DDA's virtual studio in mid-March and DDA continued to run strictly virtual until early June. During this time, she assisted studio owners across the country with running their programs remotely. 

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In January 2021, Jenny became a Certified Success Principles Trainer (teaching the 67 Success Principles founded by Jack Canfield) and founded Live Your Purpose. This was a journey that ironically began in early 2020 so it got put on the backburner due to the pandemic and having to shift all of her focus. As 2021 proved to be a year of reinventing the wheel for what felt like everything, she has had to continue to put a hold on Live Your Purpose. But she has big goals and big dreams...so stay tuned! 

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In 2022, she became the Membership Liaison for International Dance Entrepreneurs Association. Over the years, she been a presenter on a number of I.D.E.A. training seminars for studio owners, including topics such as Starting a Student Leadership Academy, Summertime Strategies, and Dancing Through Tough Times. She presents monthly Tip Tuesdays for I.D.E.A. members as well. Jenny is incredibly passionate about this side of entrepreneurship, as well as ensuring she is keeping up with continuing education for herself as well.

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Jenny is actively involved in the community and in her spare time, she can be found DIY-ing, spending time with family and friends, and spoiling Molly the Studio Dog!

Kiera Brown, originally from Wixom, MI, attended Western Michigan University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in Spring 2021 with a B.F.A. in Dance. While at WMU, she had the pleasure of performing works choreographed by Yin Yue, Jennifer Archibald, BAIRA, Mike Esperanza,Katarzyna Skarpetowska, Jeremy Blair, Monique Haley, David Curwen, Carolyn Pavlik, SeyongKim, and Kelsey Paschich. Kiera had the opportunity to perform alongside Peridance Contemporary Dance Company and was also a company member of Western Dance Projectunder the direction of Whitney Moncrief during its 2018-2019 season. Kiera furthered her dance training at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Choreographic Summer Intensive, having the privilege to work with Rena Butler, Robyn Mineko-Williams, Micaela Taylor, and Rodrick George. Since moving to Chicago in 2021, she has had the opportunity to be an Emerging Artist with South Chicago Dance Theatre under the direction of Kia Smith, as well as train with renowned artist Jackie Nowicki.

Her passion for teaching and choreographing at youth studios continues to grow with her many positions throughout the Chicago-land area. Through these studios and her incredible students, she has had the honor of being recognized for her artistry by receiving multiple choreographic and standout awards at both regional and national competitions. Kiera's choreography is recognized for it's unique musicality, impact on the audience, and visual intrigue. Kiera is looking forward to growing with the Dreams dancers, and to continue watching her students evolve and advance their individuality!

Samantha DeBenedictis began her training at The Academy of Dance Arts under the tutelage of Sherry Moray and Irina Starovoitova. She has enjoyed a successful professional career with Ballet Arizona, Alabama Ballet, and the Cincinnati Ballet where she was cast in key roles in their productions of Swan Lake, Giselle, Alice in Wonderland, Balanchine’s Nutcracker, Midsummer Night Dream, Sleeping Beauty, Serenade, and Paquita. Samantha was also cast in Speaking In Tongues, an original piece choreographed by Devon Carney of Cincinnati Ballet. She was chosen to perform in B Major an original piece choreographed by Roger Van Fleteren of Alabama Ballet. Samantha was a member of Illinois Ballet Theatre and is certified in Cecchetti Method through Level V. 

Samantha was a top finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition and has received scholarships to The Washington Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Houston, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Samantha has been teaching classes for all ages throughout the Chicagoland area for nine years, and has choreographed for competition teams. In addition she has privately coached students for various ballet competitions. Samantha is a gifted performer and loves to share her knowledge, talent, and love of dance with her students.

​Joey, originally from Sterling Heights, MI, graduated from Oakland University Magna Cum Laude with a B.F.A in Musical Theatre Performance. After growing up in the world of competitive dance, he began teaching as a senior in high school, and has since taught and choreographed for studios across the country for the last 11 years. His choreography and teaching has been awarded and recognized on a regional and national level. While in college, he choreographed the programs main stage musicals, including Assassins, The Scarlet Pimpernel, & The Theory of Relativity. Following graduation, he became a Guest Professor of Dance for the university, and later signed with the Daniel Hoff Talent Agency in New York City. His professional theatre credits include the national tour of Monty Python’s Spamalot!, and regional productions of Shrek: The Musical, La Cage Aux Folles, The Producers, White Christmas (Barter Theatre), Something Rotten! (Phoenix Theatre Company), Disney’s Newsies (Fireside Theater), Oklahoma!, Anything Goes (Porthouse Theatre), A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors (The Huron Playhouse), and Deck The Halls (Busch Garden Williamsburg). In 2023, he took on the role of Assistant Company Director of Fusion Dance Centre in Roselle Park, NJ for 91 wonderful dancers. Currently, he is an adjudicator, emcee, and convention class instructor for several national dance competitions, including StarQuest, Turn It Up, & Elite Dance Challenge. He is also teaching/choreographing throughout Chicago, IL where he recently just relocated to. Joey is so excited to teach and get to know the students at Dreams!

