Your Dance Training Matters.
Meet Our TEaching Staff
Emily Schumacher
Emily graduated with a Dance Performance degree from Illinois State University in 2017. While at ISU she performed as a company member of the Illinois State Dance Theater. She also set several choreographic works for Dance Association, one of which performed at the American College Dance Association annual conference. Emily has trained with choreographers such as Jennifer Harge, Stephanie Pizzo (with Eisenhower Dance in Detroit), Michael Richman, and Mutual Dance Theater (formerly known as MamLuft and Co.) dancers (Cincinnati, OH). Emily served as the co-director for Bloomington Ballet Company located in Bloomington, IL for three years. Emily is responsible for the creation of our studio-wide dance curriculums and is the Director of Intrigue Company, Captivation Dance’s competitive dance team. She has recently joined the Peoria theater scene participating in "Nine" and "9 to 5" at Corn Stock.
Artistic Director | Instructor
Ashton Gresham
Ashton started his dance career in hip hop, which is his biggest strength and passion. He has since trained in other styles such as ballet, jazz, and contemporary. He has been training and choreographing for over 10 years locally and up in the Chicago circuit. Ashton has learned from notable dancers and choreographers such as the late Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Ian Eastwood, and Les Twins. His performance experience includes work with “Urban Movement” (pre-professional dance crew based out of ISU), “Urban Generation” (an episodic hip hop dance project located in Orlando), and being a member of “KĀOS Crew” dancing in a set in LA. Ashton has been teaching hip hop in the Central Illinois area for over six years and currently stands as the Director of Surge, Captivation’s competitive hip hop team.
Hip Hop Director | Instructor
Kristina Gillis
Kristina has trained in hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, and ballet since the age of 3. She graduated from Bradley University in 2018 with a degree in Television Arts along with double minors in Creative Writing and Social Media Marketing. While at Bradley, she was a part of the Orchesis Dance Company, choreographing pieces in a variety of styles ranging from solos, trios, small groups, and full company pieces. Kristina works full-time at Five Points Washington as the Marketing Assistant Manager and loves coming to the studio to help students reach their dance goals. Kristina heads up our acrobatic program as the Acro Director!
Acro Director | Instructor
Alaina Rice
Alaina Rice received a degree in Dance Education from Illinois State University in 2018. At ISU, she was a company member of Illinois State Dance Theatre where she worked with various artists. She was also a member of an academic student organization called Dance Association, and served as the President for one year. After she graduated, she went on to become the Dance Teacher/Director at Peoria High School. She currently teaches dance full time at PHS, and is the PHS Dance Team Coach. Alaina is a competitive coach for the Intrigue Company and works with our older recreational students teaching Jazz. She is excited to teach the next generation and to teach alongside the people she has danced with in the past!
Competitive Coach | Instructor
Alivia Byers
Alivia has been dancing since a young age and has many years of diverse dance experience, specializing in ballet and pointe. She also enjoys choreographing and has gotten to do so for various performances. Alivia has trained and performed with different ballet companies including Bloomington Ballet, Bloomington Ballet II, Twin Cities School of Dance and Cornerstone Academy of Performing Arts. She has also taken various classes and workshops at studios such as Ballet 5:8 and The Next Step. Alivia will continue to be overseeing all of our pointe ballet dancers this season!
Competitive Coach | Instructor
Gillian Brian
Originally from the Peoria area, Gillian began training in dance at a young age, building a strong foundation across multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, tap, and acro. Her passion for performance and movement led her to Los Angeles, where she earned a certificate in Dance Theatre from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Hollywood, California. Over the next eight years, Gillian danced in professional contemporary companies such as Soul Escape with Justin Giles, and Canv(us) with Gerran Reese, and taught at a top competitive studio in the Beverly Hills area for 6 years where she fostered students' talent to the elite level. Known for her positive, encouraging teaching style, Gillian creates a safe, empowering space for dancers to explore their artistry while being challenged to grow technically and creatively. She is excited to be back in the area, bringing her experience to students at Captivation.
Competitive Coach | Instructor
Michael Brian
Michael is thrilled to be joining Captivation! He grew up dancing in Los Angeles before moving to the Midwest in early 2025 with his wife. He discovered his love for musicals early, performing in Newsies, Singin’ in the Rain, 42nd Street, and The Little Mermaid around LA. During the pandemic, he worked briefly in casting but returned to what he loves most: tap dancing and teaching. Tap has taken Michael to studios across the U.S. and internationally, giving him the chance to work with students from all walks of life. His hybrid teaching style infuses storytelling and musicality to help students perform with heart... and a whole lot of rhythm.
Competitive Coach | Instructor
Heather Dowl
Heather first came to Captivation as a dance mom but when we had a need she offered to step in as an instructor! Heather has now been teaching for two seasons while continuing her own dance training with us! She is currently training in our adult classes taking hip hop, ballet, jazz, tap and pointe. Heather will continue to work with our youngest students teaching Dance with Me as well as taking on other recreational classes through Level 3. Outside of the studio, Heather is a hair stylist and lives locally with her husband and two children.
Instructor
devyn farney
Devyn has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She grew up training in tap, jazz, and ballet for 10+ years. Devyn continued her dance training through show choir in high school and musical theatre. She is still an active participant in local community theatre both on and offstage and loves taking adult classes at Captivation. Devyn loves teaching all styles to our younger dancers. She teaches creative movement up to kinder classes. Devyn says, “There is something very special about being a child’s first dance teacher!”
Instructor
emilie Sharum
Emilie has danced for over 20 years with experience in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and more. She danced locally both recreationally and competitively as well as on school dance teams. Emilie also took part in several intensives and performances with USA Ballet out of Bloomington, IL. During her time at Quest Charter Academy, she started and coached the dance team. Tap is her personal favorite but she absolutely love all forms of dance. She is also a certified Barre, Pilates Mat and Pilates Reformer instructor!
Instructor
Caitlin Dillard
Caitlin comes to us with experience in both dance and gymnastics having been training since she was 6 years old. She has competed in both areas all the way up the collegiate level. She has almost 20 years experience in ballet, jazz, and tap. Caitlin will continue teaching the recreational ballet, tap, jazz, and acro classes this season!
Instructor
Bailey brown
Bailey, a Captivation Dance alumni, brings extensive dance experience, having danced competitively for over ten years. She was also a dedicated member of the Morton High School Dance Team for all four years of high school, serving as Captain during her senior year. After graduating from Morton High School in 2021, Bailey pursued her culinary degree at Illinois Central College. She then took a year off to complete her internship. When she's not at the studio, Miss Bailey works locally at Doodlekins Bakery. We are excited to have her rejoin us this season, working with our recreational students once again!
Instructor
Devynn Pedraza
Devynn, a passionate and experienced dance instructor, has dedicated her life to the art of movement and expression through dance. With 14 plus years of experience in teaching various dance styles ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and more. Devynn began her dance journey at 4 years old, when she first stepped into a dance studio. From that moment on, she knew that dance was her calling. Devynn has taken recreational and competitive dance classes. She taught dance through out her high school years. Devynn is married and has two children. She shares her love of dance with her daughter who takes recreational classes herself. Once her son is old enough to take classes he will also be taking recreational classes. Dance to Devynn is a way to express yourself without feeling any judgement, and truly being who you are. Dance has helped Devynn in so many ways. She hopes to share her passion and love for dance with everyone that comes into the studio!
Instructor
Lindsey Comstock
Lindsey started dancing when she was 2 and has been dancing ever since! She taught tap, ballet, jazz, and tumble in a studio in her hometown for over 15 years before it shut down in 2020. She has a master’s degree in School Social Work and is currently working as a School Social Worker. She is married with a beautiful daughter. When she wanted to get her daughter into a dance, a friend referred her to Captivation. Two years ago, Lindsey enrolled her daughter and also started taking an adult tap class herself and fell in love! She started subbing a class covering an instructors maternity leave last year and now instructs her very own classes! Lindsey loves to tap dance, read, and hang out with her family.
Instructor
meet our assitant staff
liz rice
Hi! My name is Liz Rice. I have been dancing since I was 5 years old! I went to ICC for 2 years and studied Child Development, and I worked in their daycare. My other jobs include Culver’s and TCRC in Tremont. Dancing with the kids makes me joyful! I like being part of the Captivation staff.
Teaching Assistant
Bobbie Littwiller
We are delighted to introduce Ms. Bobbie, who has joined our front office team. She brings many years of valuable customer service experience, including over ten years as a store manager for McDonald's in Morton and Washington. Ms. Bobbie also has extensive management experience from several other restaurants and previously ran her own kitchen, serving breakfast at a local restaurant in Delavan. When she is not at the Main Street front desk, Ms. Bobbie enjoys reading or spending time with her granddaughter and two children.
Studio Assistant
Cindy Wiedman
Ms. Cindy is the warm and friendly face who will be greeting you at the door of our Main Street studio! Ms. Cindy comes highly recommended by several of our dance families and has a long history of providing excellent care to families in Morton. A lifelong resident of Morton, Ms. Cindy attended Morton High School and chose to raise her own family here. She truly embodies the spirit of our community. We are so thrilled to have her join us in welcoming all our families and sharing her hugs with our dancers!
Studio Assistant
Meet Our office Staff
Michelle White
Michelle took ownership of Captivation Dance in 2020 after three years of assisting with the original studio owner. She has over 20 years of customer service and office management experience. Michelle also has 8 years experience in many different areas of art performance from marching and jazz band to show choir and musical theater. She has 4 years experience coaching junior high and high school colorguard. Her daughter, Kylee, has danced at Captivation for nine years now and is a member of both competitive teams. Outside of Captivation, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to warm weather and reading a great book!
Owner
Linda Simmons
This is Linda's fourth season with the studio. She brings 10+ years of management experience as well as several years of event planning and organization. Linda participates in the Captivation adult classes to continue her personal dance growth. Outside of the studio, Linda is a nanny. She volunteers extensively with her church and does many events in the community.
Studio Manager
Stephanie Pittenger
Stephanie has been with Captivation Dance for four years now, working as the Human Resource Assistant and Administrative Assistant. Until her retirement in 2016 she had always worked in the areas of Customer Service, Administrative Assistant and Human Resources, which have all come in very handy in her retirement endeavors of working at the dance studio. Her real enjoyment is the interaction with the dance instructors and young dancers, but her time working with her daughters Michelle, Owner of Captivation, Linda, Studio Manager; along with granddaughter Kylee who is dancer at the studio makes it all the more enjoyable. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys traveling with her best friend, watching the grandchildren participate in their activities, watching her favorite sports teams and reading a good book.
Administration
JESSICA COLLIE
Jessica is joining the Captivation staff following several years of helping out behind the scenes. After working in community service environments throughout Morton, Jessica is excited to support the studio as our Media Manager, in charge of the studio social media accounts and website, as well as multiple other responsibilities. This is her daughter’s 5th year dancing on both Intrigue and Surge, Captivation’s competitive dance teams. When she’s not in the office, Jessica enjoys cheering her children on in their favorite sports, traveling, spending time with her family, and reading most anything she can get her hands on! She grew up in Morton and now lives here with her husband Jay, daughter Sylvie, and son Kline.
Media Manager