Kelli C. Lichtenberger
Owner-Director
Elite Dance Co. was started in the summer of 2007 under the direction of Penny Knox and managed by Kelli Lichtenberger. In 2014, Penny retired to Florida and Elite Dance Co was under the directorship of Kelli. In 2017 Kelli took over full ownership and continuing the pride and dedication it takes to run a dance studio that is family-friendly yet professional in every manor and saw the need to expand the studio and gain more visibility with adding storefront and additional retail/lobby space for our growing program. In August of 2017 Elite Dance Co. added an additional 1000+ sqft to our already 6000+ sqft space where we now offer a full line of dancewear, shoes and accessories.
Kelli grew up in the dance studio environment dancing for 10 years at The Dance Factory, as well as working in the office and retail store in Mundelein. We make sure lines of communication are always met when concerning your studio account and customer service. Any questions regarding our program curriculum, class availability, billing and payments as well as properly fitting dancewear can be discussed as Kelli is at the desk for open hours making sure needs are met.
Kelli and her husband Mark have been residents of Wauconda for the past 29 years where she is a devoted wife and mother to their adult children Cameron, Logan and Chloe.
We welcome you to Elite Dance Co.!
Ms Laura Zider, from Vernon Hills, Illinois, began her dance training at the age of five. She graduated with high honors from Western Michigan University with a minor in Sociology and Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Laura is a certified teacher in Progressing Ballet Technique, founded by Marie Walton-Mahon, and believes in its many benefits. She has had the pleasure to choreograph dances for Adali E. Stevenson High School’s Melangé and Concert Dance Companies while acting as a member of each ensemble. Participating in these different ensembles offered her the opportunity to work hand in hand with Liz Lerman and her Critical Response Process to enhance her dance, “It’s Not Goodbye, I’ll See You Later”. Laura has choreographed for multiple dance companies, and has presented numerous competitive entries across the country. Laura has won Technique, Choreography, and High Point Awards across the Regional and National Competitive Circuits. Most notably, Laura has had multiple pieces that made Top 3 and received Finals invites at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). Laura is excited to be the Artistic Director of Elite Dance Company, and continue to share her love and passion for dance with her students!
Ms Anna formally dancing since the age of 4 and performed in her studios annual Magic of The Nutcracker, Spring Collectives, and Summer shows from 1st-12th grade and into college. She was also a member of their Junior and Senior Ballet Performance Companies, Tap and Jazz Companies, as well as their Pre-Professional Track Programs. She began teaching in 2009. During her time training in dance, she also studied martial arts and received her black belt from Northshore Academy of Martial arts at the age of 14. After graduating high-school, Anna went on to perform with and work for Chicago Christian Youth Theater, CYT. As of 2020 Anna is currently in her 6th year coaching CYT Kenosha's Project Dance Teams, as well as choreographing her 12th musical with the company.
Anna has had her dancers and choreography win overall at dance competitions such as Starpower, Hall of Fame, Revolution, Nextstar, Showstoppers and more. She continues to actively pursue any and all opportunities to continue strengthening her dance education, and developing her strengths as a dancer, educator, choreographer and performer.
Ms Sandy grew up in the Northwest suburbs and currently resides in Vernon Hills. She first started taking dance and acrobatics at age 7 and has studied the art of dance since then. She studied at various studios and with many instructors in ballet, pointe, jazz, acrobatics and tap in the Chicagoland area. She decided that she wanted to share her love of dance with others and has been teaching dance for over 15 years and has also coached local performing dance teams. Her main passions are ballet, pointe and tap. She truly loves being able to instruct and inspire those she teaches and also strives to continually enhance her dance education by attending dance conventions designed for dance teachers. She is excited to be able to continue sharing her love of dance as an instructor at Elite Dance Company this coming year.
We are very excited to welcome Sydney Jaffe to Elite Dance Co.! Miss Sydney is originally from the Chicago suburbs, Sydney Jaffe discovered her passion for dance at a very young age. She trained in all styles of dance including Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, and Hip Hop. After graduating High School, Sydney moved to New York to pursue a BFA in dance, a BA in Arts Management, and a pilates certification at SUNY Purchase. During her time at Purchase she has furthered her training in Ballet, Graham, Horton, Cunningham, Limon, partnering, and improvisation. Sydney has had the opportunity to perform works by Jared Baker, Peter Chu, Nick Pupillo, Alexa Capareda, and Cain Coleman. Throughout the Summers Sydney furthered her training with Nova Linea, Visceral Dance Chicago, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, SALT, Alonzo King Lines, and ABT.
We are very excited to welcome Hailey Hellgeth to Elite Dance Co.! Miss Hailey spent majority of her dance training studying a wide range of styles and competed extensively. One of her proudest achievements was being a two-time finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in New York City. She recently graduated from Grand Valley State University, where she served as captain of the Laker Dance Team for three of her four years. During her time on the team, Hailey helped lead them to 10 national championships at the Dance Team Union College Classic in the jazz, hip hop, and spirit showdown divisions. In addition to her collegiate experience, Hailey has judged regional dance competitions, assisted with master classes, taught at clinics, and choreographed for high school dance teams throughout the Midwest. She currently serves as an assistant coach for the Saint Viator High School varsity dance team, continuing to share her passion and expertise with the next generation of dancers.
We are very excited to welcome Willow Bishop to Elite Dance Co.! Miss Willow is a dancer, singer, and actress. She has been involved with theatre and dance for 17 years with a background in all styles of dance, years of voice and instrument lessons and music theory classes, and some acting lessons. She has been in shows like Hairspray with Small Town Theatrics, and Hunchback of Notre Dame and 1776 at Muncie Civic Theatre, many dance productions like TAP! at Ball State University where she recently got her bachelors degree in Dance and Theatre. She is a member of the pre-professional company for Tap 24.7 and is pursuing the trainee program with Visceral Dance. She also choreographs, improvises, and teaches whenever she can as ways to express herself through dance, as well as practicing her instruments and arranging and writing music. The combination of all of these skills has helped her to understand the mechanics of the dance and theatre world and the importance of being a well rounded artist.
Guest Teacher/Choreographer
Ms Teddy started dancing when she was 2 years old, and hasn’t stopped since. Not wanting to limit her abilities, she has immersed herself in all styles including jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, heels, and even ballroom. She views dance as the language that the soul speaks, and continues to become more fluent and expressive in that language. Her continued education has culminated in a minor in dance and constant attendance of classes, workshops, and even competitions in order to keep honing her craft. Some of her credits include, World of Dance Three time champions with Puzzle League, Velocity Finale Piece under Dee Caspery, Talia Favia’s Chapters Member, Finalist at a ShowCase Jack & Jill, as well as countless training under some of the top industry leaders in LA. She keeps pushing her own boundaries so she can help grow the boundaries of those who want to learn this language she loves so much.