Dorothy's Dancing Unlimited
INSTRUCTORS
Miss Dorothy
Founder
Having enviable credits in dance, Miss Dorothy has entertained audiences with some of the finest names of stage, television and film and has appeared with many celebrities. Her professional travels have taken her throughout the United States, to Canada and Europe. Her dedication, teamed with the excellent teaching staff, has helped fulfill her goals of giving each student the personal and individual attention needed to achieve their full potential. Miss Dorothy is retired from the studio, but returns for our recital each year.
Mx. Amanda
Ballet, Contemporary, Creative, Lyrical
Mx. Amanda began dancing ballet at Dorothy's Dancing Unlimited in 1994 and soon expanded into jazz, tap, and modern. She later studied at Salt Creek Ballet, Lou Conte Dance Studio, and completed a summer intensive program at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She danced with her high school dance team, orchesis, and in several roles in the Schaumburg Nutcracker. As an adult, Mx. Amanda joined Midwest Dance Collective and had an opportunity to collaborate with exceptional, and diverse, choreographers. She's experienced in working with adult learners and has also spent more than eight years volunteering with at-risk youth.
Miss Ashley
Creative, Hip Hop, Intro To Dance, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Tap
Miss Ashley has grown up dancing and teaching at Dorothy’s Dancing Unlimited. Miss Ashley started dancing at 2 ½ years old and has studied ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and tap with numerous instructors nationwide. When she was younger, Miss Ashley actively participated in the local dance community with Schaumburg High School Orchesis, Schaumburg on Stage, HOTT Productions, and Dansations. While completing her Bachelor of the Arts degree at Illinois State, Miss Ashley continued her dance training and also diversified her experience by joining the hip hop group Black Diamonds Dance Troupe. Miss Ashley’s vibrant energy and creative ideas make every class fun! She truly has a passion for dance and loves sharing that passion with her students of all ages.
Miss Jamie
Hip Hop, Jazz, Line Dancing, Tap
Miss Jamie grew up dancing at Dorothy's Dancing Unlimited and trained in all forms of dance. Throughout her teens, Miss Jamie also studied with some of the top dance instructors in the Chicago area. We are happy to have Miss Jamie at the studio as a teacher, sharing her love and enthusiasm for dance with a new generation of students!
Miss Krystina
Creative, Hip Hop, Intro To Dance, Jazz
Krystina's dance journey first began at a studio in Chicago. By 12 years old, she was competing with her school’s dance team and then went on to make varsity while attending Downers Grove South High school. She performed and choreographed various dance styles including pom, kick-line, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and contemporary. Some of Krystina's most memorable dance experiences include performing for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Chicago Bulls, and classes with influential choreographers like Ian Eastwood, Lee Daniel, and others. She continued dancing in college while pursing an education for teaching. After taking a break to raise her family, Krystina eagerly returns to dance at Dorothy's Dancing Unlimited, blending her passion for dance with her love for teaching!
Miss Donna
Jazz, Tap
Miss Donna has been teaching for over thirty years. She graduated with honors from the University of Illinois, Chicago, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Theater. She has trained at several Chicago area studios with teachers including Jay Fagan and Lane Alexander. Miss Donna has trained in all areas of dance and has received numerous choreographic accolades for jazz, lyrical and especially for tap, which is her passion.
Her routines are always showstoppers and we love having Miss Donna on our staff.
Mr. Casey
Ballet
Watmora Casey was a teacher at Dorothy's Dancing Unlimited in the 1990's and we are excited to have him back!
He is a former a member of the Caribbean Dance Company, a student of Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York and the coach and choreographer of the five-time national champion U.S. Acrobatic Gymnastics Team. He has been on the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine and has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year” multiple years in a row.
Mr. Casey's students have won top honors at The Youth America Grand Prix Regional Competition qualifying for the National competition in New York. Many of his students have gone on to dance in renowned national and international dance companies including Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Kirov Ballet (Washington, D.C.), Pennsylvania Ballet, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Harid Conservatory, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey, The Royal Danish Ballet, and Northern Ballet in England.
Mr. Casey uses a unique blend of enthusiasm, a lively, charismatic approach, and rigorous intensive teaching methods to inspire his students to be the best they can be.
Miss Heather
Jazz, Lyrical, Tap
Miss Heather began dancing at Dorothy's Dancing Unlimited when she was only three years old. She trained in ballet, jazz, pointe, tap, modern, lyrical, and ballroom. While attending Schaumburg High School, she successfully directed three years of the Orchesis program and helped expand the program to include all forms of dance. Miss Heather went on to become a dance major at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1997. After college she took a short break to focus on a career in commercial real estate. In 2010 she rejoined the Dorothy's family and is incredibly excited to be a part of the faculty here. Miss Heather has a renewed passion for dance and cannot wait to share this with all of her students.
Miss Vicki
Acrobatics
Miss Vicki began dancing and doing gymnastics thru the Morton Grove Park District around age 5. Throughout her childhood, she continued with gymnastics and was
on her high school team.
While attending college at Western Illinois University,
she taught gymnastics at the local YMCA. During her summer breaks, she also taught at the Leaning Tower YMCA in Niles.
Miss Vicki and her kids have been a part of Dorothy’s since January 2022. Miss Vicki took her first class at Dorothy’s last year and loved it! She continues to take classes and is thrilled to join our teaching staff.