IDP Instructors
“I hope to provide my students with training that will teach them the value of being an artist. I want them to learn that when dancing, they are sharing a piece of their soul with the world. I want them to be proud to freely express themselves through movement. I want my students to leave my classes and rehearsals feeling accomplished and unburdened. I hope to provide a place where they don’t have to worry about anything, where they can be themselves with no inhibitions, where they can experiment with movement and artistic integrity, and where they will receive dance training that offers an experience they will never forget.”
SYDNEE REESE
OWNER/ ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Sydnee Reese grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and began her dance training at London Dance Academy where she trained and completed R.A.D. and I.S.T.D. examinations in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap with distinctive scoring. Sydnee moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 2006 and began training and teaching ballet, tap, and jazz at Synergy Dance Center. In 2009, Sydnee attended Webster University, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance with an emphasis in ballet in August of 2012. While at Webster University, Sydnee studied as a scholarship recipient with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Mark Morris Dance Group in New York City where she received extensive training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, Horton, Graham, and other modern dance techniques. This past summer Sydnee was certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. She has had the opportunity to work with Iyun harrison, Alicia Graf, Jimena Paz, Beckah Voigt, Homer Bryant, Keith Saunders, Joyce Herring, Endalyn Taylor, Michael Uthoff, Leonard Cruz, Sean Curran, Jennifer Medina, Jessica Lang, Uri Sands, and Tyronne Brooks. She also danced a principal role in the productions of The Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and had an arts administration internship with The Big Muddy Dance Company. Sydnee danced with Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company for two seasons as well as the administrative assistant to the artistic director of the company. Sydnee has also guest taught and choreographed for Webster University’s dance department in recent years as well as performing and choreographing a dinner theatre variety show in downtown Saint Louis. With over 16 years of dance instructing experience, she is currently focused on owning and artistically directing Imagine Dance Project.
COLLEEN BREEN
YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Colleen Breen obtained her BFA in Dance Performance at East Carolina University School of Theatre and Dance. Colleen has had the opportunity to train with dance professionals such as Jennifer Archibald, Jennifer Medina, Galina Panov, John Dixon, Teal Darkenwald, Tommi Galaska, and Nina Galaska. Colleen has 16 years of teaching under her belt, she was a high school dance team coach for five years, and has taught classes at the studio and collegiate levels throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Currently, Colleen is the Youth Program Director at Imagine Dance Project. She specializes in teaching preschool and kindergarten dance classes as well as dance team preparation classes. Her goal is to build the confidence of her dancers, teach them discipline and proper technique, while training in a fun environment!
LILLY HETZ
AERIAL AND ACRO INSTRUCTOR
Lilly has been joyfully dancing since the age of two. She was happy dancing and making new friends. Lilly had so many things to say that her brain worked faster than her mouth could speak the words. This resulted in a stutter. After working with speech therapists, the professionals recommended that Lilly strengthen her hands, arms, neck and facial muscles to improve her speech. Dance played a key role in this therapy.
After moving from suburban Chicago to the St. Louis area, Lilly’s mother enrolled her in her first aerial class at the age of thirteen -- and she fell in love. She loved the challenge and was determined to take her dancing skills from the floor to the air. Lilly has been dancing competitively for eight years in both regional and national competitions. After competing and performing with her dance studio and with her high school varsity dance team, Lilly is continuing her education at Missouri Baptist University.
Lilly is majoring in Marketing, and minoring in both Business Administration, as well as in Dance. Additionally, she is the captain of MBU’s competition dance team, Spartan Line. Lilly has been hired using the stage name Lil-E-Lectric to perform aerial silks at both corporate and public events in the St. Louis area -- such as several Nightchaser events, as well as a Women's Conference. Her favorite aspect of performing aerial arts is interacting with her audience to create magical and truly unique experiences. Lilly was one of the lead instructors at On The Fly Productions (a full service entertainment company known internationally for
specializing in aerial flying effects) where she taught aerial arts to students of all ages. She loves to watch her students improve and grow both as dancers and as individuals. Lilly knows that wherever God leads her, she will be fulfilled.
