Instructors
Owners
Jan Powers
Jan Powers graduated from National College of Education (Presently National Louis University) with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Human Development with a minor in Dance. Her additional dance training took place at Gus Giordano Dance Center in Evanston, Illinois where she had the privilege of having Gus himself as an instructor. After spending a few years teaching 2nd, 5th and 6th grades in both Dallas, TX and the Chicago suburbs, she began raising her family and eventually found herself returning to her first love, dance. She created and developed what became known as the Schaumburg School of Dance and spent 18 years teaching and directing the program as well as its in-house youth dance company. She is thrilled to be a co-owner of Rise Dance Center and loves working with its amazing staff, talented students, and supportive parents.
Noel Stanton
Noel Stanton, originally from Hoffman Estates, Illinois, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While there, she was also awarded The Dalton Exceptional Dance Major Scholarship and the Wendy Cornish Endowed Scholarship. She has performed in such Great Works as George Balanchine’s Who Cares? and Serenade as well as Lou Conte’s The 40s. In 2005, she had the opportunity to perform George Faison’s Suite Otis at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. as part of the Masters of African American Choreographers Showcase. Upon graduating, Noel accepted a position with Inaside Chicago Dance and performed as a company member for six years. Throughout this time, she had the privilege of performing works by such choreographers as Autumn Eckman, Harrison McEldowney, Lizzie MacKenzie, and Nick Pupillo. Most recently, she performed with Hanna Brictson and Dancers in Dance For Life. In addition to teaching and directing the studio companies at Rise, Noel guest teaches and choreographs for area workshops and intensives as well as youth outreach programs at various elementary schools, high schools, and colleges throughout the midwest.
Christine Costello
Christine Costello grew up in Addison, Illinois and graduated from Columbia College Chicago, where she studied both Dance and Film Directing. She has performed in numerous Chicago dance shows and festivals such as Chicago Human Rhythm Project and Dance Chicago, as well as various events around the U.S. including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Dance Teacher Magazine’s Capezio Showcase, and Rockin’ the Seas, on Royal Caribbean cruise line. Christine has taught at many different workshops and intensives throughout the Midwest and has had choreography showcased at various dance festivals and competitions, including Dance Chicago, Team Dance Illinois, Universal Dance Association & Universal Cheer Association. She has also worked in the competition world as an adjudicator for several dance and cheerleading organizations, including Applause and Power Cheer. Besides her dance career, Christine has studied acting and improvisation at the Second City in Chicago and has worked on numerous musical theater, commercial and independent film productions. She continues to work free lance in the film industry, most recently in post production editing and sound. Christine also enjoys volunteering and is currently a Wish Granter for the Make-a-Wish foundation of Illinois. She is proud to be a part of Rise Dance Center and is looking forward to working with the stellar staff, students and families of Rise for many years to come.
Instructors
Melissa Cajigal
Melissa grew up in the Chicago area with a love for dance and performing. Melissa has worked with many local high school orchesis programs, competition teams, and has also choreographed for musicals such as Marquardt Middle School's production of High School Musical. One of the most rewarding opportunities was her 6 year run as the Saint Viator Dance Team Coach in Arlington Heights. During this time she also began coaching her own All-Star program where her love for choreography began to grow and grow! Melissa is a proud original member of Rise's Dance Stellar Productions, where she competed in competitions and performed in dance festivals in Chicago. She continues to be a member of DSP 21+ where she is able to showcase her own choreography. Melissa's education has an emphasis on group fitness and personal training. At 16, she was hired as a Fitness Consultant at Women's Workout World where she developed her passion for the human body and pushed herself and others to be the best version of themselves. With a certification in Group Fitness, Zumba, and Strength Training, Melissa incorporates fitness and body awareness in every class she teaches. Her most recent journey for Mind Body Wellness was completing her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training through Power Moves Yoga in Batavia in 2018. She was quickly hired as a Yoga Instructor and loved helping others find light and love within themselves. Melissa loves a fast paced environment and brings energy and dedication to all her classes.