Kelsey is a seasoned performer who has competed and trained in various styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop and Contemporary. She has competed in numerous productions and competitions across the country, and received extensive ballet training from Jill Johnson, founder of Studio 121. Kelsey furthered her pre-professional dance training at Xtreme Dance Force in Naperville, IL under the direction of Samuel Renzetti. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers such as Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo, Kevin Maher, Jesse Lee Santos, Brian Friedman, Marty Kudelka, Sky Hoffman and Mia Michaels.

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Kelsey graduated from Elmhurst College in May 2011 with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in dance. She has been teaching and choreographing for over 17 years and has received recognition for her work at competitions, including High Point, Overall, and Choreography awards. She has also been a co-director for Xtreme Dance Force (Naperville, IL) and Studio Director for Legacy Performing Arts (Beaverton, OR), as well as a guest teacher/choreographer at various studios. Kelsey has a passion for sharing her love of dance with others.

 Auburn grew up in Naperville, IL and began her dance training at The School of
Performing Arts when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Grand Valley State
University in December of 2022 with a BA in Dance, English, and Education, as well as
a minor in Elementary Certification. During her time at Grand Valley State, Auburn had
the opportunity to work with and perform works by various faculty and guest artists
including Amy Cova, Kristi Faulkner, Zelma Badu-Young, Melissa Barak, and Brian
Enos. She also performed at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) regional
conference in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, Auburn was the recipient of the Alexander Calder
Honors Scholarship. Auburn is a passionate educator and currently holds her Professional
Educator License as a certified elementary school teacher in Illinois and Michigan.
Auburn is excited to continue pursuing careers in both dance and education within the Chicagoland area.

Jory Macapinlac is a highly experienced dancer and dance instructor with over 30 years of training from renowned studios in the Chicagoland area. She competed as a member of Midwest Movement and trained in Ballet, Pointe, and Modern at Northern Illinois University.

Jory's professional credits include choreography and performances in various productions such as "The Dream King" in Las Vegas and special event games for the Chicago White Sox. She has been teaching Jazz, Jumps/Turns, Lyrical, Stretch & Strength, and Ballet to students of all ages since 1999. Her students have achieved success in various fields of the entertainment industry. Jory has also judged for various competitions since 2001 and currently is an emcee and Regional Director at Applause Talent. 

Abbey is a veteran dance instructor who excels at teaching a broad range of dance styles for both recreational and competitive dancers. She enjoys working with students of all ages and levels teaching fun, engaging and structured classes.

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Abbey has trained extensively in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and lyrical as well as spent many years dancing competitively and performing. Her work with competitive dance teams has garnered her choreography, high score, and special awards.

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In addition to her "dance life,", Abbey holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Loyola University Chicago and currently works as an Education Coordinator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Abbey is excited to be a part of DDA and share her knowledge, experience and love of dance with her students.

Katie McCall began her dancing career at the tender age of 3 when her mom enrolled her in Baby Ballet at the local park district. It was then that her lifelong love of dance began ...

For the next 10 years, she honed her skills in ballet, Pointe, jazz and tap at a local dance school, but after seeing Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance with her family, she was in awe of the style and knew it was time for a change.

So at 13, Katie joined the Reel Studio of Irish Dance and began intensive instruction under Julie Creighton-Shannon, a former World Champion dancer and pupil of Michael Flatley himself. Despite Katie's later start to the Irish dancing scene, she quickly progressed through the competitive levels and even had the opportunity to compete at the Regional Mid-America Championships (Oireachtas) three times prior to graduating high school. During her time at Reel Studio, she not only performed all across the Chicagoland for special events, but she also worked as an assistant instructor.

Though Katie retired from her competitive dancing career when starting college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she couldn't shake her passion for dance. As a result, she helped form and acted as Co-Director of the university's first collegiate Irish dance troupe - IDentity Irish Dance Company. As one of the lead choreographers, Katie and her elite group performed all over the campus and Chicagoland area, with a highlight of dancing live on WGN Channel 9 News for St. Patrick's Day. Katie was also selected two years in a row to dance alongside the famed Irish rock band - The Dropkick Murphys - at the House of Blues in Chicago.

During Katie's senior year at U of I, she was hired as an Irish dance instructor at the Christine Rich Studio - Dance Academy & Performing Arts Center. There, she proudly took a rather uncoordinated group of young students and watched them blossom into graceful Irish dancers!

Fast-forward to present day, and Katie is thrilled to return to her dancing roots by joining the DDA family. She hopes to bring her lifelong expertise and love of Irish dance to the community by offering a program that will honor tradition, build confidence, instill discipline ... and most importantly -- be loads o' FUN! 

