Lisa Gold, Director holds a B.A. in Dance from Barat College. She performed with the Mesa Community Dance Theatre, Zephyr Dance Ensemble, Emergence Dance Theatre, Rockford Ballet and the Barat Repertory Dance Company. Lisa trained with Eileen Cropley, Randy Duncan, Rory Foster, Rick Moyano, and Marcus Alford. She has studied at the Carol Walker Dance Studio, Joseph Holmes, Gus Giordano Dance Center, and Ellis-DuBoulay School in Chicago, and the Graham School in New York. Lisa was on the faculty of the Barat Conservatory of Dance for sixteen years teaching ballet and modern dance, assisting in teaching pedagogy, and served on the Dance Search Committee.

Tonya Wibbenmeyer, Assistant Director, received her B.F.A in Dance from Stephens College in Missouri.  She has been a company member of Kalapriya, Dances of India, and Motivity.  Tonya has taught at Stephens College, University of Chicago, and Urban Gateways.  She is extremely diverse in her talents as her training includes Eastern Indian dance, West African dance, and Flamenco, in addition to Ballet, Modern and Jazz. 
Meghan Reimers, Production Assistant, holds a B.A. in Dance Movement Therapy from Barat College.  She is a former company member and guest artist of Judith Svalander Dance Theatre.  She has performed with Vibe Dance Productions at The Jazz Dance World Congress in N.Y. and Chicago, Barat Repertory Dance Company and Prairie Spirits Dance Ensemble as one of the first American companies ever to perform at the Prague International Dance Festival in the Czech Republic.  Her choreography has been featured in local high school swing choir and musical productions.
Meghan McDermott, Department Head-Jazz has a B.F.A. in Dance from Pointe Park College and is a former member of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company. She was on the August 2007 cover of Dance Magazine.
Greg Begley, Department Head-Ballet is the former ballet master and featured dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Company. He was a principal dancer with Ruth Page Chicago Ballet, and solist with the Pittsburgh Ballet. Greg is a faculty member at Lou Conte Dance Center, Ruth Page Foundation, Gus Giordano Dance Center, and the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, where he was the 1996 recipient of the Artistic Achievement Award.
Laura Blatterman has danced with Ballet Magnificat, Atlanta Ballet, Tri-Coastal Ballet Theater and Luna Negra Dance Theater to name a few. In addition to making the Deans list at Columbia College of Chicago in the Dance Program, she has directed dance programs for the YMCA,  spent years teaching in Atlanta, GA, and worked with various non-profits, churches, and inner-city children’s outreach organizations for the arts.  Laura has won numerous awards for her work with inner city dancers including the Dorothy Mullins Humanities Award.  Laura is finishing her business degree at Westwood College and is excited to be joining the NSSD family.
Carlton Bradley is an award winning dancer and choreographer. His styles include hip hop, modern, jazz, and lyrical. Carlton is a former Dance 2XS member and has training from The Joel Hall Dance Center, Millennium Dance Complex, Homer Bryant, Millennium Dance Complex, The edge Pac, Gil Dudulao, Sky Hoffman, Marty Kudelka, Michael Rooney, Kevin Maher, Tabitha & Napoleon and Dave Scott.
Karen Brettschneider began ballet with Lisa Boehm and later studied jazz with Lisa’s son Frank.  She also trained at North Carolina School of the Arts, Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, Ruth Page Foundation, Gus Giordano’s and the Lou Conte Dance Studio.  After attending Barat College and earning a BA in Performing Arts, Karen performed with the Zephyr Dance Ensemble.  Choreography credits include numerous pieces for the North Shore Dance Company, NSYMCA Dance Company, North Shore School of Dance Nutcracker, and several productions for the Barat College Theater Department.  She is currently the coordinator for the NSSD Intensive Program. Karen has been teaching professionally in Chicago and its suburbs since 1990.
Ariel Cisneros is a former dancer and soloist with the National Ballet of Cuba and the Joffery Ballet.
Julie Cartier is a former member and Assistant Director of Chi-town Jazz Dance Company and has danced with River North Dance Company, Lynda Martha Company, and is currently directing Especially Tap Company. She has taught for the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists and the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Julie taught jazz and tap at the Barat Conservatory of Dance and choreographed on the Barat Repertory Dance Company.
Carise Comstock is originally from Pittsburgh, PA and is currently a middle school Language Arts teacher in Oak Park, IL and teaches Cardio Dance Jamm at the Cheetah Gym in Andersonville. Last year, she choreographed for the Highland Park High School Dance Show. She currently dances with Dance 2XS-Chicago, which she has been a member for the past 5 years.
Brandon DiCriscio (Wilmington, DE) is in his third season with River North Chicago, under the direction of Frank Chaves. Growing up, he danced at the Anna Marie Dance Studio in Wilmington, Delaware. Brandon has a B.A. in Dance from Point Park University. In his college career, he performed works by Agnes De Mille (Rodeo, Champion Roper), Edgar Zendejas, Doug Varone, Ron De Jesus, and Alan Hineline as well as faculty works by Jay Kirk, Ron Tassone, Doug Bentz, and Nicolas Petrov. Brandon is very excited to join the NSSD staff, and share his passion for dance.
