Prima Ballerina Sherry Moray had an international career dancing for the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany. Her career continued as Principal Ballerina for the Chicago City Ballet, Ballet Chicago, as well as a guest artist with various ballet companies throughout the United States and Europe.
​
At the age of 12, in a master class given by Ballet Mistress Anne Woolliams, the legendary choreographer, John Cranko, took notice of Ms. Moray. She was then invited to come to Stuttgart, Germany where she was offered a full scholarship to train at the internationally renowned School of the Stuttgart Ballet (Cranko Schule) and became a member of the company at the age of 16. Upon returning to the United States, she joined the Chicago City Ballet as Principal Ballerina and was coached extensively by legendary Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Maria Tallchief over an 11 year period.
​
Throughout Ms. Moray’s distinguished career, she has triumphed with rave reviews for many of her poignant portrayals. Among the most significant roles from the repertoire she has performed include the title role of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella in Cinderella, as Rosalinda in Ruth Page’s Die Fledermaus, the lead in Allegro Brillante, 1st violin in Concerto Barocco, the Sanguinic section from The Four Temperaments, the role of Terpsichore in Apollo, and numerous other Balanchine works. During her partnership with International Varna Gold Medalist, Maximiliano Guerro, they were hailed for their performances in both Don Quixote and Le Corsaire. For the Famed Edinburgh Festival, the world premiere of the ballet Les Sirens was created for Ms. Moray. London critics declared Ms. Moray… “An enchanting Ballerina” and dubbed her as a “Star that was introduced to the Edinburgh Festival.”
​
As Director & Founder of The Academy of Dance Arts, Ms. Moray strongly believes a thorough education in all of the dance arts is highly valuable. Her 30 years of teaching and private coaching have produced dancers who are thriving as professionals in major world-class dance companies both nationally and internationally. Her students have been offered full scholarships to attend summer programs to such major dance schools as Pacific Northwest, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, School of American Ballet, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, Alabama Ballet, Harid Conservatory, the Royal Ballet School in England, the Cranko Schule (school of the famous Stuttgart Ballet), School of the Ballets de Monte Carlo, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Dutch National Ballet School, National Ballet of Canada Ballet School, and Miami City Ballet, to name a few.
​
Ms. Moray’s choreographic endeavors have earned national recognition. She won first place in the International Sarasota Ballet choreography Competition ('99) for her ballet Under the Shroud of Heaven. Her ballet Delibes Variations was chosen as the closing ballet for the Regional Dance America Festival ('99) and was performed by the highly acclaimed Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet to a standing ovation. In 2000, Echoes of Romance was commissioned by the Sarasota Ballet of Florida, and her first story ballet, Once Upon a Dream was given its premiere in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the Whitaker Performing Arts Center. In 2001, Ms. Moray featured her newest story ballet, La Boutique Fantasque, and the dynamic and sensual Pas de Deux All My Love to standing ovations. 2002 brought the newest larger work from Moray – the soaring Concerto Grosso that premiered at the Regional Dance America Gala in Dayton, Ohio. Ms. Moray re-staged the outstanding Echoes of Romance and premiered her award-winning work English String Suite in Chicago for The Academy of Dance Arts pre-professional program.
​
In 2006, Moray created the work Pandora’s Lesson as a 2-Act full Story Ballet, which teaches children and adults the importance of being grateful for one’s blessings and to heed and obey warnings that are meant to protect us. Recent works receiving accolades for their creativity have been Marché Militaire and Ancient Airs and Dances in 2008/2009. Ms. Moray is proud to also be the Artistic Director of the National Award-winning Academy Dance Alliance Competing & Performance Company, creating exciting, innovative, choreography for the Alliance dancers of all ages, and passing on to her students the love for Ballet and excellence in technique for all the dance arts.
Sherry Moray
Founder & Artistic Director
Ballet Master Instructor
-
Founder & Artistic Director - The Academy of Dance Arts
-
Master Instructor & Coach - The Academy's Ballet Conservatory
-
6 Time Winner Youth America Grand Prix "Outstanding Studio" (2000, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2024)
-
7 Time Winner Youth America Grand Prix "Outstanding Teacher" (2000, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2022)
-
Choreographer
-
Artistic Director - Academy Dance Alliance and the Academy's Professional Ballet Conservatory
-
Alliance Director - Ballet Teams
-
Dance Magazine Award, "Outstanding Teacher of the Year"
-
1st Place Winner - International Ballet Choreography Competition (1996 - "Under the Shroud of Heaven")
Sherry Moray under the direction of Ballet Legend, Maria Tallchief. Read more on Miss Moray's experience with Miss Tallchief HERE.
