Faculty
JARED TITUS
Mr. Jared is a graduate of Elon University in North Carolina, holding a BFA in Music Theatre. He began dancing at the age of 8 and studied under many prestigious companies including Ballet Austin, Tapestry Dance Company, and Interlochen School for the Arts. Jared has performed in numerous plays, musicals and dance performances in the Chicago area and beyond including the Broadway National Tour of Monty Python’s Spamalot, Music Man at the Paramount, and Hello Dolly at Drury Lane Oakbrook. Jared brings a vast array of skills and knowledge to Sunshine Dance from his many years in the performance industry.
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Jared is the proud Owner of Sunshine Dance and Director of the award-winning Sunshine Dance Company. In addition, Jared is also the Owner/Artistic Director of Bright Lights Theatre, a local children's theatre company. He is beyond thrilled to be sharing his knowledge and passion for dance and theatre with the next generation of young artists.
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*Mr. Jared teaches Tap, Jazz, Conditioning, and Musical Theatre classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
STEPHANIE HANSEN
Miss Steph is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance and a minor in Dance! Stephanie's love for dance began at an early age, starting with competition dance in her youth and then onto collegiate level classes later in life. She has worked as a choreographer for many schools and youth programs in the Chicago area and beyond. She has been a performer with Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Colorado, Theo Ubique in Chicago, and Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook. Stephanie has been a member of the Sunshine Dance faculty for the past 5 years. In addition, she also acts as the resident Music Director/Choreographer for Bright Lights Theatre here in Glen Ellyn! In her free time she loves writing songs and playing guitar!
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*Miss Steph teaches Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Pre-K and Kinder Combo classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
BRITTANY AMOROSO
Miss Brittany is originally from San Jose, California where she trained with Teen Dance Company of the Bay Area. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara completing her B.F.A. in dance. Upon graduation, she received the Tonia Shimin award for excellence and promise in the field of dance and an honorable mention for her choreography at UCSB. She performed works by Nancy Colahan, José Limon, Austin McCormick, Robert Battle and many more faculty members and students. While residing in Chicago she has apprenticed with Chicago Repertory Ballet, performed as a solo dancer in Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Tannhauser, was a featured dancer in Paramount Theater's production of West Side Story, and most recently performed in Dance For Life with Hanna Brictson and Dancers. She currently freelance performs in a variety of shows and festivals around Chicago. Brittany has found a passion in teaching and is excited to be able to share her love of dance with her students!
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*Miss Brittany teaches Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Conditioning, Fairytale Dance, and Pre-K/Kinder Combo classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
ALANNA KLETCKE
Miss Alanna started dancing at the age of fifteen. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelors of fine arts with an emphasis in dance performance. At NIU she had extensive training under Autumn Eckman, Paula Frasz, and Judith Chitwood. She was a 2013 scholarship recipient at Chicago’s Visceral Dance Center and trained at Lou Conte Dance Studio. Post graduation she has been seen with Paul Christiano’s “Hungry Ghosts”, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, DanszLoop Chicago, and has participated in multiple freelance dance shows. She has also performed with Winifred & Haun Dancers “Open Rehearsal”, DanceWorks Chicago “DanceBytes”, Chicagos “Carnival”, and in a wide repertoire with Northern Dance Theatre in DeKalb, Illinois. Alanna was also a principal dancer with Hedwig Dances where she toured internationally to perform. She has been most recently contracted to perform with Aerial Dance Chicago, taking her dancing to new heights and opportunities. Alanna has a passion for choreographing and teaching, she loves watching children’s love for dance grow.
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* Miss Alanna teaches Modern/Contemporary, Ballet, and Conditioning classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
KELLY ANDERSON
Miss Kelly, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Social Psychology. During her time at WMU, Kelly had the privilege of performing professional works by Aszure Barton, Kyle Abraham, Brian Enos, and Rennie Harris. Kelly has attended ADF’s New York Winter Intensive, DanceWorks Chicago’s DanceForce and ChoreoLab, and Houston METdance’s Professional Summer Intensive. Kelly is currently a Main Company Member and Assistant Rehearsal Director with South Chicago Dance Theatre, performing locally and touring regionally and internationally with repertoire by Kia S. Smith, Stephanie Martinez, Wade Schaaf, and Ron de Jesus. Kelly believes in the powerful ability dance has to bring people together and loves sharing this with her students while preparing them for a life of success - inside and outside the dance studio!
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*Miss Kelly teaches, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Ballet, Conditioning classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
LAUREN DESMEDT
Miss Lauren is a recent graduate from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Dance Studio Management certification. At WMU, Lauren was selected to be a part of Western Dance Project, a touring dance company under the direction of Whitney Moncrief, for the 2018/2019 season. While attending WMU, she performed in works by Mike Esperanza, Kate Skarpetowska, Melanie George, Monique Haley, Kelsey Paschich and many more. Lauren is the Assistant Varsity Coach for Oswego East High School's dance team and she is going into her sixth season as an assistant teacher with Dupree Dance Convention. Lauren dances professionally with Movementum Dance Project and The Kate Jablonski Statement. Miss Lauren is the Assistant Studio Manger.
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*Miss Lauren teaches Ballet, Fairytale Dance, Pre-K Combo, Kinder Combo, Hip Hop, and Jazz classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
CIERA NOLAN
Miss Ciera, originally from Lake Zurich, Illinois, graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, a minor in event management, and a certification in Dance Studio Management. At WMU, she performed in many student works and was a part of the WMU department of dance touring ensemble, Western Dance Project, under the direction of Whitney Moncrief. Miss Ciera teaches and choreographs throughout the Chicagoland area and enthusiastically shares her passion of dance with young dancers.
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*Miss Ciera teaches Fairytale Dance, Kinder Combo, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Lyrical/Contemporary classes
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MEGHAN WAY STINSON
Miss Meghan grew up training in St. Louis, MO. She lived in Los Angeles for many years working as a professional dancer, international master teacher, and choreographer. She is a former member of Gregg Russell’s, “Tapsounds Underground” and Joelle Martinec’s, “SoleVita Dance Company”. And, she is a current member of the Dallas Dance Company, “Rhythmic Souls Tap Company”, in addition to directing their youth ensemble. Meghan has been blessed with the opportunity to perform and teach master classes all over the world in Canada, Singapore, Costa Rica, England, Switzerland, Germany, Guatemala, and she has educated all across the United States. Meghan additionally had the chance to tour China and work with choreographer JoAnn Jansen for the 2010 World Expo based in Shanghai. Shortly afterward, she assisted JoJo Diggs in Tokyo, Japan, training J-POP stars. She has also assisted Liz Imperio, Tyce Diorio, Doug Caldwell, Gregg Russell, and Mandy Moore, among others. She is so excited to be working with the students at Sunshine Dance and sharing her love of TAP!
*Miss Meghan teaches Tap classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
JACOB KELLEHER
Mr. Jacob, originally from Glen Ellyn, IL, is a 2021 graduate of Boston College with a B.A. in Secondary Education, a B.A. in Mathematics, and a Minor in Educational Theatre. While in college he Produced, Stage Managed, and Directed over two dozen theatrical productions, dance shows, and more. Outside of school, he has been the Resident Stage Manager at Bright Lights Theatre since its inception in 2016, a teacher there since 2018, and is currently the Assistant Theatre Director at Glenbard West High School. Jacob is our Studio Manager and a Bright Lights Theatre Instructor.