MAMIE MELCHOR-FENDI
COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Mamie has been studying dance and acrobatics since the age of 2 1/2 and has been an instructor and choreographer since 1999. Mamie has competed in many regional and national competitions winning numerous high score awards including a scholorship to attend "Russell Clark and Tony Selznick Productions" in Hollywood, California. Mamie attended St. Charles West High School where she served as Captain of the Dance 'n' Drill, helping her team win several state dance titles. She was also nominated by faculty in her high school to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. She was an NCA Danz instructor in which she taught high school dance teams in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Texas. Mamie has judged various competitions throughout the region. She has also done choreography for dance and cheerleading teams in Missouri and Illinois. You may have also seen her choreography on the TV show "Junior Stars." Her students, ranging in age from five to eighteen, have competed in many regional and national competitions winning many high score awards along with choreography, entertainment, showmanship, sportsmanship and costume awards.
In addition to teaching at Imagine Dance Project, Mamie is married to her high school sweetheart and have two brave and courageous daughters, a Border Collie and a cat. Mamie attended St. Charles Community College for Nursing. She continues her dance education by attending various teacher-training programs.
MARY GRACE WIEDT
CONTEMPORARY INSTRUCTOR/COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
Mary Grace was born and raised in STL where she grew up dancing competitively. During her senior year of highschool she attended Webster University for a semester training under Xi ``Cecillia” Zhao, Michael Uthoff, and Maggi Dueker. From there she attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York where she trained in Cunningham, Limón, Graham, Horton, Butoh, Gaga, Nikolais, O’Donnell, Taylor, Improvisation, Composition, and many others. During her time at Marymount she performed works by Crystal Pite, Gallim, Jose Limón, and Ohad Naharin. In New York she was also fortunate to be featured in an original work choreographed by Jenn Freeman for the Steps on Broadway Choreographer’s Showcase. Besides her training at Marymount she attended numerous intensives and workshops working with choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Sonya Tayeh, and AnoukVan Dijk. She graduated Marymount May 2023 Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her next endeavor is to obtain her Masters in Education from Lindenwood University. Aside from dancing and performing, Mary Grace has a large passion for teaching and choreography. She has set numerous works around the St. Louis area as well as other studios around the country. Some of the studios she has worked outside the St. Louis area include Columbia City Jazz in South Carolina, Spotlight Danceworks in Michigan, Becky Nalavenko’s in Iowa, and AMPA in Kentucky.
RACHEL RYSANEK
TAP INSTRUCTOR
Rachel Rysanek started dance at age five at Dance Productions Unlimited (DPU Dance) in Arnold, Missouri, where she grew up. She has trained in Tap, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Ballet, and Jazz, and competed in these styles of dance from 2006 to 2017. She graduated from DPU Dance in 2017 and also taught various dance classes at DPU Dance from 2015 to 2020 as a teacher and an assistant. In addition, Rachel taught tap classes at Center of Creative Arts (COCA) from 2017 to 2020.
Rachel was apart of STL Rhythm Collaborative, also known as MoSTLy Tap from 2021-2022, teaching dance camps and performing professionally around the St. Louis area. Rachel has also trained under many talented tap dancers, including Anthony Russo, Lisa Dallas, and Amy Gammon. She has taken classes from Sarah Reich, Charles Renato, Diane Walker, Derick Grant, Star Dixon, Dre Torres, Michelle Dorrance, Elizabeth Burke, Jumaane Taylor, Lisa La Touche, Mark Goodman, Justin Myles, and Christopher Erk.
Rachel is also a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist and works at SLU Hospital in the main laboratory. She graduated from Maryville University of Saint Louis in 2021 with two degrees: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science. She loves caring for patients through her work in the hospital lab!
MADYN WASKIEWICZ
YOUTH INSTRUCTOR
Madyn grew up in Dartmouth, Massachusetts and began her dance training at the New Bedford Ballet where she trained extensively in ballet, pointe, and modern techniques. At age 17, she was invited to danced with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago as a Contemporary Ballet Trainee under the direction of Katlin Bourgeois, Ogulcan Borova, Raúl Casasola, and Karin Ellis-Wentz. In her time there she had the honor of performing works by choreographers such as, Martha Nichols, Katlin Bourgeois, and Anne O’Donnell Passero. She is excited to continue her dance career this year as a trainee with St. Louis Dance Theatre (formerly Big Muddy Dance Company) and to continue following her secondary passion of spreading her knowledge through teaching dance.