Ricky Ruiz
Academy Alliance Director
Jazz & Contemporary Master Instructor
Ricky Ruiz received his initial dance training in Miami, Florida, and was a graduate of Miami’s Coral Reef Senior High Magnet Dance. He attended the University of South Florida on academic and talent scholarships and graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance. While in college, he was an apprentice at Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project for two consecutive summers. In 2007 Ricky moved to Chicago and danced for four seasons with River North Dance Chicago. During his time there, he performed works by Robert Battle, Lauri Stallings, Sidra Bell, Harrison McEldowny, Frank Chavez, and others. He toured the United States, Europe, and South America with the company. Since moving on from River North, he has also danced with Elements Contemporary Ballet (2012), Level Dance Chicago (2015, 2016), Visceral Dance Chicago (2018), South Chicago Dance Theatre (2022), performed for Thodos' Annual New Dances, Dance For Life, and for numerous Chicago-based choreographers on various projects and concerts.
Ricky is a gifted teacher and choreographer. Among the many schools he has worked with are Coral Reef High School in Miami, Chicago Academy for the Arts, Roosevelt University, The University of Wisconsin, Florida State University, and others. He has been a resident teacher and choreographer at Jacksonville University and James Madison University. He is a guest teacher throughout the U.S. and has been on faculty at Hubbard Street/Lou Conte Dance Center, and Visceral Dance Center. Ricky also has the privilege to be a guest teacher and choreographer for Chicago-based professional companies Danceworks Chicago, Inaside Dance Chicago, and others. Ricky has also been on faculty for VIP Dance, teaching workshops, and judging their national conventions.
In 2013, Ricky was chosen as the Emerging Choreographer of the Year by the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company. Also, in 2013, Ricky was voted in the Top 5 of Chicago's leading dance teachers.
In 2010, he began teaching at The Academy of Dance Arts where he is the Co-Director of the Academy Dance Alliance. He teaches Jazz and Contemporary classes as well as progression classes focusing on technique and skill. Ricky also creates numerous pieces for Alliance for their yearly repertoire, ranging from Contemporary to Jazz and Musical Theatre, and everything in between. Ricky absolutely loves his students at ADA and is honored to work with Sherry Moray, helping to train young artists and pre-professionals.
Alexis Strain
Ballet Faculty
Alexis (Caruso) Strain was born in Chicago, Illinois. She began her ballet training at the age of four and started private lessons with Sherry Moray when she was nine. As a student of The Academy of Dance Arts and Illinois Ballet Theatre, Alexis participated in the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition. In 2006, Alexis won YAGP’s prestigious Hope Award, given for the best overall performance in the Pre-Competitive Age division. This recognition also requires the consensus of the YAGP jury panel, recognizing a dancer “has exceeded all other dancers in their age division in both the Classical Ballet and Contemporary/Open Dance categories.” Alexis consistently placed in the highest levels at YAGP, where she garnered several Finalist and Ensemble awards. At 16, she joined Joffrey Ballet’s Training Program under Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik. She performed in various roles such as Chopin, White Russian, Paquita, Gerald Arpino’s Viva La Valdi, and the lead role in Bay Breeze. In 2010, Alexis suffered a foot injury that required surgery. She returned to Sherry Moray, who helped with her rehabilitation. Alexis joined Ballet Austin II in 2013, performing in Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Firebird, and Argelina Pas De Deux. From 2014-2016, Alexis was a company member with Nevada Ballet Theatre. She performed the lead in James Canfield’s Nutcracker and other works, including Balanchine’s Serenade, and Who Cares and collaborated performances with Cirque Du Soleil. While in Nevada, Alexis became certified in classical Pilates under Elena Bartley. After a long and painful decision to stop dancing due to her foot injury, Alexis returned to Chicago.
Alexis earned her B.A. in Psychology from Benedictine University in 2021 and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at Bradley University, studying Counseling in Clinical Mental Health. Combining her experience as a former Academy student and ballet professional, along with her psychology degree and counseling expertise, Alexis is committed to supporting the development of the next generation of our Academy students in mind, body, and spirit. Alexis teaches all levels of ballet, from our littlest dancers in our foundational Ballet 1 class to our senior-level Conservatory classes, and is also in charge of our Lower Theatre Conservatory Program.
Lindsay Pekny
Academy Principal
Jazz, Tap & Ballet Faculty
Lindsay Pekny is a native of Houston, Texas, and began her performing career at the age of 4 in the national revival of Jesus Christ Superstar under dance captain Patsy Swayze. At the age of 9, she was accepted for year-round study at the Houston Ballet Academy, under principals Claire Duncan and Rosemary Miles, and was honored to perform in the inaugural run of Ben Stevenson’s Nutcracker. In addition to her ballet and modern studies at the Academy, she continued to pursue her interest in tap and jazz, attending workshops with Sam Weber and Ben Vereen and was one of only 6 dancers chosen from that workshop to perform with Mr. Vereen while he was in Houston.
​
Lindsay’s family relocated to Los Angeles when she began high school, where her focus shifted to contemporary dance as she attended classes at The Edge. Ballet was still a large part of her training and a particular highlight for her was dancing the role of the Sapphire Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, as staged by Pat Farmer for the Pacific Dance Company and the Pacific Foundation for the Performing Arts. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Southern California and spent 3 years as one of the world-famous USC Song Leaders. During that time, Lindsay choreographed for the squad and performed regularly on national television and around the world, most notably in the Monday Night Football opening theme with Hank Williams, Jr., and dancing at the U.S. Pavilion at Expo ’98 in Lisbon, Portugal.
