MCDA Staff

Julia Blumenshine
Certified Pilates Instructor

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

Chelsea DuBois
Tap

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 Small Business Management major and Dance minor at Illinois State University, where she is a member 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, East Peoria Theatre, Community Players and the Illinois Wesleyan Faculty Dance Concerts.

Sheri directed, choreographed, and costumed three original musicals for Prairie Fire Theatre. Sheri is a member of the dance faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University.

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 13th season as resident choreographer of "The Nutcracker" for the Barrington Youth Ballet in the Chicago area. Greg currently teaches dance at both Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University.

Lindsey Miller
Ballet
Co-Director, Bloomington Ballet Apprentices

Ms. Miller received the Jerry Bywaters Cochran Scholarship from the Dallas Dance Council in 2007 and was the 2003 recipient of the Gale Keeran Scholarship. She has participated in summer studies with the School of Ballet Chicago, Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Lindsey is currently president of the Illinois State Dance Association, a member of Illinois State Dance Theatre, and is a Dance major at Illinois State 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. In addition to her classes at MCDA and co-directing CDT, she teaches dance in Heyworth, Illinois. She has choreographed for the University High School Color Guard and Dance Team as well as the Heyworth High School Dance Team. Jessica teaches tap and jazz at Illinois Wesleyan University and has choreographed for the faculty dance concert.

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.