La VERNE LEHMAN began her professional career at age eight and her teaching career at 15 – too many years to count. La Verne has choreographed innumerable shows, both professional and amateur, videos, competitions and commercials. She spent several years putting together a program that was designed to be integrated with an athlete’s training to better stretch and strengthen their bodies. She traveled and spoke at athletic seminars and had some articles published. She has worked with physically and emotionally challenged children and adults. She began “Lehman School of Dance, Inc” in 1976 at her original studio in Glencoe. Since moving to Northfield, she has devoted all of her time to expanding the studio to include all forms of dance, music and theatre, as well as her work on the Board for the Chicago National Dance Masters. Even though she is a certified master teacher, she continues to study dance and different teaching techniques.

VICKI GUTMANN spent her early years in dance and music studios and in theatres. She began studying all forms of dance, music and theatre at an early age, and was teaching classes and doing her own choreography in her teens. She earned her BFA in theatre and performing arts at Illinois Wesleyan. She taught music at St. Isaac Jogues in Niles, a performing arts program at Regina High School in Wilmette and was a member of “Whirlwind Productions”, which is a group sponsored by the Illinois Art Council that teaches performing arts to inner-city children. Vicki began teaching at the studio when it was first formed 30 years ago. She is currently continuing her studies in dance and working on her masters with the Chicago National Dance Association.

KAREN GRAY began working with La Verne when the studio was still in Glencoe. She danced with the Joel Hall dance company and is well qualified in Ballet, Jazz and Modern. Karen is also a certified fitness expert, who teaches all forms of exercise, including Yoga, and has put together a medically-approved program, which combines Yoga and specific exercise techniques that she calls “Fusion”.

JUDY SOLWAY is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, where she performed with the Concert Dance Company. She has been dancing all of her life and is trained in both the Cecchetti and Vagonova methods of Ballet. She has also studied Tap, Modern and Jazz dance. Judy adores children and has been teaching at our studio for over ten years!

JEANETTE AYLWARD has been teaching, choreographing and performing since she graduated from the University of Illinois. She is an expert teacher in all forms of Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern and Tap. She has been a valued member of our studio for five years

PATTY MARSDEN has 26 years of teaching experience. She has studied dance at Northeasters Illinois University, the Joel Hall Dance Center, Gus Giordano Dance Center and Lou Conte Studios. She was the Orchesis Director for St. Viator’s High School in Arlington Heights and a guest teacher for Niles North High School’s Orchesis group. She has taught at several private studios and park districts in the northwest suburbs and for District 211 Continuing Education in Palatine. She was the Artistic Director of the Mount Prospect Center for Tap & Jazz and Impulse Dance Ensemble performing troupe. Patty is also a member of the Chicago National Dance Association. She’s been a wonderful addition to our staff of talented teachers.

KIM SHEETS is a graduate of Columbia College. She has been teaching ballet, jazz, creative movement and modern dance for the past eight (8) years. She is a most energetic and enthusiastic teach. Her ballet technique is Cecchetti based; she studied tap with Jimmy Payne and has had various modern techniques. We’re all very happy to have Kim as a part of our staff.

Mezzo-soprano, SHANNON BARKER, is a California native, who has studied classical voice for over ten years. She received her undergraduate degree in Voice from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where she performed roles including the Baker’s Wife in Sonheim’s “Into The Woods” and Hansel in “Hansel and Gretel”. In 2005 she completed her Masters in Vocal Performance at Northwestern University, where she sang Zita in Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and Alma March in Adamo’s “Little Women”. Shannon Spent this past summer singing with the Grant Park Chorus at Millennium Park. She also enjoys yoga and, recently, finished a training course with Moksha Yoga Center of Chicago. We’re so lucky to have Shannon teaching our private Voice and Piano lessons.

JEFF MERRILL has been a professional guitar player for over 20 years.  He has studied jaz guitar with Arbor recording artist, Gerry Beaudoin, and internationally acclaimed blues great, Dave Specter.  Jeff is currently playing in the rock/blues band, “Shantytown”.  The group has been performing for the past ten years at local venues, private parties and corporate events.  Jeff will be teaching beginning and intermediate students on Saturdays from 10 to 2. 

We’re introducing an extraordinary violin teacher: TERESA MASCARENHAS. She can teach a class (if the children are close in age) and private lessons.Teresa completed her Masters in Music from Northwestern; a graduate of the Suzuki Talent Education Instutute, the Chicago Music Institute, the Academia Nacional Superior de Orquestra (Portugal), where she received her Bachelor of Music, and she received her Conservatory Diploma from the Academia dos Amadores de Musica. She has performed with orchestras all over Europe, as well as in America. She is an experienced teacher and is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English. She also works in the city with a support group for autism spectrum disorders.

Our office staff is also fabulous: CLAIRE ASUAN, MARGO MULLADY, DIANE PILOLLA and ANN MacMILLAN keep everything running smoothly for us. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful and varied staff ready to serve you.