​
Unable to pursue a performing career after suffering knee and foot injuries, Lindsay welcomed the opportunity to hone her teaching and choreographic skills, as well as start a family. Drawing on her collegiate background and previous work in orthopaedic research, she infuses her classes with information about anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and injury prevention/rehabilitation. She enjoys working with dancers of all ages, skill levels and interests, and prides herself on developing each individual to their fullest desired potential. She currently teaches ballet, tap, jazz, poms, and stretch and strengthen classes. Lindsay has been delighted to call The Academy of Dance Arts home since 2009 and considers it a true privilege to work alongside Ms. Sherry Moray and her accomplished faculty. In addition to her work at the Academy, Lindsay is a registered Music Together teacher and Dailey Method instructor.
Jamie Salas
Tap Master Instructor
A native from San Antonio, Texas, Jamie grew up performing all genres of dance and quickly developed a love of rhythm tap. She was exposed to the technique early on while training with Nicholas Young at TJ's Dance Factory and Barbara Phillips as a member of the critically acclaimed Rhythm and Percussion in Motion Youth Ensemble. While dancing with R.P.M, she was lucky to work and learn from tap masters Acia Gray, Lane Alexander, and Jason Janas to name a few, and continued her studies with Tony Coppola while at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. After earning her BFA in Dance from UNLV Jamie moved to Chicago to train as a scholarship student with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, where she met and studied with Chicago Tap Theatre artistic director Mark Yonally. She could never put all her focus on one style of dance for too long before becoming intrigued with the challenge of learning more from another great opportunity. Since moving to Chicago, Jamie performed professionally as a member with Inaside Chicago Dance, Chicago Tap Theatre, Esoteric Dance Project, and Dance in the Parks and performed independently in Dance Chicago, Chicago Freelance Dance, and Thodos New Dances performances. Her choreography was featured at the historic Chicago Theater by Inaside Chicago Dance and presented at several showcases such as Dance Chance, Dance Chance: Redux and Dance Chicago. When Jamie is not dancing, teaching, or choreographing she can be found at the barre studio. She has taught Pure Barre since 2013 and is currently the General Manager of Pure Barre Willowbrook. Always eager to continue learning, she recently became certified in Progressive Ballet Technique. Jamie has enjoyed teaching students from all over Chicagoland for over a decade and is thrilled to continue to share her love and knowledge of tap dance with the eager students at ADA!
Irina Starovoitova
Ballet & Character Master Instructor
Irina Starovoitova is an achieved professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She graduated from the Belarusian State Choreography College, one of the few ballet schools in the world that has preserved and follows The Vaganova Method - a famous ballet technique and training system.
​
As a lead dancer at the Belarusian State Dance Company Irina worked with the world-renowned choreographer Valentine Elizariev, the head of the ballet troupe of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus.
​
Irina also teaches members of the United States Rhythmic Gymnastics National and Olympic teams.
-
Winner Youth America Grand Prix "Outstanding Teacher" 2012, 2017, 2020
Diana Stetsura
Ballet Master Instructor
Diana Stetsura trained at Russia’s Perm Ballet School under Professor Ludmila Saharova. After graduating with honors, she was accepted as a soloist into the Kremlin Ballet Theatre in Moscow where she was coached by the world-class ballerina, Ekaterina Maximova. While dancing in the Kremlin Ballet, Diana was invited to represent the company in Maya Plisetskaya’s gala at the Bolshoi Theatre. Ms. Stetsura was a principal dancer at the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, Columbia Classical Ballet in South Carolina, and also danced as a soloist with Ballet Internationale in Indianapolis, where she was coached by Irina Kopakova, ABT’s Ballet Mistress. Diana was a Principal dancer for the Milwaukee Ballet for seven years.
​
Ms. Stetsura has performed lead roles in productions such as Don Quixote, Carmen, La Sylphide, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Allegro Brillante, Agon, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadere, Raymonda, Scheherazade, Esmerelda, Cinderella, and Le Corsaire among others. She earned the prestigious Diaghilev Prize at the first international competition in Moldavia. She also received the highest award in the country of Belarus for the best stage debut for her performance of the title role in Giselle. She also appeared in three films in Belarus and while dancing with the company on Belorussian television. Diana earned second place at the prestigious ballet competition, “Arabesque” for her contemporary piece, which was created for her by the same choreographer who choreographed all of the dancing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
​
Ms. Stetsura was the lead dancer in Samson et Delila at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, performing a role that was created for her by world-renowned choreographer, Ken Von Heidecke. He also created the title role in Cinderella for her, which she performed with the Chicago Festival Ballet. She also had the privilege of a lifetime to work with the Prima Ballerina Assoulta, Maria Tallcheif, on these roles. While performing with the Milwaukee Ballet, Ms. Stetsura danced leading roles such as Odette in Michael Pink’s Swan Lake, Marie, Snow Queen and Arabian in The Nutcracker, Gertrude in Hamlet, Dulcinea in Don Quixote, Lilac Fairy, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Titania and Helena in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Raymonda, Agon, Esmeralda, and Fleur des Leis in Esmeralda. She also worked with choreographers, such as Val Caniparoli, Stephen Mills, Bruce Wells, Kathryn Posin, and Margo Sappingon, who created a piece for Ms. Stetsura in her world-premiere ballet, Common People, a project started by William Shatner.