Victoria Dutton received a B.S. in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and a M.F.A from Boston Conservatory.  She is a former company member of Atlanta Ballet and has also danced with Portland Ballet Company, Houston Ballet and Moving Theater Images of Sean Murphy.  She has taught at Loyola University, Walnut Hill, Festival Ballet of N.C. Texas and Boston Conservatory.  She is also a recipient of the Leaman Award for Artistic Excellence.
Anne Gollenberg originally from New York, graduated from Point Park University with a B.A. in Dance.  Directly following graduation she traveled to Chicago to study at the Giordano Dance Center within the Scholarship program, as well as with River North. Ms. Gollenberg is the Associate Artistic Director, Business Manager, and Company Member for Inaside Chicago Dance.
Alejandra González began her training at Le Jazz-Ballet Studio(Monterrey, México). She performed for three years in Le Jazz Groupe, working with such choreographers as Patricia Villarreal, Rosario Murillo, Brisa Escobedo and Vanessa Pletel. In 2004 she graduated from Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey, with a major in dance teaching. In 2005 Gonzaléz joined Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago´s second Company, Where she performed works from such acclaimed choreographers as Tony Powell, Jon Lehrer, Randy Duncan and Davis Robertson. She joined Luna Negra Dance Theatre in 2007. She is happy to start her second year at NSSD. 
Stephanie Hilton formerly of Thodos Dance Chicago and Giordano II Chicago.
Caroline Kuhl graduated from Illinois State University, and has performed with Zephyr Dance Ensemble, The Funny Firm, Pheasant Run Dinner Theatre, Flamingo Hilton Boardwalk Casino (Las Vegas), a tour of Tokyo with magician Luna Shemada, Ameba, and Motivity. She currently takes classes with Julie Cartier.
Robert McKee recently graduated from Point Park University with a B.A. in Dance. At Point Park he worked with Troika Ranch, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Edgar Zendejas, and Kiesha Lalama-White. This is his second season with GJDC, and he is excited to be a part of this family.
Olga Meyer (Ballet Accompanist) graduated from the Azerbajian State College in Baku and earned her Masters in Music and Teaching from the State Conservatory. She taught and concertized in Russia before coming to the United States in 1981. She has been an accompanist for Maria Tallchief at the Chicago City Ballet, the Ruth Page Foundation School of Ballet, and the Salt Creek Ballet Company. For over 20 years, Olga has played at Columbia College and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Olga worked with the late Anna Paskevska on Music for Ballet Class, a cd with selections arranged and played by Olga.  She was also an accompanist for ballet class in the movie Save the Last Dance.
Dionna PridGeon is a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She received her B.A. in Dance, May 2004. Her recognitions include: tour scholarships from Monsters of Hip Hop and The Pulse On Tour - Protégé Award, Mia Michaels/Wild Dance Intensive, Millennium Dance Complex, and the Future Star Award issued by Dance Spirit Magazine. Currently, she is Resident Choreographer for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Teaching Artist for Hubbard Street Dance Center and The Joffrey Ballet Academy. Her more recent credits include: Black Nativity at the Goodman Theatre, Thodos Dance Chicago-New Dances, Coachella–Palm Springs Music Fest, Dancejam.com/Jessi Malay Showcase in Orlando, FL, Dance Chicago ’08, Monsters of Hip Hop–The Show ‘09.
Chris Rosales Originally a break-dancer, Chris has been performing and choreographing hip hop for 9 years.  He has been a dancer/choreographer of Culture Shock Chicago, AASIA, and currently with Dance 2XS Chicago.  He has taught Hip Hop classes around the Chicagoland area and suburbs, UIC, and the North Shore.  Chris recently signed with the dance agency Lily’s Talent/Clear Talent Group.
Amy Rose danced with the Chicago Ballet before joining American Ballet Theatre, where she performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov, and was chosen for a tour to Italy. In 1992, Amy joined Pacific Northwest Ballet, and has performed with the Universal Ballet in Korea, Japan, and China, American Ballet Theatre in Manilla, Jacobs Pillow with Patrick Bissell, Lyric Opera of Chicago, DanceWest ballet, Northwest Ballet and Civic Ballet of Chicago. She is a regular guest teacher with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ruth Page Foundation, and the ABT Summer Intensive. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Pam Tanis is a former principle dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, and was a member of American Ballet Theatre, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Alvin Ailey Dance Workshop. She was coached in principle roles by Robert Joffrey, George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Rudolph Nureyev, Leonide Massine, Bronislava Nijinska, Todd Bolender, Alvin Ailey, Jerome Robbins, and Alexandra Danilova. Her teaching credits include Barat Conservatory of Dance, Northern Illinois University, Columbia College, DuPage Ballet, Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Studio Two, and Joel Hall Dancers, where she is Ballet Mistress. In the summer of 2009, Pam was a guest teacher at South Hold Ballet Company in Indiana where she taught ballet and lyrical.
Laura Tomlinson is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a BA in dance performance. She has been teaching in the Chicago land area since 1999 teaching ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, lyrical, tap, and hip hop in the suburbs. She is a former company member of Chicago Dance Crash, Corpo Dance Company, Inc. and is currently dancing with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre.