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 1.5 years old. She has trained with multiple dance teams in Chicago and LA in hip hop, contemporary, jazz, and ballet. Kailey is currently the artistic director of Konquer Dance Company teaching and choreographing over 40 routines each season. Some of these routines have won first place at a national level. This past year she was also blessed to be a judge for Precision Arts Challenge dance competition.
She is also a part of Ipush and assisting/teaching for Activate Your Artistry. Kailey was also picked to be an ambassador for the Bridge Training Program based out of LA. She loves to inspire and work with other dancers. She has found a love for choreography. Choreographing for an Aladdin musical (2017), Calumet City of St. Joseph Dance Team (2017), St, Xavier Dance Team (2018), Perfection Dance Company (2018), Konquer Dance Company (2018-2021), concept videos, wedding routines, half time routines, solos and other poms group routines. She has gotten multiple personal invites/scholarships and been blessed to a part of companies such as 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
CONTEMPORARY, HIP HOP & COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Julian Ray Carmolinga was born and raised in Chicago, Il and at the age of 19 he moved to Los Angeles, CA to begin his career as a professional dancer/choreographer/teacher. Julian has choreographed and/or danced for Radio Disney Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards, J Balvin, Ellen, Lil Jon, Jordan Fisher, Big Leap, Ellen, AGT, Monsters Show ’21 and more.
Julian’s source of passion for teaching/choreography comes from both the freedom, and the discipline involved. The freedom of being able to create/express anything you want as a choreographer using your technique, and the discipline of knowing that you have the power to encourage self-respect, love, and positivity in every single dancer in a classroom.
He is now based in Chicago continuing his work as a bicoastal professional dancer/teacher.
KEBRON POPLOUS
SELF DEFENSE, KICKBOXING,
BOOTCAMP & PERSONAL TRAINING
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 jujitsu. He is now an amateur Mma fighter with a record of 1-0 and more to come within the next two years he will go pro. 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 with defending. Kebron also has aspirations of opening his own jujitsu Academy.
ALYSSA FRANCOEUR
TECHNIQUE, ACRO, TUMBLING, HIP HOP &
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 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 by faith reaps the reward of seeing the kids grow as dancers. Alyssa continues to work diligently, teaching with care, and ensures the well being of others.
HANNAH JOHNSON
JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATRE &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 this past season when her dance “Crazy” went on to achieve 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. She recently had the pleasure of being a dancer in the film “Bentley”, directed by Dre Josiah and choreographed by Monyett Crump. She has also been dancing annually in the Gateway for Cancer Research Gala, choreographed by Jennifer Mote. She was so excited to be backup dancing for Pussycat Doll Chesca Ramirez and rapper Stacey Kay at the last event!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, ADVANCED FOOTWORK &COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
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 & 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 & MOBILITY
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 & HIPHOP
Miley has been dancing since the age of 6. She currently trains in many forms of dance. Miley is the youngest member of Chicago’s very own Creation footwork crew. She has been training in Chicago footwork for 4 years . While training Miley has been given so many opportunities. She was a member of immabeast. Where she trained in LA for a short time . Miley was in her first music video at the age of 9 with Lil Jon and the kool aid man . From there she has performed on many stages For Red Bull, Nike, Footlocker and this year at Lollapalooza. Miley has traveled all over for dance she is currently a Monsters Kid cast Nominee for 2021 and a Kaos crew member. Miley has performed at World of Dance where she performed with the headliners. This year she will be traveling and assisting with Activate your Artistry dance convention. She has been in several halftime shows for the Chicago sky WNBA team and the Chicago Bulls.While doing all of that at such a young age, she has also stayed with continuous training in all styles including technique and ballet at Konquer Dance Company. Miley inspires several young students with her work ethic, talent and love for dance.
ANNALIESE HUNTER
BALLET, MOBILITY, & PREPOINTE
Annaliese began her love of dance when she was 6 years old. She started taking ballet and jazz classes at a small studio in Hollister, CA. After a few years of training, she went on to a larger dance school focused on classical and contemporary ballet. When her family moved to Arizona in 2018, she started dancing as pre-professional ballet student in Phoenix. During this time, she was able to attend multiple summer intensives with American Ballet Theatre, as well as Ballet Arizona. She was also a part time dance instructor at a few local studios. After graduating high school, she became a Trainee with Ballet 5:8 and has since performed in School of Ballet 5:8 productions and community outreach performances that incorporate the Ballet 5:8 repertoire. In 2022, she was promoted to Second Company artist and has since performed in Ballet 5:8 productions along side the main company
JORIANNE ZVONEK
COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER, TAP, MUSICAL THEATRE, & HIP HOP
Jorianne started dancing at the age of four at a local dance studio and is trained in all styles of dance. By age eleven, she began competing at local dance competitions winning numerous awards and in 2022 she ranked 7th nationally for her musical theater solo. She has also trained with The Broadway Collective where she has studied singing, dancing, and acting with some of Broadway’s best such as Robert Hartwell, Andy Jones, Jessica Vosk, JJ Niemann, and many more. Throughout her dance career, she has been blessed to have worked with so many talented industry professionals such as Bonnie Story, Seth Zibalese, Jason Kalish, and more. In 2021, Jorianne also competed at the IMTA (International Model and Talent Association) where she took first place in dance, was in top 5 for actor of the year, and was second runner up for most sought out talent. She is currently represented by an agent in LA. Jorianne is now dancing/working professionally in the industry. Most recently, she has worked on a popular children’s television series that will premiere on Apple TV and is also a Pro Assistant at the dance competition/convention Hollywood Connection where she travels and assists. Jorianne has also found a love for choreographing, and her work has placed nationally. She loves being a positive influence on young dancers and feels it’s so important to be encouraging with the hopes of building their confidence and watching their love for dance grow!!
STEPHANIE BEHLAND
TUMBLING, TAP, & JAZZ
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.
NICO RUBIO
TAP & COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Chicago Native, Nico Rubio, is one of the leading Tap Dancers of his generation. The founder and director of Shuffle Liiife Productions and Tap company 333 (Three Thirty Three). Nico has traveled the world, teaching, performing and choreographing everywhere from Europe to Asia, Central America to South America. Appearing locally on Windy City Live and halftime for the Chicago Bulls, as well as abroad from UCLA’s Jazz Reggae Fest to the Beijing Contemporary Dance Festival. Most recently speaking and performing for TedX at The Harris Theatre.
In 2018, Nico received the Chicago Dancemakers Forum’s Lab Artist Award. In 2019, he choreographed, produced and even DJ’d By Way Of Taps: A J Dilla Tribute, which was performed at Columbia’s Dance Center, in Long Beach California, and premiered in full at Thalia Hall in Pilsen, IL. From 2020 to now, Nico has produced virtual and in person events via Shuffle Liiife, such as Shows, Jam, Workshops, and notably his Footage Functions that have furthered his contributions towards preserving where Tap has been, where it is now, and where it’s going. With everything he does, Nico’s mission is not just to expose the majesty and humanity of Tap Dancing and other art forms, but to highlight everyone’s infinite individual incandescence (light), via Shuffle Liiife.
