W Dance Studio – New Lenox, IL

Lisa M. Wainwright

Also known to her students as Mrs. W, Lisa holds a BFA in modern dance from Western Michigan University and a MA in performing arts management from Columbia College Chicago.

She toured and performed with modern and ballet companies and musical theater productions during her performing years. She studied in New York, NY with the likes of Eric Hawkins, Martha Graham, Hines and Hatchet and Phil Black among others. She has been active within the Chicago dance and artistic community for the past ten years in administrative positions.

Desiree Mikols

Desiree started her early training at Diana School of Dance in Chicago and later became one of Diana’s teachers for the Chicago and Orland Park Studio. She attended Barat College where she studied Dance Pedagogy and danced with the Barat Repertory Dance Company.

From 1996 to 2000 Desiree danced with the Chicago Bulls Cheerleaders “The Luvabulls” and has traveled and performed worldwide. She has performed in many musical theater productions such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Chicago, Cats, King & I and Li’l Abner. Desiree is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop and continues to further her dance training/education at Lou Conte Dance Studio, Joel Hall Dance Center and dance conventions.

Monty Rezell

Monternez Rezell, better known as Monty, was raised on the Southside of Chicago. He began to find his passion for dance and entertaining at a young age. Brought up into a musical family including his mom and aunt who are both singers, it was no doubt that he would have a love for performing. Growing up he watched his favorite entertainer Michael Jackson, as well as James Brown and MC Hammer and taught himself how to move like those performers. Later Monternez began to teach himself different forms of street dance along with a group of friends from high school. The group would later be known as Stick and Move Dance Crew. He is now Co-Artistic Director of the company. With Stick and Move he has performed all over the US including OKC tap festival, STL tap festival, Dance Chicago, Eastern Illinois University, Ottawa, IL, Albion, MI, NBA Chicago Bulls, WNBA Chicago Sky, Toronto, Canada, L.A., New York, Miami and Orlando, FL.

As well as performing Monty also teaches and has been since the age of 18. He has been instructing authentic Hip Hop dance, Breaking, Popping and Locking and Street Funk classes and workshops getting his start by teaching with Jonathan St. Clair in the University of Hip Hop. Monty has a natural ability to teach, break down moves and choreograph for any level of students. His teaching experience includes Dance Millennium at University of Wisconsin in Madison, Soul 2 Sole Studio, Elite Dance Academy, South West School of Dance, W Dance studio, Latin Dance Expressions, After School Matters, Stick and Move Youth Company, Wheeling High school and Innovation Dance Company at Vaughan Dance Academy. .

Besides Stick and Move Monty is currently dancing with his new company Monternez Rezell’s Movement Revolution, also known as MRMR, which performs Hip-Hop, African, and Jazz. While attending Eastern Illinois University he started the only co-ed Hip-Hop dance company in the university’s history, Rhythm and X-tacy. Founded in 2003 Rhythm and X-tacy is still going strong today. He uses his love and passion for dance as a tool to encourage, motivate, and enlighten the world about the true positive aspects of Hip-Hop culture. "We must continue to uplift our culture to show the world true Hip-Hop beyond the stereotypes portrayed in mass media”.

Lisa Nowicki Baer

Lisa Baer is a graduate of the DePaul University Theatre School, formerly The Goodman School of Drama. Upon graduation she worked extensively in the Chicagoland area as an actress/dancer as well as on The Asolo Theatre’s National Tour of The Jungle Book. Lisa received her classical ballet training from Richard Ellis and Christine DuBoulay, former soloists with The Royal Ballet. Her Jazz training is from Chicago legend Joel Hall, and Lisa is formerly a company ensemble member of The Joel Hall Dancers.

Her unique abilities to blend both dance and theatre landed her at the doorstep of The Steppenwolf Theatre Company where she became the Co-Director of the Educational Outreach Department for seven years. Directing credits include “for colored girls…who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf…” which appeared on the Emmy Award winning television progam, A Stage of Our Own. She is thrilled to be working with the amazing students and teachers at W Dance!

Elizabeth Boba

Elizabeth has been dancing since the age of three, training in classical ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and acrobatics. She danced competitively for 10 years in an Elite Performance Company and has traveled around the United States performing, competing, and taking masters’ classes. She has been the Company Director of the W Performance Company since its foundation in 2008.

Elizabeth is a graduate from Lewis University, where she earned her B.A. in English and Secondary Education. She loves educating and working with students in both the dance studio and High School classroom alike.

Ashley Sewell

Miss Ashley has been dancing since the age of three. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, and lyrical. Ashley studied at Columbia College Chicago where she received a BFA in Dance Pedagogy on presidential scholarship.

Ashley has a passion for using dance in ministry and is currently the Director of Dance Ministries at Parkview Christian Church. She has performed and choreographed for churches throughout the Chicago area as well as multiple churches in Costa Rica. She has also had the opportunity to teach dance in various parts of Kenya.

Jessica O’Neal

Jessica O’Neal has been tap dancing for 24 years. She grew up in her family owned dance studio in New Jersey. As a young student, Jessica was part of the Art of Dance performing company. She then went on to perform in the Pro-Bowl half time show, The Nutcracker, various showcases for New York City choreographers, and demonstrate in a tap technique instructional video.

Jessica then moved to Chicago and was part of the all-female tap company, “Rhythm Iss…”. As part of the company, Jessica was a featured dancer in Dance Chicago, Chicago Tap All- Stars, and many other tap showcases. Jessica is very excited to be joining the W Dance faculty in the 2009–2010 season.

Justine Haw

Justine’s biography will be coming shortly.