Dance Instructors

Raegan Milan

Dance Coordinator

Raegan has been dancing for over 30 years and teaching since 1998. She is well trained in ballet, lyrical, modern, pointe and her favorites, tap and jazz and still continues her training today. Raegan believes it is important to stay current in this ever changing industry. Over the years she has taught in many different studio environments from competition to recreational students. Raegan has a soft spot for park district dance programs since this is where she had started her dance training. She looks forward to working with all the great instructors and dancers at the Naperville Dance Academy as the Dance Academy Coordinator.

Lindsay Stein

Lead Dance Instructor

Lindsay started dancing when she was three years old and began teaching in 2007. She is trained in all styles of dance but her favorites are Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre & Poms. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Marketing/Advertising and a minor in Dance Choreography. She has taken many master classes over the years and is a former UDA All Star, Gus Giordano dancer, Hip Hop ConnXion leader, and Junior Luvabulls Choreographer. Lindsay has won many Special Judges awards from numerous dance competitions over the years and led our own Elan Dance Company to win Most Entertaining, Strong Teamwork and Best Choreography. Lindsay loves watching her dancers grow year after year and prides herself on creating a class environment where dancers feel confident & challenged while having fun! 

Lyndeia Clark

Dance Instructor

Lyndeia started dancing at the young age of 4 when she attended a hip hop class. She soon found her love for dance and hasn’t stopped since. Over the years Lyndeia has trained in multiple styles of dance including hip-hop, jazz, modern contemporary, and ballet. Lyndeia has been dancing with the Naperville Park District dance program since 2014 and has been with Elan Dance Company since 2022 and has danced on both the Red and Scarlet competitive teams. Since 2023, she has been growing her teacher assistant abilities in the Naperville Dance Academy program. She is a hard worker who is dedicated to this sport and is so excited to share her passion and skills with her students!

Miranda Colin

Dance Instructor

Miranda began dancing at the age of three through Aurora’s Steppin’ Out Dance Studio. After twelve years of training in tap and jazz, she continued dancing and performing with Waubonsie Valley High School’s show choirs and in the spring musicals. Upon attending Millikin University, she joined Physical Graffiti - her university’s hip-hop dance team - and began to study other styles such as ballet, modern, and musical theater at Millikin University which she graduated from with a B.M. in Commercial Music. Now she works as a freelance choreographer, dancer and dance instructor. She has been seen performing for Walt Disney World, Six Flags Great America, and local theatre companies. Her choreography for musicals and show choirs have been displayed in schools and theatre companies throughout the Midwest Region, and she received a Lou Award in 2019 for Best Choreography. Miranda is ecstatic to share her passion for dance with the Naperville Park District dance family, and hopes to inspire her students to aim for and achieve their highest potential.

Sami Foster

Dance Instructor

Sami has been dancing since the age of 3 and always had a natural love for dance. She started dancing recreationally and competitively for a local studio when she was 11 years old and is trained in a variety of styles; Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary being her specialties. Sami has won multiple scholarships at many of the competitions/conventions that she has attended and has performed at multiple halftime shows for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Sky, and Kane County Cougars. She began teaching and choreographing at age 16 at her home studio. Sami is currently studying Secondary Education and English at North Central College and is thrilled to be teaching at the Naperville Park District as well as choreographing for Elan Dance Company. Her goal is to create a positive, supportive, uplifting, and creative classroom where students can explore their love of dance. She is excited for all that she is going to create with her students!

Lindsey Lukas

Dance Instructor

Lindsey grew up dancing at the Naperville Park District and was part of the first season of Élan Dance Company under Melissa Sallée. She was honored to be a student choreographer in the 2010-11 season and teach at the Park District during the summer of 2011. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Lindsey furthered her dance education by training in a variety of styles and joining OPTIMA Dance Student Organization, where she choreographed numerous routines for college-aged students. In 2015, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in journalism/mass communication and moved to Rockford, Illinois where she began her career at Hughes Media while teaching ballet and jazz at Rockford Dance Company (RDC). During the 2019-20 season, she was part of RDC's Dance L.I.F.E. company under Mary Read. Now working remotely as the senior editor at Hughes Media, Lindsey is thrilled to return to her roots by teaching once again at the Naperville Park District. Her hope is to motivate her students and instill confidence in them the way Melissa Sallée originally did for her. She would also like to give a special shout-out to her husband, Mike, her son, Elliot, and her daughter, Isabelle, who inspire her daily.

