Staff
Jessica Davis
Ballet
Ms. Davis is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She studied ballet while growing up in Bloomington-Normal and while at the university. She began with McLean County Dance ten years ago as a member of the adult dance company, Synergy, and currently performs with Passages.
Heather Degenhart
Ballet, Tap
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.
Holly Elgin
Strength and Conditioning, Pilates
Ms. Elgin is a graduate of Illinois State University with a BS in Exercise Science. She is AFFA certified in group fitness and is also AFFA certified as a personal trainer.
Amy Jesionowski
Dance Experience
Ms. Jesionowski is a Dance Education minor at Illinois State University. She is a member of Illinois State Dance Theatre and currently serves as the organization's vice-president. She has taught dance in Burr Ridge and Countryside, Illinois.
Madeline Kulisek
Ballet
Ms. Kulisek is a senior Dance Performance major at Illinois State University. She serves on the board of Illinois State Dance Theatre and has been a company member since fall of 2008. Maddy trained at the Judith Svalander School of Ballet.
Sheri Marley
Jazz, Creative, Social Dance
Director, Passages &
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 22 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 17th 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 Illinois State University.
Becky Nangle
Hip Hop
Ms. Nangle is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University with a B.S. in Early Childhood. She has taught since the age of 15 and has worked with the Girl Scouts, high school dance teams and theatre productions, Vermillion Players Theater Group, and is currently on staff for the Central Illinois Dance Fest. Becky also teaches in Pontiac, Streator, and Ottawa, and is co-director of the Dancenter Performance Company.
Lesley Walter-Sutton
Ballet
Ms. Walter-Sutton studied dance in Streator and Ottawa, continuing ballet at Royal Academy in Champaign. She has a BS from Southern Illinois University, where she choreographed for Southern Illinois Repertory Dance Theatre and Southern Illinois Ballet. She taught ballet in southwest Arkansas before moving to Bloomington.
Jessica Riss-Waltrip
Jazz, Tap, Contemporary
Co-Director, Contemporary Dance Theatre
Ms. Waltrip is a graduate of Illinois State University with her degree in Dance. While at ISU, she was a leading member of Illinois State Dance Theatre. She currently teaches dance at Illinois Wesleyan University and enjoys choreographing for the Department of Music Theatre. Jessica has choreographed for Orchesis Intercity Dance, Prairie Fire Theatre, U-High Dance Team and Color Guard, Tri-Valley Color Guard, Bloomington & Normal Parks and Rec Theatre and Dance Programs, Heartland Community Education, and IWU Faculty Dance Concerts.
Terri Miller
Director
Terri Miller is the executive director of McLean County Dance Association. She has served as a co-executive director since December 2004 and currently serves as executive director, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. Terri has been involved with MCDA since 1990. She assisted two of the past directors and also served as a board member and school committee chairman. She is a graduate of Illinois State University. She is a board member of the Area Arts Round Table and currently serves as the organization's secretary.