LEEANN MELCHOR
JAZZ INSTRUCTOR/ COMPANY CHOREOGRAPHER
LeeAnn Melchor has 41 years of dance experience, having had the honor of performing as a principal with the Los Angeles Contemporary Ballet and as a guest artist with various dance companies. She has taught for over 31 years in both Missouri and California, during which time she worked on the sets of TV shows Ally McBeal and Fame LA. LeeAnn was also awarded scholarships to Tremaine Dance Center and Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. LeeAnn founded and operated Synergy Dance Center and her award winning competitive dance team from 2005-2011. Currently, LeeAnn is a Psychiatric Nurse in St. Louis and competition choreographer at Imagine Dance Project.
CAITLIN HOPKINS
MODERN INSTRUCTOR
Caitlin Started her dance training at the age of 12 in Kalamazoo, Michigan at Ballet Arts School of Dance where she took on various styles of jazz, modern, tap as well as participating in their youth ballet company, Ballet Arts Ensemble, where she learned varying types of ballet forms deriving from Vaganova, Balanchine, even testing through level 5 of the Cecchetti Method. After her secondary education she went on to study at Western Michigan University where she furthered her trifocal dance studies while also having the opportunity to perform in faculty pieces, guest artist works, and take master class with guest residencies. After graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance she was given the opportunity to spend her post grad year as a trainee with The Big Muddy Dance company in St Louis, Missouri where she was able to participate in various festivals and shows under the Big Muddy Convergence Trainee name. This is her second year teaching at IDP and can’t wait to get back in the studio with all the dancers!
CESCILEY HALL
HIP HOP INSTRUCTOR
Cesciley has been dancing for 17 years. She spent 14 of those years at Sara’s Studio of Dance, where she competed for 5 years and became a National Champion as a soloist. She later joined the Kode Redd dance company in St. Louis, a pre-professional/professional training program, which was a transformative experience! She has been teaching for 7 years, specializing in Hip-hop, Contemporary, and Jazz. Dance has always been her deepest passion, and despite facing injuries, she’s grateful to continue sharing it with others!
MADI MAETTEN
YOUTH INSTRUCTOR
Madi began dancing at the age of 13 and has exclusively trained at Imagine Dance Project. Undergoing instruction from various teachers including Sydnee Reese, LeeAnn Melchor, Caitlin Hopkins, Colleen Breen, and more, Madi has received rigorous technical training in styles such as ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop. Madi has danced on the competition team for 4 years (seasons 7-10) and has had the privilege to attend multiple conventions and competitions, allowing her to attend master classes and learn from instructors all over the country. This fall, Madi plans to attend Webster University to earn her BFA in modern dance with a certificate in entrepreneurship and is so excited to begin sharing her love and passion for dance through teaching!
BAYLEE MCALLISTER
YOUTH CLASS INSTRUCTOR
Baylee McAllister is from Fishers, Indiana where she trained at Dance Creations Academy primarily with Mimi Priest, Melissa McInnis, Sarah Hammer, Beverly Worhle, Lauren Hamilton, and Stephanie Lusch. She graduated from Indiana University and received her B.F.A. in Contemporary Dance and Minor in Arts Management in the Spring of 2024. Baylee has performed in works by DaEun Jung, Elizabeth Shea, Justin Sears-Watson, Stafford C. Berry Jr., Maya Orchin, Stefanie Nelson, and Selene B. Carter during her time at IU. She had the opportunity to work with Phoenix Rising Dance Company performing ‘Culturescape’ by Justin-Sears Watson and Margo Korn at Waterstreet Dance Festival in 2022. Baylee studied dance in Paris, France, working with astounding dance professionals: Wanjiru Kamuyu, Sébastien Thill, Anna Chirescu, Aurélia Lefauchaux, LaMichael Leonard, Clint Lutes, Asha Thomas, Michelle Jacobi, Madison Mainwaring and Michael Foley while also receiving choreographic experience in Berlin with Heidi Weiss, Paris with Nathalie Pubellier and Amsterdam with Maurice Causey. Her outside training includes: the Boston Ballet Summer Intensive, Eisenhower Dance Detroit Winter Intensive, SALT Contemporary Dance LINK Intensive, and an internship at Dance Kaleidoscope in Indianapolis, IN. She is a proud recipient and first place winner of the Molly Parsley Festival of Creativity Award for her choreographic work, ‘Chasing Rabbits’ (2022). Baylee recently performed a work by Elizabeth Shea in NYC at the Mark Morris Theater and a piece by Kathryn Robinson at Indy Dance Festival. She is currently living in St. Louis, Missouri and is a trainee with St. Louis Dance Theater (formally known as the Big Muddy Dance Company). Baylee has taught at various studios and pop-up classes from ages 2-adult since she was 18 around Indianapolis and is excited to continue her teaching in St. Louis.
