MEET THE STAFF
MELISSA KOPEL
OWNER, DIRECTOR &
COMPANY GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Having a passion for dance and dancing recreationally as a child, Melissa put her daughter in dance at age one. She has traveled around the world being a dance mom which taught her what students need to succeed and grow. Putting all of that knowledge and experience together has allowed her to open a safe place for dancers to become successful with their career while dancing at Konquer as well as in their future endeavors as a professional in the dance industry.
KAILEY KOPEL
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, COMPANY PHOTOGRAPHER, COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER &
COSTUME DESIGNER
Kailey was born in Chicago, Illinois and started training at the age of 1 years old. She has trained with multiple dance teams in Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California in genres hip hop, heels, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre and ballet. Kailey is the artistic director of Konquer Dance Company teaching and choreographing over 50 routines each season. Kailey also has choreographed for Carnival Chicago, Marist HS, Lincoln Way East HS, Oak Forest HS, Ridgewood HS, Hersey HS, CCSJ college, St. Xavier college, etc. She was apart of the Launch program at The Space in Brea, California. Kailey is also blessed to be a judge for Ultra Dance, and previously Precision Arts Challenge, and Fly dance competition. She also currently teaches for the convention Activate Your Artistry. She loves to inspire and work with other dancers. Her love for choreography has gotten her the opportunity to choreograph for dance teams, companies, and musicals. She has gotten multiple personal invites/scholarships and has been a part of companies such as Launch, Immabreathe, Buildabeast dance experience, Tokyo dance intensive, Nexus dance, etc. She wants to share her love for dance with younger dancers and inspire them with her motto, "Do What You Love!”
JULIAN RAY CARMOLINGA
HEAD HIP HOP TEACHER, CONTEMPORARY
& COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Julian Carmolinga is a professional dancer who has worked for major A-lists artists, has performed for Radio Disney Music Awards, assist. choreographed the MTV Movie Awards, and has been in popular TV shows such as Empire, and The Big Leap to name a few. He has trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, and hip-hop but enjoys dancing/teaching both contemporary and hip hop the most. He has taught at both Millenium Dance Complex in LA as well as at Movement Lifestyle. He has trained under renowned choreographers such as Nika Kljun, Tessandra Chavez, Amanda Grind, and Janelle Ginestra and continues his training while living in LA. His goal is to maintain a balance between working as a professional dancer and getting to share those experiences with all of his students through his teachings so that the dancers will have the tools to be prepared for their future as professionals.
KEBRON POPLOUS
SELF DEFENSE, KICKBOXING,
STRENGTHING & FITNESS COACH
Kebron Poplous was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up playing sports all his life from football to basketball. He wrestled all 4 years of high school and 1 year in college at Minot State University. That’s when his passion for martial arts began. His first form of martial arts began with Brazilian jiu jitsu. He is now an amateur Mma fighter. “When I teach martial arts/self defense I want kids, teens, and adults to know that self defense is just not a use of techniques; It’s a state of mind, and it begins with the belief that you are defending.” Kebron also has aspirations of opening his own jiu jitsu Academy in the near future.
ALYSSA FRANCOEUR
HEAD TUMBLING & ACRO TEACHER, TECHNIQUE, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY
& COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Alyssa was born in Chicago Illinois and began her dance journey as a young adult. She has received awards for advanced technique, intensive tumbling, leadership skills and had the opportunity to be in the Joffrey Ballet Nutcracker. Alyssa has matured into a dedicated dancer and teacher who believes when you do anything for the sake of someone else, no matter how you feel physically or mentally, when that work is done out of love; all things are strengthened.
Alyssa chooses to show righteousness as a dance teacher and with faith reaps the rewards of seeing the kids grow as dancers. Alyssa continues to work diligently, teaching with care, and ensures the well being of others all while continuing to actively train in her own skills, Alyssa has won several awards with her choreography over the years and looks forward to growing together each season with her students.
HANNAH JOHNSON
JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATRE, TECHNIQUE
& COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Hannah began her training at the age of three and hasn’t taken a day off since! She has trained under numerous renowned choreographers and instructors, and has an extensive education in jazz, contemporary, and musical theater.
Living in the great city of Chicago, she is currently fulfilling her dream of being the Artistic Director of a competitive company, a full time educator, and a choreographer for multiple award winning studios throughout the Midwest. She has received many accolades for her choreography, but one of her favorites was the “Superstar Award” which is given to the highest scoring routine of the entire competition!
Hannah happily teaches all levels of dance and continues to find new ways to inspire and push her students in and out of the studio. Throughout her classes, she heavily focuses on not only technique and dance foundations, but confidence building and empowerment through performance.
Hannah’s love for performing only grows stronger every day. Throughout her career she has had the pleasure of being a dancer in films, galas, and concerts, as well as being the dance caption and choreographer of numerous live theater productions.
Hannah has been on multiple judging panels for 5 years now, and she cannot wait to be inspired by all of the amazing dancers she gets the opportunity to work with this upcoming year!
DONNETTA "LILBIT" JACKSON
TAP
Donnetta "LilBit" Jackson is a versatile dance performer, instructor, choreographer, and actress. Born and raised on the Southeast Side of Chicago, IL, she began dancing at The Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre at the age of 7. At 11 years old, she became one of the original members of the prestigious M.A.D.D. Rhythms tap company, and later joined the Chicago Footwork crew, Creation Battle Clique / Creation Global. She choreographs for and performs with Grammy award-winning artist, Chance the Rapper. One highlight of her career is performing alongside Missy Elliot at the 2019 VMAs for her Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award performance. Jackson has also footworked internationally, for corporations like Nike, and has competed on Season 6 of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Recently, Jackson appeared on the Fox/Hulu dance series, The Big Leap, as Tamra Smalls.
LAURA WILLIS
BALLET, PRE POINTE, POINTE
Laura was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Ontario, Canada. There, she trained with Catherine Kourkounakis in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, co-director of internationally-renowned Opera Atelier and the School of Atelier Ballet. In high school, Laura trained on scholarship at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, and attended summer intensives at Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Chicago. She has performed with Opera Atelier, The National Ballet of Canada, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Ballet 5:8, and continues to guest and freelance internationally.
Laura has been teaching across Chicagoland for 9 years, training students from age 2 to adult. She studied with renowned dance physical therapist Lisa Howell to further her knowledge in injury-prevention and dance science, and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. Laura looks forward to seeing her students excel both in and out of the studio!
JONATHAN BOSTELMAN
BALLET
Jonathan started his training in southern Indiana where he had the opportunity to train with members of Louisville Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet. He received his BA in Dance from Belhaven University where he performed along with taking classes in pedagogy, kinesiology, and dance history. Jonathan has had the pleasure of performing across the United States including notable venues such as Winsper Opera House (Dallas TX) and the Hult Center (Eugene OR). He is currently dancing with Ballet 5:8 in Orland Park. Jonathan has performed and coached roles such as Snow King in the Nutcracker, Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, and Prince Florimund in Sleeping Beauty.
PAUSE EDDIE
CHICAGO FOOTWORK
Hailing from Chicago, Pause Eddie began dancing at the age of 15 and has not looked back since. Out of options with no where to turn and eager to avoid the violence that plagued his neighborhood, Pause picked up dance as a creative outlet. What began as just a hobby, Pause quickly turned into a full fledged career teaching all over the US in studios such as Broadway Dance Center, Debbie Reynolds, Millennium Dance Complex, Kreativmndz and Hubbard Street just to name a few. On top of his various teaching credentials, Pause has performed on some of the biggest stages including Dancing With The Stars, VMAS w Missy Elliot, MTV’s ABDC, America’s Got Talent, World of Dance, Apollo, Mamby On The Beach, PitchFork, Lollapalooza, NBA & WNBA, and Chance The Rapper’s Magnificent Coloring Day tour. Always remembering his roots, he constantly gives back to the community by training dancers through his company Creation. Pause has also donated his time to different local programs such as After School Matters, as well as teaching at low income/project areas to help encourage the youth to better their lives. His unwavering drive to keep pushing his art is motivated by his peers, friends and family, and the tragic death of his brother Kendall. Through all the sacrifice and struggle he hopes to show that with drive and positive energy!
MILEY MELENDEZ
BEGINNER CHICAGO FOOTWORK
& HIP HOP
Miley Melendez was born and raised in Chicago. She started dancing at the age of 6, training in all genres but her specialty is hip hop and Chicago footwork. She is currently a proud member of a Chicago footwork crew called Creation Global. Miley was a part of a group called Immabeast in LA at a the age of 9. From there she went on to do several different dance jobs. She has danced for the Chicago BullS, Footlocker, Little John (music video), and currently she is a member of the WNBA dance team for the Chicago Sky woman’s basketball league. Miley has danced for Chance the rapper in his most recent music video and had the privilege to perform in New York this summer in the Monsters of hip hop show as an alumni for the Monsters Cast. Most recently Miley performed at the World Cultural fest in Washington DC as a main dancer for the 50th anniversary of hip hop show dancing in front of a crowd of 1 million people. Miley is not just a performer she is a competitive dancer and teacher. She loves teaching the younger dancers at Konquer Dance Company hip hop and footwork. Miley looks forward to the opportunities that the dance industry will continue to bring her each year.