Diana was a three-time participant in the International Gala, “The Evening of Stars”, in Denver, Colorado. She shared the stage with stars from English National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, and many others. Diana performed many leading roles around the world, in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Spain, China, Japan, Ireland, France, Poland, Taiwan, Canada, Ukraine, and others. She has made many guest appearances in both teaching and dancing, all over the United States. Since she moved to Chicago, after giving birth to a baby girl, she became a principal dancer with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Diana is also a principal guest artist for Chicago Festival Ballet, where she appeared on two major TV stations in Chicago dancing the lead in Swan Lake. She also teaches at the world-renowned Chicago Festival Ballet, which Maria Tallchief helped found. She is a master instructor for their prestigious, multiple award-winning Academy of Dance Arts. She is a lead ballet teacher on the faculty of the world-class A&A Ballet of Chicago. She is also a guest teacher for the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet of Michigan. Recently Diana was in a short film which placed her name in the IMDb. Diana is also a judge on the prestigious International Ballet Competition WBAC-Grand Prix. Two years ago Diana started to work privately with many of her students in preparation for the ballet competitions. Her students have already placed in first second and third places as well as in the top 12 in two major competitions, YAGP and WBAC.
In addition to her performance and teaching accomplishments, Diana is very proud of having earned her law degree from Kuban State University in Russia.
Carrie Nicastro-Ruiz
Modern & Contemporary Master Instructor
Carrie Nicastro Ruiz, originally from Northbrook, IL, received her initial training under Cheri Rose, studying the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. Carrie continued her education at the University of Iowa and graduated with honors in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in both Dance and Psychology. After graduation, Carrie moved back to Chicago to accept a Company position with Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, while also accepting a full scholarship to train at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, under the tutelage of Claire Bataille. After dancing with SPDW, Carrie participated in the work/study program at Visceral Dance Center and continued on to hold positions with Hedwig Dances, Thodos Dance Chicago, Giordano II, LeveL Dance, and Hanna Brictson and Dancers. Carrie has also enjoyed dancing as a freelance artist and has had the honor of performing numerous times in Dance For Life, Thodos Dance Chicago New Dances, Dance Chicago, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Danceworks Chicago’s Dance Chance, Carnival Choreographer’s Ball Chicago, and for many independent choreographers including Autumn Eckman, Becca Lemme, Lizzie Mackenzie, Jessica Miller-Tomlinson, and her husband, Ricky Ruiz. Additionally, Carrie is featured in the New York Times Bestseller, “Dancers Among Us” by Jordan Matter Photography. Carrie still performs when she can and is extremely grateful for every opportunity she has received in the Chicago dance community, and is especially grateful to Claire Bataille, Joanna Rosenthal, and Nick Pupillo for opening the door to her professional career.
Cyx Wynne
Hip Hop Master Instructor
Cyx started his professional career with Dance2xs International in Chicago in 2003. In 2007, he along with three friends founded the Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance better known as CODA. In 2009 Cyx joined Hip Hop Connxion and in 2011 was named director of the Chicago branch. Cyx has performed on the Soul Train Music Awards, The Grammys, The American Music Awards, the MTV music awards, and the VMAs. Cyx has danced background for Syleena Johnson, B2K, Marques Houston, Missy Elliott, Usher, and Omarion. Cyx has also choreographed and performed in China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, England, and Austria along with a multitude of cities in the U.S.
Penny Bovelli
Creative Dance & Tap Faculty
Penny Bovelli has been involved in all aspects of dance for over 40 years. She was the Founder and Owner of The Dance Centre in Lombard, IL which was in operation for 34 years. Her dance programs included classes, recitals, and competitive performance opportunities for ages 2-adult. Penny has taught tap, jazz, and ballet, but her passion is teaching the youngest of dancers as they learn to explore the joy of dance and creative movement. Her students have received scholarships to attend the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and The Chicago Academy of the Arts, received top honors at various competitions, danced in college programs, NBA dance teams, and for professional dance companies, such as Luna Negra. Penny has studied with Lou Conte, Joel Hall, Lane Alexander, Bruce Stegmann, Birute Barodicaite, Kirby Reed, and Claire Bataille, as well as the Chicago Human Rhythm Project. She has choreographed musicals for community theater and has judged “Miss Windy City” and “Chicago’s Little Miss” pageants. Penny also served on the Board of Directors for Chicago Tap Theatre for seven years and continues to be a guest teacher at Iowa State University.