MISSY HAMPTON
TAP INSTRUCTOR/LEAPS & TURNS INSTRUCTOR
Missy has been in the dance industry for over 45 years spanning all facets of dance, performance choreography, teaching and judging. She loves teaching all ages and has created many top award-winning pieces. Missy teaches all styles of dance and has taught throughout several parts of the US. She currently judges at competitions and dance team auditions around the country. Additionally, she continues her dance training at teacher conventions annually and has taken classes from Mia Michaels, Doug Caldwell and Jason Samuel Smith, just to name a few. Missy is committed to providing the highest level of instruction. She has been a board member of the St. Louis Chapter of Dance Masters of America, certified in tap and jazz, along with having extensive experience in the genre of acro. Artistry, technique and self confidence are her number one goals in the studio. She has a well-rounded background in dance and performance combined with an enthusiastic and genuine love of teaching. Missy is also a member of the dance industry community serving as the Director of Marketing for Laylas Dance Costumes. Her career has taken her all over the world and she brings her passion for dance with her to IDP.
RENEE AUSTIN
HIP HOP INSTRUCTOR
Renée Austin, a Chicago native, began dancing in 2004 at Mayfair Dance Academy under direction of Peggy Sutton. She has additionally trained at Diverse Elements Dance Studio, Encore Dance Center, Arizona School for the Arts, Velocity Dance Center, and Spectrum Dance Theater under direction of Donald Byrd in their Academy Program. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Dance and minor in Psychology (2023), Renée explores her artistry through the relationship between dance and other art forms, merging various dance styles, and how the human experience informs her movement. She has learned from and worked with renowned artists including Anthony “Redd” Williams, Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Tiala Taylor, Aaliyah Weston, MJ Imani, Ashley Tate, Melanie George, Eva Stone, Keyes Wiley, Cecil Slaughter, David Marchant, Joanna Dee Das, Erin Morris, Maria Majors, Caroline Gonsalves Bertho, Ryadah Heiskell, Elinor Harrison, Kendra Key, and Heather Beal. A choreographer, teacher, and performing artist, Renée teaches around the St. Louis area and has worked with numerous organizations including COCA, Anheuser-Busch, Keshon Campbell Films, Festival of Nations, STL Rhythm Collaborative, St. Louis Academy of Dance, Pack Dance, Utopia Experiences, The Black Rep, and St. Louis Artist’s Guild. She also performs and choreographs for RnB artist Kbthesinger; she performed with him at Summerfest 2023 in Milwaukee, at City Winery STL, and creative directed and starred in his music video for his single “Rock!” Renée recently collaborated with artist Jasmin Savoy Brown and has worked with numerous artists including Blanca, Keshon Campbell, Hana Canhasi, Faith Miller, and Aaliyah Weston. In July 2024, Renée was chosen to perform at the triennial ELCA National Youth Gathering for an audience of over 16,000 people at Smoothie King Stadium in New Orleans. She is a company artist of two prominent St. Louis dance companies: RESILIENCE Dance Company and Kode Redd Dance Company. You can also find her teaching at Yes Honey on Fridays. Renée is elated to join Imagine Dance Project faculty this year!
JACKIE GRAY
YOUTH INSTRUCTOR/COMPETITION CHOREOGRAPHER
Jackie Gray has been dancing in the St. Louis area for 21 years. She was an IDP competitive dancer for seasons 1-4 and earned a wide variety of awards and achievements including first place on her solo “Ne Me Quitte Pas”. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Arkansas and earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance. She then moved back to STL and is a financial advisor with her dad at Thrivent. Jackie always had a strong passion for dance and has decided to share that passion at the studio that helped raise her. Teaching at IDP has made her feel like she never left and she is so excited to share her Imagination, Dedication, and Perseverance with the next generation of dancers.
