Miss Rae started dancing as a young child, and she has not stopped learning since. She danced competitively for 10 years and went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Dance Studies and Performance from Middle Tennessee State University. While at MTSU, Miss Rae performed with the Dance Theatre, as well as choreographed and directed the Student Gala Performances on campus. She has performed for many noted artists including Jesse Zaritt, Nick Cave, and Christopher Morgan. She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, and has recently been certified by Acrobatic Arts and Progressing Ballet Technique. This is Miss Rae’s fifth year with Synergy and her fourth year choreographing for the Synergy FX Company. She loves being in class with her students and watching each one progress their artistry. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and reading!

Miss Caitlin has danced for 16 years -- (10 of those being competitive). She started teaching at Synergy two years ago, and she has been a part of the competitive program ever since! She recently became Acrobatic Arts Certified, and she loves seeing how even our youngest dancers push themselves to learn new skills. Miss Caitlin started her training at Dance FX in 2010 when the studio opened, and she is so grateful to have been involved there since it led to opportunities here! Miss Caitlin helps choreograph for the Synergy FX Dance Company, and can't wait to further her teaching career with us. Currently, she is attending North Central college to study Psychology and Spanish. In her free time she watches every sitcom on Netflix!

Miss Kayla started dancing at a young age, and her passion continued to grow from there. She trained at Elite Dance Academy in all styles of dance – Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Pointe, and Tap – and she danced for the Lockport Porterettes for four years in high school where she led the team as captain for two years. Miss Kayla graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Dance. While acquiring her degree, she was both a member and a choreographer for the Illini N Motion Dance Team. Currently, she's on staff as the Ballet teacher here at Synergy Dance and she feels blessed to be a part of this dance family! Aside from dance, she is a 5th grade teacher at Trinity Christian School in Shorewood, IL.

Shelby Memmott is a Butler University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy focusing on Modern dance technique.  She has performed with Butler Ballet in full-length classical ballets including Cinderella, Giselle, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake.  Shelby has performed in works choreographed by Susan McGuire, Ramon Flowers, Marek Cholewa, David Ingram, Derke Reid, and Cynthia Pratt.  She has a passion for choreography and has choreographed for multiple Center for Theatre Arts, referred to as CTA, productions as a CTA alumna in her hometown Salina, Kansas.  In addition to choreographing with CTA, Shelby is on staff as a Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Turns and Leaps instructor.  During her time at Butler, she participated in various choreography showcases and has created numerous choreographic projects independently including, unseen yet present, madness, comfort in settling, and spring has slumped.  Apart from dance, Shelby loves to explore her drawing and design abilities, as she is often an illustrator for many CTA shows.  

Abbey Slusinski was born in Oak Lawn, Illinois in 2003, and began her passion for dance at the age of 9. She has also danced competitively for 6 years. Prior to her dance career she competed in gymnastics for two years, and excelled in the program quickly. Other than dancing, Abbey loves to choreograph, and takes other classes to gain the experience of many different styles of dance. She currently trains in jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. She has also won multiple titles throughout her dance career, along with choreographing contemporary and hiphop pieces that have placed highly at various competitions. Abbey has also received other achievements such as becoming a HEAT Assistant for the 2022-2023 dance season and gaining multiple scholarships to Joffrey, and AMDA in Los Angeles. Abbey really loves to push individuals out of their comfort zone, and help them gain exposure to other styles of dance. Some of the main talents Abbey has mastered is being able to story tell with her creative movement, and captivating an audience. Since being a part of the dance community, Abbey has appreciated the opportunities dance has given her, and wants to share her passion with others.

Juliana Landry began dancing in 2006 in Ocala, Florida, receiving training in ballet, tap, lyrical, and jazz. At the age of twelve, she fell in love with ballet and soon shifted her focus to strictly training in classical ballet. During this time, Juliana was able to attend a summer intensive as well as numerous private lessons offered by The Joffrey Ballet. She participated in various workshops and intensives with many different professional companies, including Ballet Magnificat and Dance Alive National Ballet. After graduating high school, Juliana received her Associate of Arts in Dance at Santa Fe College, studying under the direction of Jessie Dominguez, Alora Haynes, and Mellissa Brenner while receiving training in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and dance composition. At Santa Fe College, she was awarded the Fine Arts Scholarship for her dancing abilities, work ethics, and leadership qualities. Throughout her years of training, Juliana was able to perform numerous principal and soloist roles in various productions, including Paquita and Giselle. She recently moved to the Chicago area to pursue her dreams to become a professional dancer after receiving a contract to dance with the Second Company at Ballet 5:8. She hopes to share her great love for dance with her students, whether they are returning dancers or just beginning their dance journey for the first time.

Miss Bonnie is the Event/Birthday Party Coordinator for Synergy. You can contact her for all of your party needs -- she will take care of it all! You can also catch her working the front desk! Miss Bonnie has been at Synergy for a few years, and she's so proud of her daughter, Connie, for making Synergy what is is today! 