Kim Pendzimaz is a Chicagoland native and trained at many different studios. Her performing credits include Chicago Rhythm Project, Disney World, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Bring In Da noise, Bring in Da Funk and Dance for Life. She has also released how to videos on Musical Theater through CR Productions. As a seasoned master class teacher and adjudicator, she has worked for Rebel Dance Convention, Cathy Roe Productions, Starquest National Talent Competitions, Bravo Dance Competitions, and Edge Talent Competition.

Kim was the owner of Jagged Edge Dance for 13 years (closing it's doors in 2021). During that time her students received numerous accolades and accomplishments, including acceptance into the Chicago Academy for the Art, The Julliard School, Interlochen, National Dutch Ballet, Des Moines Ballet, and Austin Ballet. Her dancers won the gold medal (first place) at International Dance Organization in Poland for ballet and lyrical. Kim's studios won Best Technique, Best Choreography, Industry Dance Award nominations, and highest scoring routine at multiple competitions. Jagged Edge was fortunate to receive the ADCC studio of excellence award in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Now Kim is focused on educating dancers all over the Chicagoland area.

Brigid is a former DDA student and a graduate of the Leadership Academy. She has trained in many styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz and Modern.

Although she no longer takes classes at DDA, she is still involved with the studio as an office assistant and substitute teacher. Brigid is currently a student at Aurora University, studying Secondary Education Mathematics with minors in Spanish and Special Education. She hopes to get her master's degree soon after graduating.

Brigid was inspired to become a teacher through her experiences as a student assistant and substitute teacher at DDA and hopes to make a positive impact on her future students.

Native of Colorado, KJ grew up dancing under the direction of her late mentor, Prof. Robert L. Reed. At 18, she moved to Chicago to pursue a BFA in musical theater with an emphasis in dance, where she earned her degree in May 2019. Throughout her years of studies, KJ started dancing with MADD Rhythms Tap Company, and through them she was able to continue her tap training and performance. Since being in Chicago, she’s been able to perform at the Dusable Museum, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Harris Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and countless others across the country. She has also performed in the reunion shows of the all-female Tap company, Rhythm ISS…, under the direction of Idella Reed Davis, Sharon Rushing, and Sarah Savelli. Most recently, she travelled to China to participate in Steps of Wenzhou, Rhythm of the World. Today, she continues to perform as a professional tap dancer and educator in the Chicagoland area! She’s been able to take her choreography to studios across the Midwest, and is passionate about teaching the next generation. 

Katy attended Oklahoma City University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the top-ranked Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management with a Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy.

While at OCU, Katy was able to learn the art and science of teaching dance from many nationally recognized dance professors, as well as dance with world-renowned faculty and guest teachers. Since her graduation, Katy has been teaching dance throughout the Chicagoland area for over a decade.

Today, Katy’s passion soars in the classroom where she is able to work with students of all ages, encouraging them to find a love of movement like she has. Currently, she teaches an average of 20 dance classes each week, with students ranging from 3 year olds to adults!

As an arts manager, Katy has had the opportunity to direct and produce multiple recitals, lead a dance department of over 500 students, direct a Performance Company, and wear many hats as a dance administrator. She feels incredibly blessed to be a part of the Chicagoland dance community, and is looking forward to her future as a teacher, choreographer, and arts manager.

Larkin has been dancing since she was 2 years old and started dancing at DDA when she was 7 years old. She has been part of the DDA Dance Company since she was 7 as well.

She joined the Leadership Academy when she was 9 years old, and worked her way to a Student Assistant and then a Teacher in Training. She graduated from the program in Spring 2022 and is now a Junior Teacher. She loves connecting with students of all ages and watching them grow and love dance as much as she does!

Larkin has gained many qualities and valuable lessons during her many years at DDA and on the Leadership Academy, that will have helped her in and out of the studio. She has seen her confidence grow in not only her dancing, but in using her voice to help lead others.

Larkin has been a part of the Geneva High School Varsity Dance Team since her freshman year. She loves all the outside opportunities that Dreams Dance Academy has helped her experience which have led to many exciting accomplishments such as the Refresh Dance Squad, convention scholarships and being selected for The Launch Youth Ensemble.

Rachael is 16 years old and a junior at Geneva High School. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old and started dancing at Dreams when she was 5, in 2012 when the studio opened. She was also part of DDA’s first Dance Company team when there were only 9 members.

When Rachael was 10, she joined DDA’s first Leadership Academy and became a Student Assistant. From there she became a Teacher in Training, and after a year in that program she graduated in Spring 2022 to a Junior Teacher.

She is trained in Jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, ballet, hip hop, and pointe. She has also competed in various productions, group dances, and duets/trios. This year she is competing her first solo. Rachael is also part of the Geneva High School Varsity Dance Team.  

One of her favorite classes she’s ever assisted with is DDA’s Adaptive Dance Class, where she got to be a one on one buddy with a student. They performed at recital together and it was her favorite dance by far.

Rachael hopes to continue on her dance career and teacher career for years to come!