Sammie Martin

Dance Instructor

Sammie is excited to be working at the Naperville Park District! Sammie has been dancing since she was six years old and has done a wide variety of dance styles. Her favorite dance styles include tap, hip-hop, ballet, and musical theater dance. She danced and interned for Project Dance Aurora's performance team for five years and was on Ultimate Dance’s award-winning performance team. She performed as a dancer in over 30 musicals at Christian Youth Theater (CYT). Sammie has been assisting and teaching dance classes with CYT since she was thirteen years old. She graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Public Relations. Sammie loves using her communication and dance skills to help children develop their talents and build their confidence! 

Ella Neben

Dance Instructor

Ella started dancing at Moves Dance Studio at the age of 9, and after quickly realizing her passion, started her competitive dance career. Over the years she has trained in a variety of styles, but some of her favorites include jazz, lyrical, pom, and contemporary. During her time competing with Moves, she has won many awards, and been featured in many productions. While competing with Moves she had the opportunity to travel with Heat Dance Convention's Pre-Professional Heat Force Company. She has been performing with the company since 2022. She is on Naperville Central High School's Varsity Dance Team, where she has won many competitions, and performed with the team at an array of school events. She has been teaching and assistant-teaching dance since 2019 and can't wait to start her journey teaching her passion to the next generation of Naperville Park District dancers!

Annemarie Peterson

Dance Instructor

Annemarie has been dancing and loving music since before she could walk. She began her training at the age of three; where she took classes at a local studio in Bolingbrook. She is trained in many styles including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, modern, contemporary/lyrical, musical theatre, and West African. She was a member of a competition dance team for six years and had the opportunity to perform at the Orange Bowl Halftime Show alongside the Goo Goo Dolls. From there she spent four years training at the Joffrey Ballet. Annemarie received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College Chicago in Dance with a minor in Photography.

Kristin Petrella

Dance Instructor

Kristin started dancing when she was 3 years old and it has been a part of her life ever since.  She trained and competed for local studios in a variety of styles including tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, and pom.  She attended Grand Valley State University where she was a member of the dance troupe for 4 years.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Grand Valley State University.  Kristin has been the assistant dance team coach at Plainfield East High School for the past 4 years and is excited to continue her journey teaching at Naperville Park District. 

 

Mallorie Pfaucht

Dance Instructor

Mallorie has had a natural love for music and dance since the day she could walk. She danced recreationally for 13 years and competitively for 8 years at Moves Dance Studio as well as competing, performing, and holding the position of captain for Wheaton Warrenville South's varsity dance team. Mallorie is currently enrolled at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a major in Integrative Biology and a minor in Fisheries & Wildlife Conservation. At UIUC, she is a part of the student-choreographed dance team "Illini 'n Motion" where she performs at Big10 sporting events throughout campus and at their yearly showcase. As fundraising chair, she also works each winter semester to raise funds for their team's local scholarship, providing dance education to children around the Champaign-Urbana area. She strongly believes that dance has the power to change lives and is very excited to share this passion with her students. 

Katie Sowa

Dance Instructor

Katie began dancing at the age of three and has followed her passion for dance since. From training in studios across the Chicagoland area, to being captain of her high school's dance team, and even her university's dance team, has performed and competed nationally, winning several national titles for routines she choreographed. Over the years, she has continued to choreograph for high school and college dance teams, including teaching private summer camps for schools and organizations. Katie expanded her dance repertoire by becoming a professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, teaching all ballroom styles for over 10 years. She loves to choreograph and her favorite styles across all genres of dance are jazz, hip hop, bachata, and foxtrot. Katie loves creating a positive and encouraging environment for students to express themselves creatively and fall in love with dance!

Lora Vodicka

Dance Instructor

Lora Vodicka started her dance journey at the age of 3 at Nanette’s DancEncounter where she studied ballet, tap, jazz & modern through high school. She is also a proud Summa Cum Laude graduate of Illinois State University with a B.S. in Theatre Education/Acting Performance. At ISU, Lora was a member of the Illinois State Dance Theatre and performed in, directed and choreographed multiple theatrical productions. After graduating Lora received her AFAA Group Fitness certification and also teaches group fitness classes for all ages. During this time Lora choreographed many High School and Community theatre productions. Lora is a member of Revolution’s Dance Studio Owner and has completed the DiscoverDance, Rhythm Works and Youth Protection Advocates in Dance training. Lora currently works at multiple suburban park districts and private studios teaching dance, tumble and theatre and choreographing competition pieces, musicals and events. With over 20 years of teaching experience Lora has developed strong classroom management skills, creative lesson plans and a true passion for education. Lora is very excited to share her knowledge of dance, theatre and fitness with the Naperville Park District.