Jay Fagan (Tap, Jazz) has been trained by the very best tap dancers in the business including Gregory Hines, Henry LaTang, Sam Weber and Savion Glover, to name a few. He is a nationally and internationally recognized tap Master, professional dance choreographer, and former co-director of Especially Tap Chicago (ETC). Jay has performed all over the world, and most recently performed with his sister Connie Fagan in Sibling Rivalry. He spent the 2008-2009 academic year on staff at Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK teaching tap, jazz, and musical theater.  Most recently, taught Master Tap classes and performed in Glasgow, Scotland. 

Teanna Zarro (Ballet) received her ballet training from The Joffrey Ballet School, the Meredith Baylis American Dance Institute, and The Pennsylvania Ballet.  She was a Company member of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago from 1998 through 2002.   

Katy Wenger (Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Jr. HipHop) is a graduate of Oklahoma City University, with a Bachelor of Science American Dance Pedagogy degree. She has been a Dance Coach for the Durant Dance Team and the Camp Timberline Sports & Mountain Adventure Camp; she has also enjoyed many responsibilities revolving around dance from producing dance shows, wardrobes, choreography, and teaching all levels of tap, ballet, and jazz at The School of Performing Arts, Naperville.   

Connie (Fagan) Sweeney (Jazz & Lyrical), a former member of performance Company Same Planet, Different World, former member of Rhythm ISS, an all-female tap ensemble, currently dances with Jay Fagan in Sibling Rivalry.  Additionally she is the Artistic Director of Footwork Dance Ensemble at our sister studio, Jo’s Footwork in Western Springs. 

Christa Rivera (Adult-only Jazz, Zumba, Hip Hop, Intro, Ballet)  ), a student of dance for over 20 years and a graduate of Columbia College with a minor in dance in ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and jazz. Her dance background now includes being certified to teach Zumba 

Aundrea (Dre) Parsons (Hip Hop) a graduate of Illinois State University, has been involved in HipHop dance for over five years both as performer, choreographer, and instructor. While at Illinois State University, she was a member of the Noir Dance Troupe, producing dance routines for the company.  She also works with Energy Productions doing DJ and Dance Entertainment.   

Lauren Vollinger (Intro, ballet, tap, jr. jazz) has been associated with DWS since 1999 as bothstudent and instructor.  She spent time with the Joffrey Ballet – Nutcracker for several seasons, has attended many dance workshops in ballet, jazz and tap. Currently she is attending DePaul University and is on the DePaul Blue Demons Dance Team. 

Amanda Freebeck (Ballet, Jr. Jazz) has been teaching and developing dance curriculums for preschool dance for the past several years in the La Grange area. She also brings the studio a dance background in tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and pointe, in addition to having coached cheerleading and pomdance.  She’s a graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a Bachelor of Science,in Major: Human Development Family Studies with a concentration in Child/Adolescent Studies 

Alicia Fagan, (Modern, Pomdance, HipHop), has been associated with the studio for over 20 years, is a graduate of Columbia College, having majored in Fine Arts/Dance. In addition to her dance degree, she was a team member of Sandburg’s EAGLETTES and Orchesis.    

Jean Hartnett (Jazz), begins her 14th season with the Studio and celebrates over 25 years of dance studies which includes industrial, commercial, and choreography projects.   

Zoe Kohlhagen (Combo, Musical Theater, Junior Jazz, HipHop, Adult HipHop), has a Bachelor of Arts-Musical Theatre from North Central College. She has trained in tap, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, and modern through North Central, Lou Conte Studio, American Dance Center, and La Danse Academy. 

Danielle DeCosmo (Intro-Combo II), is a 14 year student of dance and most recently completed her 2-year assistant instructor training in addition to attending various dance workshops in jazz, tap, and ballet.  She is also on the Marist HS Poms team.

Karen Harmon (Curin) (Ballet) has been a master teacher in the Chicago-land
area for the past 10 years. She is the co-director of the After School Matters Dance Ensemble whose mission is to provide Chicago teens with the opportunity to perform professional contemporary choreography in a touring repertory company. Karen's choreography has been presented at venues including Daley Plaza, Millennium Park and Soldier Field. Karen received her initial training with and was a member of the Salt Creek Ballet Company; her dance education continued at the University of Iowa. Following graduation Karen was a member of professional dance companies including, The Joel Hall Dancers, The 58 Group, and Thodos Dance Chicago with whom she toured nationally and internationally. Karen also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University.