Elizabeth Knight
Ballet Instructor
Elizabeth Knight is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She trained at
Milwaukee Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy, San Francisco Ballet
School, Pennsylvania Ballet School, Princeton Ballet School, the School of American Ballet, and Steps on Broadway, all on scholarship, as well as with her coach, Yves de Bouteiller. Ms. Knight was trained by renowned and diverse instructors, including Margaret McLaughlin, Clara Cravey, Lola de Avila, Gloria Govrin, Jeffrey Lyons, Suki Schorer, Stanley Williams, Nancy Bielski, David Howard, and Willy Burmann. As a high school senior, Ms. Knight was one of six ballet dancers chosen nationwide to be a National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts awardee. Ms. Knight also participated in the Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, the U.S. International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and was a
finalist in The Second Japan International Ballet and Modern Dance
Competition in Nagoya, Japan. Ms. Knight has danced with Milwaukee Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Dance As Ever (NYC), Chicago Festival Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Alma Dance, Ballet Legere, Elements Contemporary Ballet, Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, and Dallas Opera. Her repertoire includes leading roles in Nutcracker, Cinderella, Esmeralda, Grand Pas Classique, and Swan Lake, as well as roles in Stars and Stripes, The Four Temperaments, Serenade, Billy the Kid, Where the Wild Things Are, Carmina Burana, and the operas Aida, Samson and Delilah, and Carmen. Ms. Knight previously taught for VH Dance Center, Salt Creek Ballet School, and Hinsdale Dance Center. She also has her Master’s in Teaching from National-Louis University and was previously an elementary school teacher and elementary school dance teacher for Chicago Public Schools. Ms. Knight lives with her
husband and two young children in Naperville. She is looking forward to
sharing her knowledge, experience, and love of ballet with the students of ADA!
Jeanne O'Connell
Adult Ballet & Musical Theatre Instructor
As a teacher, choreographer, and performer Jeanne O'Connell has worked in all areas of entertainment and has over 30 years of experience. She has performed in Broadway shows, national touring companies, television shows, and Disneyland. Ms. O'Connell has trained have gone on to dance professionally in shows from Broadway to Ballet companies to cruise ships and beyond. She has choreographed for professional theatres, television shows, dance companies, and more.
Dancing since a young child at her mother's dance studio, she moved to Los Angeles at age 18 to begin her professional career. Training with teachers from Los Angeles and New York City prepared her for the vigorous career ahead. Ms. O’Connell performed in the Broadway and National Touring Companies of 42nd Street, and other AEA productions such as Singing in the Rain, Sweet Charity, Joseph, Music Man, and Me and My Girl. She has also been seen in a variety of shows at Disneyland as a featured performer on the Videopolis Stage. Along the way, Jeanne worked as a magician’s assistant for Mark and Greg Wilson, appeared on various television shows with guest dance spots, and has appeared in national commercials.
Jeanne's choreography/directing credits include a number of shows for professional equity theatre, community theatre, and high school. Television shows such as General Hospital and Saved by the Bell, videos for production companies including Wishheart Productions and Luminate Productions, and dance companies such as Mid Columbia Regional Ballet and The Julie O’Connell Dancers.
Throughout her career, Jeanne has been an owner/director of several studios and has taught dancers of all ages. Her teaching always has an underlying theme of proper technique and placement, with an encouraging and nurturing approach that provides a positive and safe environment for her students. Her energy and enthusiasm is contagious which brings an element of fun and freshness to class. Most importantly, her commitment to each student helps to bring out the best in each person.
Louise Lalakea Alving
Academy Studio Manager
Louise Lalakea Alving, our Studio Manager, joined our faculty in 2020 after 9 years as an Academy parent. Her daughter Lauren Alving, ADA alumnus, was mentored by Sherry Moray starting at the age of 12 and is now training at Dutch National Ballet Academie in Amsterdam. Louise brings a unique skillset combining over 20 years of corporate recruiting, 10+ years of dance training, along with years as an ADA "dance mom" participating in our Alliance and ballet competitions including the YAGP NYC Finals. She has traveled with Lauren as she attended ballet intensives and auditions throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. She has first-hand knowledge of our programs and private training. In addition, she has developed unique partnerships with Allegro Dance Boutique, The Pointe Shop, Dr. Carrie Skony, Eleve Dancewear, which have enabled our studio to bring the best dance professionals, services, and products to our students. A few fun facts: Louise trained and performed with the Hawaii Ballet Theatre for Youth in A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Nutcracker, and Stars & Stripes. She also performed the role of Clara in a Hawaii production of The Nutcracker in 1980, along with soloists from The San Fransico Ballet, under the direction of Dame Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski hired as choreographer/directors.
Angela Lutz
Ballet Instructor
Originally from Wheaton, IL, Angela Lutz trained at the Academy of Dance Arts from age six to eighteen under the artistic director Sherry Moray. At The Academy, she performed in many original productions, including Pandora’s Box - “The Lesson” and La Boutique Fantastique, and competed annually in Youth America Grand Prix starting at age 13. Angela graduated with a dual degree in marketing and dance from Mercyhurst University, where she was awarded dance and academic scholarships. She performed with the Mercyhurst Dancers in various new works and classical repertoire, including Symphonie Italienne and Giselle, and has worked with guest choreographer Steve Rooks. Due to a significant hip injury and subsequent surgery, she decided not to pursue dance professionally and redirected her focus toward teaching and choreography. Through her dance experiences, Angela has gained vast knowledge about the body from extensive physical
therapy and dance studies. With a passion for sharing her understanding of injury prevention and conditioning, Angela is eager to help the next generation of dancers avoid injury as they grow and train. In addition to teaching, she has choreographed 4 group pieces at Mercyhurst University and is currently developing solos for some of our YAGP dancers. Angela is thrilled to be a part of the ADA faculty and is eager to share her knowledge and creativity with our Academy students!
