MCDA Staff

Julia Blumenshine
Pilates, Zumba

Ms. Blumenshine is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer. She is Power House Mat, Pilates Reformer, Yoga Fit, and Zumba certified. She has taught in the fitness industry for over six years. Currently, she teaches fitness classes and is a personal trainer at a local gym.

Heather Degenhart
Ballet

Ms. Degenhart holds a BS in Arts Administration with Dance Concentration from Butler University. She has danced professionally with the Georgia Ballet. Heather is an experienced teacher in pre-ballet, tap and creative.

Chelsea DuBois
Ballet

Ms. DuBois began her dance training at Springfield Dance Inc. in Springfield, Illinois. She was a member of the Springfield Ballet Company for six years and has studied with Carolina Ballet Theatre. Chelsea is a double major in Dance Performance and Small Business Management at Illinois State University, where she is president of Illinois State Dance Association.

Dana Knickelbein
Hip Hop

Ms. Knickelbein began dance at the age of four in the suburbs of Chicago. She was highly involved in her high school's dance program and local dance studio, where she has taught dancers of all ages. Dana attends Illinois State University, majoring in Dance Education and minoring in Physical Education. She is treasurer of Illinois State Dance Theatre.

Sheri Marley
Jazz, Creative, Social Dance
Co-Director, Contemporary Dance Theatre

Ms. Marley studied dance at Fresno State University and ISU and has danced professionally in both California and Illinois. She has choreographed for Prairie Fire Theatre, Fresno Community Theatre, Fresno Jazz Company, University Dance Theatre (ISU), Eastlight Players, Bloomington Community Players, Illinois Wesleyan University's School of Music Opera, and IWU Faculty Dance Concerts. Sheri has been an adjunct faculty member at IWU for the past 20 years, where she teaches modern, jazz, and social dance.

Greg Merriman
Ballet, Pointe and Modern
Director, Bloomington Ballet

Mr. Merriman is a graduate of Texas Christian University with a B.F.A. in Classical Ballet. He studied with the Houston Ballet Academy and was a company member of Joffrey II, Houston Ballet, Fort Worth Ballet & Fort Worth Opera Ballet. He has just completed his 15th season as resident choreographer of "The Nutcracker" for the Barrington Youth Ballet in the Chicago area. He has been a guest teacher at the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts and the American College Dance Festival. Greg currently teaches dance at both Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University.

Jessica Riss
Jazz, Dance Experience, Hip Hop
Co-Director, Contemporary Dance Theatre

Ms. Riss is a 2002 ISU graduate, where she was a leading member of Illinois State Dance Theatre. She has choreographed for the University High School Color Guard and Dance Team, the Heyworth High School Dance Team, and for local community theatre productions. Jessica teaches tap and jazz at Illinois Wesleyan University and has choreographed for the faculty dance concert.

Sarah Sorensen
Tap

Ms. Sorensen is a 2007 ISU graduate with a minor in Dance Education. She was a member of Illinois State Dance Theatre and currently teaches at Morton High School, where she is also the musical choreographer.

Terri Miller and Betsy Martin are the co-executive directors of McLean County Dance Association. They have served as directors since December 2004 and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization.

Terri has been involved with McLean County Dance Association since 1990. She has served as a board member and school committee head, and has assisted two of the past directors. She is a graduate of Illinois State University.

Betsy is a former dancer with Twin Cities Ballet, McLean County Dance Association and Jean Millian Dance Co. She has a degree in dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a past board member with McLean County Dance Association.

Their office hours are from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday. They are also available Monday and Thursday evenings. You may call the office at 309-829-7070.