Ashley Deran
Ashley Deran is a Chicago-based dancemaker, teaching artist, and photographer. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Western Michigan University, having graduated with high honors. In 2013, Ashley co-founded Project Bound Dance, a tri-focal contemporary dance theatre collaboration aiming to foster community engagement, dance/technology experimentation, and socially conscious performance. Her work with co-director Emily Loar was selected as one of the “Top 10 Performances of 2019” by SeeChicagoDance. As part of Bound’s mission, Ashley helped create the One Hour Project – a collaborative endeavor that gives Chicago artists 60 minutes to create a 60 second dance film in unique spaces and places. Ashley’s choreography has been presented by numerous companies and festivals across the country. Most recently her work has been featured in the film “Limerence” by Dan Pedersen and Glass City Films. Ashley is also an adjudicator for Applause Talent and can often be found behind a camera photographing the Chicago dance community and beyond. She is so thankful to have the opportunity to continue teaching at Rise Dance Center!
Noelle DeWees
Noelle DeWees, from Schaumburg, Illinois, grew up dancing at Rise Dance Center and decided to pursue her dance career at Western Michigan University. She received her BFA in dance in 2022. In college, Noelle was trained in the styles of ballet, jazz, and modern. She performed works by artists such as Jackie Nowicki, Tsai Hsi Hung, Yin Yue, Monique Haley, and Kelsey Paschich. She was also a member of student lead organization Hip Hop ConnXion where she became captain and eventually Artistic Director in 2021. Noelle began teaching dance in 2019 and since graduation, she's continued teaching and choreographing for studios, intensives, and high school dance teams. She additionally began teaching Pure Barre in 2024. Noelle is excited to share her passion for dance with the students at Rise!
Katy Fedrigon
Katy Fedrigon graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from The University of Arizona. While at the UofA, Katy was given the opportunity to perform pieces by Martha Graham, Mia Michaels and alongside Liz Calaway. Immediately following graduation, Katy moved back to Chicago and has danced with companies and projects such as, Thodos New Dances, Wake Up! Waltz, The Prince Experience at the House of Blues. She danced as a company member for Inaside Chicago Dance, Still Inspired(?), and Nomi Dance Company, where she was given the opportunity to perform Joshua Blake Carter’s “Kim” in Dance For Life 2018. Katy now is a company member and the Assistant Director with Dance In the Parks. Katy teaches and choreographs on dance studios and high schools and at intensives throughout the Chicago suburbs. So grateful to be a part of Rise Dance Center!
Alison Janega
Alison Janega is a mover, choreographer, and visual creator born and raised in Schaumburg, Illinois. She has called Rise Dance Center her home since its inception and is an alumna of Shine Performance, Shine Competition, and Dance Stellar Productions. Alison graduated magna cum laude from The George Washington University in 2021 with a BA in Dance as well as Political Science, and a minor in American Studies. She graduated with honors in both the poli-sci and dance departments, and was the recipient of the Maida Withers Impact Award for exhibiting creative leadership and excellence in the dance program. Alison was a Corcoran Scholar in the Arts at GW where she studied modern and postmodern dance, and she was also a member of the DC based hip hop team, Capital Funk. For the past two years she has been involved in a creative fellowship with TheRedProjectNYC in which she has collaborated with other young artists to deconstruct her own understanding of the creative process. Alison is currently a member of Boom Crack! Dance Company, a professional hip hop company based in Chicago under the direction of Trae Turner. She could not be more delighted to be teaching a new generation of RDC dancers!