Rachel Moran
Jazz Instructor
Rachel Moran grew up dancing and training at The Academy of Dance Arts, where she was part of the Alliance Competition Team for 13 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in communications from Butler University. While there, Rachel earned a spot on the BU Dance Team and was captain for 2 of the four years. After graduating, in addition to a Tech recruiting job, she began teaching at Tenacity Dance Company and coaching middle school and high school dance teams in Avon, Indiana. She is excited to join the staff at the Academy, where she will be teaching Jazz and coming full circle from student to mentoring our Mini Elite Jazz Team for the 2022/2023 season.
Ethan Kirschbaum
Guest Faculty - Modern Dance
Ethan Kirschbaum, originally from Oakland, CA, began his dance career as an apprentice with the Savage Jazz Dance Company while still in high school. Travelling to New York City to attend the Ailey School/Fordham University B.F.A. program, Ethan graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors in dance performance. While in his junior year, he joined Hubbard Street 2, dancing and teaching workshops around the globe while concurrently completing his degree. He has performed with the Santa Fe Opera, and danced internationally including Canada, Mexico, Holland, Germany, Israel, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, and Russia. In 2011 Ethan moved to Saarbrücken, Germany to dance with Donlon Dance Company at the Saarländisches Staatstheater under the direction of Marguerite Donlon. Until its abrupt closure, he was on faculty at the Lou Conte Dance Studio since 2012 and was recently named the Scholarship Mentor, delegating scholarships to promising pre-professional and early career artists. After completing five seasons with River North Dance Chicago, Ethan is certified by the Ailey School to teach all levels of the Horton Technique and is a freelance artist performing at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, choreographing locally, and teaching nationally as a guest to dance studios and university programs alike. Ethan is proud to be the founder and director of the Claire Bataille Legacy Program, continuing to provide a home for talented and passionate pre-professional dancers.
Yumelia Garcia
Guest Faculty - Ballet
Yumelia Garcia was born in Caracas, Venezuela, beginning her professional ballet training at the Escuela de Ballet Gustavo Franklin, Vaganova School. Upon graduation,Vicente Nebrada, invited Yumelia to join the National Ballet de Caracas at the age of 15, promoting her to soloist.
Ambitious with a strong desire to see the world of dance in the United States, Yumelia auditioned with Ohio Ballet, a neo-classical dance company, and was hired by Heinz Pohl. There she first experienced iconic contemporary choreographers Paul Taylor, Laura Dean and Lucinda Childs, but her desire to expand her classical ballet training soon thereafter led her to Milwaukee Ballet, with artistic director Basil Thompson. After dancing breathtaking performances in Jimmy
Gamonet’s Carmen, Garcia grew into a Milwaukee favorite and new artistic director, Simon Dow, promoted her to principal dancer. During her tenure with Milwaukee Ballet, eclectic choreographer Kathryn Posin created Scheherazade on Garcia. With critical acclaim she went
on to perform classical principal roles in Milwaukee as Kitri in Petipa’s Don Quixote, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Michael Pink’s Giselle, and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She was featured in leading roles of George Balanchine’s Apollo, The Men I
Love, Who Cares, Serenade, and The Four Temperaments, and worked with modern choreographers Alonzo King, David Parsons and Mark Godden.
Continuing her quest to grow, Garcia joined Ballet Florida in 2005 where she had the opportunity to work with Ben Stevenson who cast her as Cleopatra. She continued to expand her modern repertoire in works by Trey McIntyre, Lar Lubovitch and Val Caniparoli.
In 2009, Ms. Garcia was invited by Ashley Wheater to join Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. She hit the stage to critical success, most notably with her performance in Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella, staged by Wendy Somes of the Royal Ballet of London. Garcia’s portrayal of Cinderella was
featured in Pointe Magazine as one of the “Best 10 Performances of the Year 2010.” She received acclaim in principal roles, as Valencienne in Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow and the Sugar Plum Fairy in Gerald Arpino’s Nutcracker. Garcia’s repertoire includes leading roles in
pieces by choreographers Christopher Wheeldon, Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, Wayne McGregor, Robert Joffrey and Twyla Tharp. The Chicago Tribune included her with the best dancers of 2010, and Chicago Magazine named her as one of the 50 most beautiful people in 2011.
