Our Faculty & Staff

As our Academy grows, so does our need for professional instructors. If you teach any of the forms we offer or something new (yoga, pilates, ballroom, etc.), we are looking to expand.

Please send your resume to
EliteDanceAcademyIL@hotmail.com or mail to:
Elite Dance Academy
12109 West 159th Street
Homer Glen, IL 60491

Andrea Fenwick-Trench (A)

Andrea graduated with Honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.F.A. degree in Dance. Before attending college, Andrea graduated from The Youth Performing Arts High School in Louisville, Kentucky where she trained intensively in Modern, Ballet, and Jazz dance. Andrea has danced with Linda Lehovec & Dancers, Moyamo Dance Company, and Rebound Dance. She has taught throughout Illinois, Kentucky, and New York including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, French Woods Performing Arts Festival, School District 33-C, and Jefferson County Public Schools. Currently, Andrea specializes in teaching children from beginning to advanced classes in Modern and Creative Dance and is performing with Thread Meddle Dance Outfit, a professional Dance Company in Chicago.

Sarah Ford (S)

Sarah was the Co. Director of Xtreme Dance Force Jazz Division in 2007 and 2008. Currently she is the Co-director of Elevate Dance Company. Sarah has performed with numerous dance companies such as Midwest Dance Collective, Deeply Rooted Dance Productions and the Joel Hall Dancers. Miss Ford is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and a graduate from the Youth Performing Arts School. She received her training in jazz, ballet, lyrical, tap, modern, and hip-hop. Sarah has also attended Joel Hall Dance Center, Columbia College in Chicago, Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles. Sarah was a competitor for over ten years and has won at both regional and national levels, including numerous national overall awards and titles. She has worked with choreographers such as Donald Mckhayle, Joel Hall, Ellen Werksman, Paul Brown, Murray Phillips and Joseph Decker. Sarah was also a member of the Joseph Allen Decker Dance Company where she assisted Mr. Decker for two seasons and was an original cast member of "La Sparizione" which premiered in Los Angeles Ca. She is currently dancing with Inaside Chicago Dance.

Rhonda Moore (R)

Born and raised in Richmond, VA, began dancing at the age of six. Her dance training took place at Jessica Morgan School of Dance in Midlothian, VA. Rhonda’s teaching career started in 1996 and she has an extensive background in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Lyrical dance. She has a B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. Rhonda has been featured as a company member of Starr Foster Dance Project, Ground Zero Dance Company and D’Feet Tap Ensemble. She has performed for choreographers such as Doug Varone, David Dorfman, Scott Putman and various others. In May 2004, she received an Excellence in Choreography award for one of her Modern pieces which was also adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival. From 2005-2006, she was involved with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Rhonda has an extended amount of teaching experience including her positions as Lower School Dance Director of St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA, Dance Instructor/Choreography for Jessica Morgan School of Dance and JEMS Performing Company and her current positions as Dance Instructor/Choreography for Steppin’ Out Dance Studio and Artistic Director of A-Factor Dance Company in Aurora, IL.  

Jenny Donahue (J)

Jennifer holds her BFA in Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University. She began dancing at a young age under the instruction of Bonnie Ardelene. From there, she studied with the Milwaukee Ballet and was also accepted as a VIP for Dance Olympus. While at Northern, she studied with Randall Newsom and Judith Chitwood. She has danced with NDT in numerous performances such as Coppalia, Les Sylphide, Piquita, and The Nutcracker. She was also a member of SoFlo Ballet Company in South Florida. Since moving back, her most recent performances were with In Flight Dance Company and Free Space. Jennifer is now married and has a daughter, Ella Grace.

Melissa Schapiro (M)

Melissa Schapiro began her dance training when she was 3 years old with the American Dance Center. She danced in their annual Christmas ballet Hansel Gretel and in their dinner/dance show Holiday Fantasy. Melissa also performed at Dance Chicago while studying with the American Dance Center. She then furthered her education at Columbia College Chicago where she recently received her B.A. in Dance and a Minor in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management. While at Columbia, she studied under teachers Margi Cole, Darrel Jones, and Carrie Hansen to name a few and had the opportunity to take class from guest artists such as Urban Bush Women, Kathleen Hermesdorf, David Dorfman, and Susan Marshall. Currently, Melissa teaches at The Dance Company in Frankfort, IL and is very excited to be spreading her love for teaching at the Elite Dance Academy this year.

Jessica Wright (JW)

Jessica Wright graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University earning her BFA in Dance and Choreography. Since moving to Chicago in June of 2008, she has danced with Cindy Brandle Dance Company and Matter Dance. She has also presented her work at various locations throughout Chicago, including Hamlin Park Field House, Silverspace, and Life Force Arts Center. Jessica is currently in the process of training to receive her 200 hour certification with Yoga Alliance under the direction of Suddha Weixler at the Chicago Yoga Center. She currently dances with Dim Sum Dance and The Moving Architects in Chicago. She is very excited to be entering her first year of teaching at Elite.