STEPHANIE BEHLAND
CONTEMPORARY, JAZZ
& COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Stephanie was born in Homer Glen, Illinois and began her dance training at the age of two years old. She began dancing competitively at the age of ten and has trained with professional dance instructors at six different studios to broaden and diversify her dance repertoire. Stephanie is a graduate of Lockport Township High School where she was a member of the Lockport Varsity Dance Team, earning all-conference honors and receiving the Porter Pride Award her senior year. An elementary education major, she currently dances on athletic and academic scholarships with the University of St. Francis Fighting Saints Dance Team in Joliet, where she is a two-time NAIA All-American Honorable Mention dancer. Stephanie was invited to be a part of the Degas Ballet Society where she had a lead role as the witch in their ballet production of Hansel and Gretel. As a competitive dancer, she has received many awards and top three finishes throughout her dance journey in both the soloist and group categories. Her most memorable finishes were her 1stPlace finish in her age division and category for her solo performance at the Power of Dance Competition in 2019 and her hip hop group’s 2019 Grand National win at the Showstoppers Dance Nationals. This past summer, Stephanie completed an internship at the Walt Disney World in Florida as part of the Disney College Program, where she got to meet and work with people from all over the world. Her time there was amazing, and she was grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime experiences and opportunities she was given. Stephanie is humbled to be a part of her students’ dance journey at Konquer and thrilled to be able to ignite their passion for dance.
GIANNA MARASCO
COMPANY ASSISTANT
& SUBSTITUTE
Gianna is a three-time national solo champion. She won title as Miss Precision, Miss Imagine, and Miss Rainbow (twice). Gianna was an Activate Your Artistry Assistant and currently is a Heat Force Company member. She was on varsity poms as a freshman at Carl Sandburg HS but has decided to focus on training and traveling w the Heat Convention to assist & train under the LA teachers. Gianna worked under John Carrafa for the Virgin Hotel in Chgo’s grand opening. Besides being on Konquer’s elite company, she’s trained at Visceral & the Joffrey. Gianna was Clara in Konquer’s Nutcracker in 2021.
EMMY URBAN
COMPANY ASSISTANT
& SUBSTITUTE
Emmy began dancing at the age of four, and started dancing competitively at the age of seven. She has trained in a variety of styles including contemporary, lyrical, ballet, pointe, jazz, and hip hop. As a soloist in the pre-professional division, Emmy has received several top-10 placements. She has earned many scholarships, including to the Millenium Dance Complex in LA. Emmy accepted the invitation to be a member of the Heat Force Company, which gave her the opportunity to train under top industry choreographers. Emmy has been assisting and teaching at Konquer Dance Company since its first season. She is excited and grateful for the opportunity to pass on her knowledge, skills, and love for dance to the talented young dancers at Konquer Dance Company.
SAVANNAH STACH
PILATES
Savannah Stach is dedicated to helping individuals lead healthier lives through unlocking their physical potential and achieve a balanced, strong, and flexible body through the discipline of Pilates. Savannah brings a unique approach to the Pilates classroom due to her extensive ballet career. With over 12 years of dance experience, Savannah has seamlessly merged the principles of this art form with the science of Pilates, creating a unique and effective approach to physical well-being. During Savannah’s dance career she discovered her passion for fostering a harmonious connection between the mind and body which led her to pursue Pilates.
A recent graduate from Belhaven University, Savannah earned a BFA in Dance and is now dancing with Ballet 5:8’s company here in Orland Park. During her time in college Savannah had the opportunity to take Balanced Body’s Pilates certification course and grew in her understanding of anatomy, muscle engagement, and movement.
Savannah’s teaching style is focused on creating a supportive and inclusive environment where you can feel comfortable, no matter your skill level. Whether you're a beginner looking to build a stronger core or an experienced dancer hoping to refine your technique, she is here to guide you on your Pilates journey.
JORDIN SUWALSKI
CONTEMPORARY
Jordin is a native of Des Plaines, IL. She began her early dance training in all disciplines at the Des Plaines School of Dance, where she was a member of the Artistry in Motion Dance Company. She continued her dance training with Inaside Chicago Dance Youth Training Program under the direction of Robert McKee, SARCUS Dance Company under the direction of Sarah Ford Hardy and Marcus Hardy, and most recently The Colony under the direction of Seth Robinson and Jeff Wolfe. Jordin had the opportunity to perform professionally with SueMo Dance Company’s SYMBIOSIS under the direction of Morgan Williams. With SueMo she had the honor of competing at World of Dance and earned a third place award for their piece Ultralight Beam. She is currently a teaching assistant for 360 Dance Festival under the direction of Richard Smith. Jordin is also in her 4th season with KinFigure Kollective under the direction of Caleb Brauner and Carly Lawrence. She has also had the privilege of dancing for the Gateway for Cancer Benefit Gala, three years in a row.