Sarah Kramer
Sarah Kramer is multiple scholarship recipient and magna cum laude graduate from the University of Arizona with a B.F.A. in dance and a B.S. in finance. Sarah has danced commercially with DanceWerks Dance Company, Carlton Bradley Company, and Stage Factor Inc. and was a featured dancer for Fadro’s “This is What We Live For” Tour. She has performed internationally with world- renowned vocal artists such as Heather Smalls and Zoe Badwi. Sarah also has had the opportunity to perform works by highly- noted industry choreographers such as Gustavo Vargas and Kym Johnson (DWTS), Tabitha and Napoleon (SYTYCD), Jon Charron and Jill Hillier (Stiletto Entertainment). Sarah was a dancer and aerial artist with Holland America Line cruise ships for several years and a 5-time mirror ball champion and celebrity dancer on Dancing With the Stars at Sea (an extension of the hit TV Show “Dancing with the Stars”). Sarah also teaches, choreographs, and adjudicates at various national conventions, studios, and competitions across the nation. Sarah is happy to call Rise Dance Center home and agrees with Dorothy, as “there’s no place like home”.
Alyssa Leahy
Alyssa Leahy has been dancing and performing for 17 years. As a student at Harper College, she plans to receive her Associate in Arts degree while keeping dance a main focus. Alyssa has trained consistently at Rise Dance Center and has been on the competitive company, DSP, for 5 years. Within these years, she has been brought upon many performing opportunities and has had the privilege of working with various choreographers and dancers. As Alyssa is ending her years with DSP, she is continuing her training and expanding dance career in the Chicagoland area with various studios and companies. While growing as a dance herself, she wants to share that experience with those who want to grow as a dancer as well. Being a teacher at Rise Dance Center allows her to do so while allowing her to begin her career as a dancer.
Cheryl Leahy
Cheryl Leahy has studied acrobatics, tumbling, jazz, tap, ballet, drama and voice from various instructors. She was a professional acrobatic/contortionist for over 10 years where she appeared on NBC as well as other telethons and television shows. She has been teaching for over 25 years at a variety of locations in the northwest suburbs including 10+ years of having her own competitive dance and tumbling teams. Cheryl is also a certified group exercise instructor and is certified in Zumba and WerQ for adults and children. She is a mom of two daughters, working part time as a nanny. She adds a new approach to her classes from her variety of experiences.
Lisa Lorenz
Lisa Lorenz comes from St. Charles, IL and graduated with a BA in Dance from Western Michigan University. There she met Noel Stanton and they then continued to dance together with Inaside Chicago Dance. Other professional dance experience includes dancing with: Royal Caribbean Productions and Thodos Dance Chicago. Teaching has always been a passion for Lisa and she has been doing so all over Chicago since 2006. This past year, Lisa was the “Dance & Yoga Specialist” at The British School of Chicago in Lincoln Park. In addition to dance, Lisa is a certified yoga teacher and also specializes in barre, yoga sculpt, zumba, prenatal yoga and group fitness. Over the years Lisa was awarded lululemon ambassador, Athleta brand ambassador and has been honored as one of Chicago's top rated Yoga Instructors. One of Lisa’s pivotal moments as a teacher was when she visited Haiti to teach underprivileged youths. Lisa has also spent her time co-producing a dance/art collaborate in Chicago named Still Inspired and taught both dance and yoga to the students in After School Matters program at the Harris Theatre. She is thrilled to bring her passion of dance and movement with the artists at Rise Dance Center.
Lexi Ringquist
Lexi Ringquist was born and raised in Schaumburg, Illinois. She began her training with Rise and continued on through her high school graduation. She is proud to have been a part of both Shine Performance and Dance Stellar Productions during her time there. She attended Western Michigan University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Event Planning. For three out of her four years, she was an active member of Hip-Hop ConnXions Michigan. While in attendance, she was able to perform works by Jackie Nowicki, Brendan Duggan, and BAIRA MVMNT PHLOSPHY among others. While in Michigan, she also had the opportunity to continue to spread her love for dance through teaching at various studios in the Kalmazoo area. During her years at WMU, she also discovered her passion for fitness and went on to study for her Personal Training certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Since graduation in 2020, she has been an active member in the fitness community. She is excited to return to teaching and be a part of the Rise Dance Center Family once more!