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 8 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, and Pre-K/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
CYX WYNNE
Mr. Cyx started his professional career with Dance2xs International in Chicago in 2003. In 2007, he along with three friends founded the Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance better known as CODA. In 2009 Cyx joined Hip Hop Connxion and in 2011 was named director of the Chicago branch. Cyx has performed on the Soul Train Music Awards, The Grammys, The American Music Awards, the MTV music awards, and the VMAs. Cyx has danced background for Syleena Johnson, B2K, Marques Houston, Missy Elliott, Usher, and Omarion. Cyx has also choreographed and performed in China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, England, and Austria along with a multitude of cities in the U.S. He is very excited to be working with the Sunshine Dance students this year!
*Mr. Cyx teaches Hip Hop classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
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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
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, Contemporary, Ballet, and Conditioning classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
LAUREN DESMEDT
Miss Lauren is a 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. She also toured the country with Dupree Dance Convention as an assistant for six years before recently becoming a full staff member. More recently, Lauren had the opportunity to perform in Croatia with The Kate Jablonski Statement in 2022 and she currently dances professionally with Movementum Dance Project. She is also the Assistant Varsity Dance Team Coach at Oswego East High School. Miss Lauren is our Assistant Company Manager and a Sunshine Dance Teacher.
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*Miss Lauren teaches Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, Hip Hop, Fairytale Dance, and Pre-K/Kinder Combo classes in addition to choreographing for the Sunshine Dance Company
HANNAH MU
Miss Hannah, born and raised in Nashville, TN, began her competitive dance training at DC Dance Factory under the direction of Daryl and Stephanie Campbell. She vigorously trained in jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and acro/tumbling. She grew up working closely with choreographers Nick Bass and Merissa Gassel, who also work with Adrenaline and Revive Dance Convention and Competition. When she decided to pursue a career in Dance, Hannah sought an education from the Ohio State University where she graduated Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance. During her studies, Hannah developed an interest in education and began teaching, choreographing, and working with young aspiring dancers. In May of 2022, she moved to Denver, CO to join Cleo Parker Robinson Dance as a Cleo II. During her time there, she had the opportunity to perform notable works choreographed by Donald McKayle, Millicent Johnnie, and Cleo Parker Robinson. As of September 2023, Hannah relocated to Chicago, IL and is currently on her second season with DanceWorks Chicago. She went on two international tours last season, performing in eight different cities all over Germany. Hannah is beyond excited to share her passion for dance with Sunshine Dance!
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*Miss Hannah teaches Acro, Conditioning, and Contemporary 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, Pre-K/Kinder Combo, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, and Contemporary classes
KATIE LAIRD
Miss Katie is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with a B.F.A. in Acting. You might recognize her as Fiona from Bright Lights Theatre's production of Shrek or as a former member of the Sunshine Dance Company. She was also a part of the ensemble and a dance captain for the 2018 IHSTF All State production of Big Fish, which was performed at the International High School Thespian Festival. Currently, Katie continues to work and perform professionally. She has worked on several shows includingThe Spiritualist and Blue Stockings, Mamma Mia, and The Prom. Katie is thrilled to return to Sunshine Dance in an educational capacity. She has always loved working with students and watching them grow and learn as she constantly learns from them as well.
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*Miss Katie teaches Fairytale Dance, Pre-K/Kinder Combo, Tap and Musical Theatre classes
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. Currently he is the Assistant Theatre Director at Glenbard West High School and an MC for VIP Dance Competition.
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*Mr. Jacob is our Studio Manager and teaches Bright Lights Theatre classes