Jordin will be spending this season traveling with STREETZ Competition & Convention as a STREETZ Company Member. She has had an abundance of opportunities to excel at her craft with attending Dancerpalooza for three years, performing works by Talia Favia and Will Loftis. She also attend Talia Favia’s CHAPTERS and Seth Robinson and Jeff Wolfe’s TRIBE Dance.
In addition to her many years training and competing, performing and choreographing are among her top passions as an artist. She has choreographed several award winning dances over the past few years. Jordin also has a love for teaching where she can share her love of dance with the next generation of artists. She is currently teaching at several dance studios throughout the Chicagoland area.
GIANNA PERNA
FRONT DESK ASSISTANT & SUBSTITUTE OF ALL STYLES
Gianna started dance at the age of 10 at a local dance studio. She first trained in Hip Hop, Tap, and Jazz. She then moved to Konquer Dance Company at the age of 15. At Konquer, she began to train in every style as well as start her competitive dance career. Gianna graduated from Andrew High School, where she was a member on the dance team all four years. Along with dance she was involved in multiple clubs and activities. After graduating, she attended Purdue University for a semester, but realized she wanted to be closer to home. She is now attending Moraine Valley concentrating on general studies with her ultimate goal of majoring in Pharmaceutical Sciences. She couldn’t be happier to be home and working at Konquer being around her dance family and continuing to pursue her career all at the same time.
MICHAEL RECCHIA
COMPANY VIDEOGRAPHER
Michael Recchia was born in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Michael is currently in his senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater majoring in marketing! Michael is a skilled visual storyteller with a passion for capturing moments that resonate within dance. Michael has worked with multiple dance studios in the Chicago land area and has crafted a diverse portfolio, seamlessly blending creativity and technical expertise. Michael has also had the opportunity to work with Groove Dance Competition doing social media advertising for them! Whether filming concept videos, combos, or cinematic stories, Michael consistently delivers compelling visuals that leave a lasting impact. His keen eye for detail and commitment to storytelling make them a sought-after professional in the world of videography.
MORGAN KELLY
BALLET &
NUTCRACKER CHOREOGRAPHER
Morgan Kelly began dancing at an early age. She joined a competitive dance company at Elite Dance Center under the direction of Jillian Dudek. She had the opportunity to train at The Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago under the tutelage of Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik, former dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia. She later graduated from the Joffrey Academy’s pre-professional program.
While training at the Joffrey, Ms. Morgan performed in many full-length classical ballets such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, multiple Nutcrackers, The Spring Gala at the Roosevelt Theatre, and an original work by Alexei Kremnev, The BlueBird of Happiness.
Ms. Morgan danced ballet professionally with a touring company where she performed across the country dancing in multiple principle, soloist and corp de ballet roles. While touring, Ms. Morgan taught ballet and formerly directed a pre-professional division. Ms. Morgan spent time dancing at American Ballet Theatre while living in New York, as well as the Nashville Ballet and Indiana University.
Ms. Morgan is a graduate of Arizona State University. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher, having successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is also a certified Pilates and Progressing Ballet Technique Instructor.
Ms. Morgan is currently the Ballet Master at Prestige Arts Company.
AYVAH RODRIGUEZ
FRONT DESK ASSISTANT
& JAZZ SUBSTITUTE
Ayvah started dancing at the age of 2 at a local dance studio and joined Konquer Dance Company at 14 years old. Training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. Ayvah graduated from Andrew High School where she was also a part of the varsity dance team. As a young dancer, Ayvah participated in the Joffrey Ballet Nutcracker for multiple years in the children’s cast, as well as summer intensives for both Joffrey Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre. After highschool Ayvah attended Olivet Nazarene University for her freshman year, but moved home to continue her academics at Moraine Valley. With dance being a primary part of her childhood, Ayvah couldn’t be more excited to be back in the studio working the front desk and guiding young dancers to follow their dreams and never give up on their goals.
JESSICA "JAY" ROMERO
LATIN
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NIK THOTA
HIP HOP &
ADULT HIP HOP
Nikhilesh (Nik) Thota is a Chicago-based teacher and choreographer who has developed his own style through independent study and self exploration. Beginning his dance career as an adult in a smaller town, he was one of few creatives in a tight community. Without many classes to train in, he had only his own mind to pull inspiration from. Deciding dance was a passion of his, he has since traveled all across the country to teach his art as well as train in various styles, with the goal of honing his craft to share with the community in the midwest. Although his focus remains on teaching, he has also choreographed for and danced for local and international aritsts such as Jeremih and The Sugar Hill Gang. He is a 2nd place World of Dance Champion and has been involved with many competition dance teams and studios in the midwest. He is also a former NBA Dancer for the Chicago Bulls. He currently directs The Forum Dance Company in Chicago.