At the close of Joffrey’s 2014 season, Garcia formally retired from Joffrey Ballet, and continued to guest perform from Florida to Alaska,
dancing principally the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, and Spartacus. In 2015, Garcia was included in the Chicago Sun-Times best performances in Gordon Pierce Schmidt’s Day of the
Gypsy, a ballet created by Schmidt for Yumelia that premiered at the Harris Theater. She reunited with Kathryn Posin in New York in a commissioned piece with Meredith Monk for the Harkness Dance Festival in Manhattan.
Garcia returned to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to complete a bachelor's degree in Communication, graduating with honors in 2017. After graduation, Garcia utilized her degree and bi-lingual skills by joining Futura Language Professionals, planning, organizing, and
implementing Spanish curriculum for elementary students, integrating Latin and American cultures throughout the Milwaukee area.
She continues to remain in touch with the world of dance, bringing an invaluable eye and a lifetime of experience by teaching, coaching and staging ballets. In 2018 Garcia was invited by Victoria Morgan, artistic director of Cincinnati Ballet to assist in staging her Nutcracker.
Blessed with a critical eye for form, technique and strength, her teaching, training and coaching provides students and professionals with the beauty, style, and confidence that it takes for the pursuit of excellence.
Garcia's extensive teaching repertoire includes Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago, Cincinnati Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Joffrey Texas, Paris Ballet Florida, Milwaukee Ballet School, Midland Festival Ballet International Ballet School. Garcia has served as part of the selective faculty for Regional Dance America and a judge in the American Ballet Competition. She teaches master classes by request across the U.S.
Expanding her teaching and coaching skills she is now a certified ACE Personal Trainer and Barre Workout Fitness Instructor, a ballet-focused fitness regimen. She explores new ways to expand her insight for dance and fitness, tailoring her barre workout classes to all student levels
and ages. She educates and trains students at Danceworks Milwaukee, Invivo Wellness, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and teaches master classes for the Department of Dance at UWM. Her devotion to dance and fitness has created a demand for her as a trainer, coach and
instructor.
Melissa Abel
Guest Faculty - Ballet
Melissa started her ballet training in Des Moines, Iowa, and she finished her ballet training in Munich, Germany. She danced professionally for over ten years throughout Europe for the Finnish National Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, Ballet du Capitole, and the Polish National Ballet. Melissa rose through the ranks with the Polish National Ballet and finished her dancing career as a First Soloist with the company in 2023. She has danced principal and soloist roles in Swan Lake (Odile), Dracula, Don Quixote (Kitri), The Nutcracker (Sugarplum), Le Corsaire (Gulnare), Mayerling, Infra, The Lady of the Camellias, and more.
Ashlie Andersen
Guest Faculty
Ashlie Andersen, a Chicago native, received her early dance training from the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park under the tutelage of Stephanie Clemens and Valeri Dolgallo. Ashlie graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BFA in dance performance and formed a Contract Major in Management in the Arts. In addition to performing, she has taught around the Chicagoland area for nearly 15 years and her choreography has been seen on ABC Channel 7, Dance Chicago, MOMENTA, at Freespace Dance Showcase, the Fox Valley Dance Festival, and other local Chicagoland events. Ashlie has been the choreographer for productions of West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, Drowsy Chaperone, and Fiddler on the Roof to name a few. Ashlie was the owner and Artistic Director of State Street Dance Studio where she directed full-length ballets and other productions. She has had the pleasure to train, coach, and choreograph solos for dancers who have competed and placed regionally in the Youth America Grand Prix and is an award-winning choreographer. Mrs. Andersen has led programs as the Director of Ballet and Director of Dance at local studios, after stepping away as a studio owner. She has been a guest instructor and taught master classes at many studios in the Chicago suburbs including
Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts, The Academy of Dance Arts, and SoleUnique Dance Complex to name a few. Most recently she has had the opportunity to be an adjunct professor for dance at North Central College in Naperville, IL.
Ashlie Andersen is currently the Artistic Director for Fox Valley Ballet, a non-profit community ballet company, whose mission is to bring the joy and artistry of professional dance to the Fox Valley region and Chicagoland area as well as provide performance opportunities to young artists, scholarships in dance to those in need, and offering outreach opportunities to the community. Since starting the Fox Valley Ballet Scholarship Fund in 2018, she has awarded nearly $20,000 in scholarship awards to dancers in the community.
Ms. Ashlie Andersen is thrilled to be on faculty at The Academy of Dance Arts this summer and looks forward to training some very talented young dancers.
Yumi Kanazawa
Guest Faculty
Ms. Kanazawa was born in Tokyo, Japan. She began her training at the Lauridsen Ballet Centre in Torrance, California under Diane Lauridsen. After competing in the Prix de Lausanne in 2013, Ms. Kanazawa went on to study at the San Francisco Ballet School under the direction of Patrick Armand. She joined the San Francisco Ballet Trainee program in 2015. During her time in the San Francisco Ballet School and Trainee Program, she performed in many ballets both with the school and with the main company.
