IRINA MAKKAI (Classical Ballet) graduated from the Professional Classical Ballet School of Cluj, Romania after nine years of study, and became a solo dancer at the Iasi Opera performing in Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Faust and other classical and modern ballets. Upon completion of the three year program in ballet teaching at the Bucharest Institute of Choreography (including courses in history of dance, ballet methodology, physiology and pedagogy) she obtained her degree in Ballet Education. She began teaching ballet in 1974, and since 1981 has offered Classical Ballet classes in Highland Park, bringing the Vaganova-Tarasov method to the North Shore.

LILLA MAKKAI  DANIELS (Ballet, Pointe, and Pre-Ballet) started her ballet education with Irina Makkai. She has also studied with Larry Long and Homer Bryant. For years she has been a scholarship student at the Houston Ballet Academy, Joffrey Ballet School and the School of American Ballet. Lilla has performed with Bryant Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Ballet Theater of Chicago, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago in such ballets as; Giselle, Coppelia, and the Nutcracker. She will continue teaching Pre-Ballet, Ballet and Pointe classes. Lilla also established the Ballet Makkai Youth Company which participates in such festivals as the Dance Chicago Festival and the Annual Student Choreographic Workshop.  For details on this program please e-mail  Lilla at: Lilla@balletmakkai.com

SARA  BIBIK (Jazz, Tap) attended the National Academy of Arts, in Champagne, Illinois, where she also began her career as an instructor. Sarah has taught at Western Kentucky University, Gus Giordano Dance Center and Dance Educators of America. Her professional performing experience has been with the Linda Martha Dance Company, Especially Tap Company, Gus Giordano Dance Chicago, and last, but not least with River North Dance Company, where she was, and still is a founding member. She is a recipient of the Ruth Page Award for Excellence in Dance. Sara has been on the School's faculty for the past seventeen years, and will continue teaching, and overseeing our Jazz, Tap, and Modern classes.

SUSANNE LEK (Pre-Dance, Ballet, Character) Susanne is specialized in teaching children of very young age. She has complete knowledge of all the dance forms that are found in classical ballets, and are necessary in the development of a complete dancer. She has studied in London-England and has danced in lead roles with the London Festival Ballet and was Prima Ballerina of the Pristina Ballet Company of Yugoslavia. She has also performed in New-York and Chicago, and continues (very successfully we may add) to teach the Pre-Dance, Ballet, and Character classes. As of last year Susanne is also Artistic Co-Director of Alma Dance Company established in 2007, and training at our studios.

GUILLERMO LEYVA (Ballet, Variations, Partnering) Guillermo completed his ballet training in his native Cuba and was a principal dancer of the Ballet de Camguey. Upon coming to Chicago he joined the Joffrey Ballet, where he was a principal dancer. He has guested with the ballet of Santiago de Chile, Ballet de Vallonie in Belgium. The legendary Ivan Nagy coached Guillermo in his role of Albrecht in Giselle with Ballet Theater of Chicago, and brought him to Santiago for Peer Gynt. Guillermo has been and will remain faculty member at the School, teaching Ballet, Variations and Partnering (Pas De Deux). Along  Susanne Lek, Guillermo is a founding member and Artistic Co-Director of Alma Dance Company.

MARCELLA DUCSAY (Pre-Dance, Ballet, Pointe) Marcella had received her training at the Hungarian Dance Academy, and as student she toured with the Academy in Germany, Israel and Russia. After graduation she danced with the Hungarian National Ballet. Upon moving to the United States she danced with the Forth Worth Dallas Ballet and performed as a principal dancer in Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Swan Lake and other well known ballet productions. Being trained in the Vaganova-Tarasov method, she is a perfect fit for the faculty of the School. She teaches pre-dance and ballet classes with great enthusiasm and interacts beautifully with our younger students.

Ashley Lauren Smith  (Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern) Ashley has taught jazz, tap and hip-hop guest classes at the School, and the students enjoyed her classes very much. She joins the faculty starting this fall, and will teach jazz, tap and hip-hop. Ashley is currently a member of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. She holds a BA degree in dance from Point Park University. Her dance training includes extensive ballet experience as well, making her a perfect fit for the profile of our School. Her dancing carrier includes performing in productions of 42^nd Street and Music Man. She likes very much to work with children and has a healthy, positive approach to teaching dance.

SIMONE BAECHLE (Pre-Dance, Modern) Simone had joined the faculty of the School in the fall of 2009, teaching Pre-Dance classes with great enthusiasm and success. She also coached our older students for their modern pieces in preparation for dance competitions and performances. Simone started her dance education in Randolph, NJ., where her mother, a dance teacher, began teaching Simone to dance as soon as she could walk. Simone graduated cum laude from Northwestern University, where she studied with Molly Shanahan (Molly Shanahan/Madshak), Billy Siegenfeld (Jump Rhythm Jazz Project), Jeff Hancock (River North), and Laura Wade (Ballet Mistress for Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago). Simone moved to Saint Louis in 2007 to become a member of MADCO (Modern American Dance Company). During the summer of 2008, Simone was MADCO’s teaching artist at Saint Louis ArtWorks, taught dance workshops at Access Academies, and also earned her certification as a Pilates mat instructor. Simone moved to Chicago in August 2009 to continue to pursue her career as a dance performer/instructor, and she will continue teaching Pre-Dance, as well as modern classes.