Miss Hannah is completing her Senior year in High School, but this is her first year behind the desk at Synergy! You can find her there on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Ask her anything!

Miss Summer took her first dance class when she was five years old, and has participated in many performances and competitions ever since! She competed with Legacy Dance Ensemble for many years while studying Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, and Jazz. While in high school, Miss Summer danced with the Tinley Park Varsity Dance Team for four years, and she led the team as captain for two. As a captain, she had the opportunity to choreograph all the team's routines for games, assemblies, and other school related events. In the fall, she will be attending Governors State University to study elementary education. In her spare time she loves to cook and listen to music!

Miss Rachael has been dancing since she was 3. She enjoyed taking all forms of dance as a child and began dancing competitively at the age of 10.  In high school she was a part of Carl Sandburg Orchesis. Her love of dance has never stopped growing and she especially loves that she gets to watch her daughter grow as a dancer here at Southwest Synergy. Miss. Rachael loves being a part of the Synergy family as Costume Manager and is looking forward to watching everyone sparkle on stage in their adorable costumes. 

Miss Abby started dance at the age of 5 and has been in love ever since! She has trained in many different styles such as jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and lyrical. She is so excited to be back for another great year at Synergy!

Nathan began his dance training seven years ago. However, with his grandma being a former dance instructor and his mom coaching the varsity poms team at Andrew High School, dance has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. He has consistently trained in a wide variety of styles including Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Ballet and Jazz. Along with competing at his studio, Nathan was also a member of the varsity dance team at Andrew High School where he had the opportunity to choreograph their competitive routines which performed at both the local as well as national level. Since beginning his teaching career three years ago, his work has received several regional and national titles. Nathan is currently studying Public Relations at Moraine Valley Community College while he continues sharing his passion for dance with his students. He can not wait to begin his first year at Synergy! In his spare time, he loves reading and trying new coffee shops!

Chloe Gunkel grew up dancing at Innervisions Performing Arts Center, located in Frankfort, IL, under the mentorship of Jayme Radeke and Jamie Harris. She recently graduated from Western Michigan University with a BA in Dance. She studied jazz, ballet, and modern dance under the mentorship of renowned faculty including Kelsey Paschich, Jeremy Blair, Whitney Moncrief, Carolyn Pavlik, Seyong Kim, Terk Lewis, Megan Slayter, and Monique Haley. This diverse training has allowed her to develop a versatile and dynamic dance style. Chloe has had the opportunity to perform in works by major choreographers including Kimberly Cooper, KiKi Lucas, Jae Man Joo, Kelsey Paschich, and Jeremy Blair. She was also a part of the touring dance ensemble, Western Dance Project in 2022-2023. She is now dancing professionally with the performance company CPR Dance: Inhale Movement in Stevensville, MI.

Miss Caitlin began dancing at the young age of 3 years old at Southwest School of Dance (and continued to attend the studio under Miss Connie’s transition to Synergy), training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pom, and hip hop. Miss Caitlin was also a member of the competitive dance team at Synergy. At 14, Miss Caitlin became an assistant, taking the opportunity to work with numerous instructors of various styles of dance. As an assistant, she was able to evolve and learn how to engage, teach, and positively impact those younger than her. At 17, Miss Caitlin became an instructor at Synergy, putting to use all of the knowledge she had gained from Miss Connie and the various teachers throughout the years of her dance training. Miss Caitlin then attended Marquette University in Milwaukee to pursue a Bachelors degree in Exercise Science and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. While in Milwaukee, Miss Caitlin took various dance classes across the city and surrounding area to broaden her horizons and continue to further her own dance education and training. Miss Caitlin has since moved back to the Chicagoland area and is excited to be back at Synergy, sharing not only her love of dance, but now also her passions of human anatomy, injury prevention, health and fitness, and helping students grow into their potentials. When not at the studio, Miss Caitlin works as a physical therapist in ICUs at Chicagoland area hospitals, sprinkling in some dance based exercises when she can. 

Juliana Landry began dancing in 2006 in Ocala, Florida, receiving training in ballet, tap, lyrical, and jazz. At the age of twelve, she fell in love with ballet and soon shifted her focus to strictly training in classical ballet. During this time, Juliana was able to attend a summer intensive as well as numerous private lessons offered by The Joffrey Ballet. She participated in various workshops and intensives with many different professional companies, including Ballet Magnificat and Dance Alive National Ballet. After graduating high school, Juliana received her Associate of Arts in Dance at Santa Fe College, studying under the direction of Jessie Dominguez, Alora Haynes, and Mellissa Brenner while receiving training in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and dance composition. At Santa Fe College, she was awarded the Fine Arts Scholarship for her dancing abilities, work ethics, and leadership qualities. Throughout her years of training, Juliana was able to perform numerous principal and soloist roles in various productions, including Paquita and Giselle. She recently moved to the Chicago area to pursue her dreams to become a professional dancer after receiving a contract to dance with the Second Company at Ballet 5:8. She hopes to share her great love for dance with her students, whether they are returning dancers or just beginning their dance journey for the first time.