Since joining the Joffrey Ballet in 2016, Ms. Kanazawa has performed in numerous ballets and contemporary works. Some include George Balanchine’s Serenade (Russian Girl); Yuri Possokov’s Anna Karenina (Kitty) and Don Quixote (Kitri’s Friends, Cupid); Christopher Wheeldon’s Commedia and Nutcracker (Marie); Wayne McGregor’s Infra; Cathy Marston’s Jane Eyre (Young Jane, Adele); Liam Scarlett’s Vespertine; Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations and Suite Saint-Saëns (fast pas); Nicolas Blanc’s Beyond the Shore and Under the Tree’s Voices.
Ashley Piper
Guest Faculty
Ashley Piper recently returned to Chicagoland after dancing professionally for 22 years. She got her start in musical theater, performing in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ with Donny Osmond at the Chicago Theatre at the age of 12. She then received her formal ballet training and pre-professional performance experience from Master instructor and choreographer, Sherry Moray-Marsala, in the early years of the Chicago Festival Ballet. At age seventeen, she joined the Alabama Ballet under the direction of Wes Chapman and performed leading roles in Balanchine’s Divertimento #15, Allegro Brilliante, and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux as well as original works by resident choreographer Roger Van Fleteren. She joined Ballet Austin in 2002, where she danced until 2020. In 18 seasons at Ballet Austin, she danced the principal roles of Giselle, Odette/Odile, Aurora, Juliet, La Sylphide, Swanhilda, Cinderella, Kitri, The Sugar Plum Fairy, Wendy in Paul Vasterling’s Peter Pan, and Ophelia in Stephen Mills’ famed Hamlet. She originated many roles in works choreographed by director Stephen Mills including his internationally acclaimed Light: The Holocaust and Humanity Project, The Magic Flute, and as Snow White in Grimms Tales, which had a full-page feature in The Wall Street Journal in the Spring of 2019. She also had the honor of dancing the principal pas de deux in George Balanchine’s Agon, Pontus Lidberg’s Stream, and Christopher Wheeldon’s Ghosts, and enjoyed featured roles in contemporary works by Twyla Tharp, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Amy Siewert, Tawn Dao, and Nicolo Fonte. She toured with Ballet Austin across the U.S., Italy, Slovenia, Israel, and China and made guest appearances with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Balanchine’s Episodes at the Kennedy Center, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater’s haunting Camille Claudel at The Joyce in New York, and in A Celebration of Lar Lubovich at the Harris Theater in Chicago in 2019 where she danced the principal pas de deux in Lubovich’s sweeping Dvorak Serenade.
Ashley has been teaching dance and movement for over 25 years and has worked with students from the Alabama Ballet School, Birmingham Dance Theatre, and Ballet Austin II. She was on faculty with the Ballet Austin Academy for 10 years, staging and coaching works for the Advanced Division students and the Butler Fellowship trainees. She was on faculty at American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensives from 2018-2022 and taught Pilates conditioning and Yoga for dancers. She has a degree in Dance and Humanities from St Edward's University in Austin, TX, which she pursued while dancing full-time. She has been a certified Yoga Instructor for over 10 years and has specialization in Prenatal, Ayurveda, and Restorative. After retiring from the stage in 2020, she completed the Balanced Body Comprehensive Pilates Instructor training and taught Pilates at Ballet Austin’s state of the art Pilates Center for 2 years, leading specialized classes for dancers, clients with Osteoporosis, and breast cancer survivors through the ‘Pink Pilates’ program. She especially loves working 1 on 1 with Pilates clients and has a lovely new home studio in Glen Ellyn where she currently lives with her husband, and their two young children. Ashley is delighted to be back home in the Chicago area and honored to be part of the Academy of Dance Arts faculty.
Alexei Moskalenko
Guest Faculty
For 24 years, Alexei Moskalenko has been working with the world’s largest Ballet Competition for students, Youth America Grand Prix, as a Judge, Master teacher, NY Rehearsals Director, Tour Director, US Operations Director and Associate Artistic Director. Each year, Mr. Moskalenko judges, gives master classes, guides and evaluates over 7,000 students from around the world who compete in 13 countries and 32 US cities.
​
Mr. Moskalenko is a graduate of The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Moscow, Russia and furthered his training at the same school (for Vaganova Method teaching degree.) His teachers were Maxim Martirosian and Alexander Bondarenko. He also studied and worked with one of the greatest teachers of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Alexander Prokofiev.
Before moving to the United States, Mr. Moskalenko danced and toured around the world with Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich and also danced with Alexander Prokofiev’s Moscow Ballet. In the US, after dancing for 10 years as principal dancer, he devoted himself to teaching, coaching, and mentoring students.
​
Mr. Moskalenko has judged, coached, choreographed, and taught master classes across the US, and in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Peru, Columbia, Mexico, Brazil, Romania, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Estonia and Argentina. He served as Director of Indiana Ballet Conservatory’s Pre-Professional Program and was Founder/Artistic Director of American School of Russian Ballet.
​
Mr. Moskalenko’s students have participated and won numerous awards in the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions such as Moscow IBC (gold medal), Varna and Jackson IBC (silver medals), YAGP (numerous placements) and many other Ballet competitions. Many of his students have joined professional ballet companies, prestigious ballet schools and summer programs, and dance programs at reputable universities.