Our team.
Ms. Rachael | Owner & Lead Instructor
Ms. Rachael is a dance professional and educator from Chicago, Illinois who has been teaching dance in the Berwyn community for 7 years. Rachael began her dance journey at the age of 3 and then began to dance competitively across the US. Rachael participated in multiple touring productions of Moscow’s Great Russian Nutcracker ballet. Her choreography has been featured at ACDA Central Dance conference, Metro Chicago, Six Flags Great America, and Ritz Carlton Chicago. Rachael received a degree in Theatre & Dance from Millikin University and began a professional dance career in Chicago. Rachael received a nomination for the Chicago Reader “Best Choreographer of 2023” in the Arts & Culture category in 2023. Rachael has taught for Fairytale Ballet Chicago & Evanston, Marba Dance Academy, The Miracle Center, Berwyn Public Schools, & Decatur Parks Department. Ms. Rachael is passionate about helping her students grow into well rounded individuals and performers.
Tiana Thompson | Ballet Instructor
Tiana Thompson hails from Tokyo, Japan, graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a B.A. in Dance and English and a minor in African Studies and the African Diaspora. Tiana has performed works by notable choreographers Alysia L. Johnson, Connie Shiau, Sarah Cullen Fuller, Amy Wilkinson, and Sandra Kaufmann. Throughout her career in Chicago, she has performed with Alluvion Dance Chicago, and has presented works with Alluvion Dance Chicago and Simantikos Summer Chi Dance Fest.
Additionally, Tiana has collaborated with various filmmakers in the Chicago community to produce dance films. She has worked with students from Columbia College Chicago on the intersectional feminist film “Intertwined” as well as with students from Flashpoint Chicago on the film, “The Dance.” She has been featured in Iris Temple’s “Pretty Love” music video and most recently on Vasil Garvanliev’s music video for “Rhythm.” Tiana is a current company member with Identity Performing Arts, directed by Ginny Ching-Yin. An artist at heart with a focus on social justice, Tiana is excited to continue her journey as a performer and to foster collaborative relationships.
Vanessa Cortez | Reception, Enrollment Coordinator
Chicago raised, Ms. Vanessa grew up in the communities learning dance styles such as hip-hop, folklórico, and danza de los cocheros. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, and running.
Michaela Williams | Jazz & Lyrical Instructor
Michaela Williams has been teaching dance for the past 6 years across the Midwest. She studied Musical Theatre and Dance at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, where she taught at the local dance studio. After graduation, she toured the Midwest with a traveling children's theatre company, then moved to Chicago where she's been teaching and performing ever since!