JOCELYN EVANS
COMPETITION CHOREOGRAPHER
Jocelyn Evans started dancing at the age of four and continued to gain experience up until her high school graduation. The majority of those years were spent dancing competitively at various dance studios, only to find a home at Imagine Dance Project. She also was a member of her high school dance team at Fort Zumwalt West High School. Throughout the years, Jocelyn has had the honor to perform in The Nutcracker with the Joffrey Ballet, as well as the St. Louis Ballet, and earned a wide variety of awards and achievements dancing competitively at the studio. During her senior year at Fort Zumwalt West (2018), her team won the UDA National Championship in Large Division Hip Hop.
After graduating high school, she attended Western Kentucky University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Public Health. After graduation, Jocelyn began working in the St. Louis region as a public health emergency preparedness planner. She then returned to Imagine Dance Project to begin working with the competition team, giving back to the institution that helped make her the woman she is today. As of 2024, she is attending Western Kentucky University virtually to earn her Masters degree in Homeland Security Sciences with a concentration in Emergency Management Disaster Science.
Once a student and now a teacher, Jocelyn loves having the opportunity to work with the competitive dancers at Imagine Dance Project, as it’s a team and family she holds near and dear to her heart.
MIKAYLA FARWIG
ACRO INSTRUCTOR/COMPETITION CHOREOGRAPHER
Mikayla was born and raised in St. Louis and began dance and tumbling at 11yrs old. She fell in love immediately and joined her studios competition team at 14 years old. Her studio provided her numerous, performance opportunities as well as the ability to learn an array of different styles from many different teachers and choreographers throughout the years. Upon graduating she studied dance at UCM and enjoyed taking any and every opportunity to attend masterclasses and other educational opportunities to further her knowledge of dance. She began teaching at 19 and has never looked back. Though she has experience teaching numerous styles she feels most comfortable in jazz and contemporary and specializes in acro/tumbling, technique and strength and conditioning training. Most recently she performed with Consuming Kinetics Dance Company and believes the best teachers are the ones that always remain students themselves
MEGAN MAETTEN
REHEARSAL INSTRUCTOR
Megan Maetten began dancing at the age of three and continued until her high school graduation. She grew up at the dance studio and cherished the chance to compete with Imagine Dance Project during its early seasons. Megan also competed with the Liberty High School varsity dance team from 2015 to 2019, where she had a passion for leadership and served as team captain her senior year. Having spent the past four years in Columbia, Missouri, attending Mizzou to earn her Doctor of Pharmacy, she is thrilled to return home and rejoin Imagine Dance Project. Watching her younger sister, Madison Maetten, a studio dancer, has rekindled her love for dance. Megan is excited to be back at IDP and looks forward to witnessing each student's growth throughout the season.
ABI TELANDER
JAZZ INSTRUCTOR/COMPETITION CHOREOGRAPHER
Abi Telander is originally from a small town in northwestern Minnesota. She trained extensively with the North Dakota Ballet Company and spent summers training under the direction of Ronn Guidi of the Oakland Ballet Company. She performed in several ballet productions with both companies including Hansel and Gretel and the Nutcracker. While at the North Dakota Ballet Company she trained in Ballet, Jazz and Modern techniques and studied with former Broadway performer, Job Christenson. Under Job’s direction of the company, Abi became the Ballet Mistress for several years and was featured in the Crimson Creek Collegiate Players summer productions or Oklahoma! and Cabaret.
In 2005, Abi relocated to Columbia, MO to attend Stephens College and studied under Jan Miller (former Balanchine company dancer) and Deborah Carr (Charles Weidman Dance Company member). While at Stephens, Abi trained in several dance styles including Ballet, Modern, Musical Theater, Jazz, Irish Step, Flamenco, and East Indian. She was also a member of the college’s performance company “Dance Dimensions”. Abi graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as well as receiving the Dance Department’s award for most influential company member.
After graduation, Abi went on to teach and choreograph for a competition studio in central Missouri for 10 years until moving to Wentzville with her family in 2020. Her competition students and choreography have won several awards, including many 1st overalls, high point champions, and awards for entertainment, technique, and overall choreography. During the day, Abi works as a Loan Officer’s Assitant and Processor at USA Mortgage and in her free time is the Team Manager for her son’s hockey team and loves to spend time with her son and husband watching and attending all things hockey.
This is Abi’s 2nd year at Imagine Dance Project, and she is excited to share her love of dance with all the students at IDP!