Cheryl Veglio: Owner/Director

Cheryl has been in and around the dance community for over 25 years, and has been the owner of Creative Dance Center for 16 years. Prior to that, she was in the business sector.

Cheryl was introduced to the dance world when her daughters, Christina and Jennifer, were very young. She became actively involved as a dance parent, and became familiar with all of the various forms of dance, competitive and performance based. After the studio her daughters were attending closed, Cheryl wanted a better dance education for her daughters. With the help of several dance instructors, including lead instructor Jill Rector, Creative Dance Center opened it's doors in 2003. Cheryl has been the operator ever since.
​
Cheryl is very proud of the legacy Creative Dance Center has created over the years. They have had dancers compete and perform at numerous and well known conventions and competitions such as: Starbound, the Pulse on Tour, Tremaine Dance, and Dupree Dance just to name a few; each time receiving platinum and high gold awards. Several dancers have also been recognized for outstanding awards during competitions and conventions.

Recently, Cheryl has been enthusiastic about planning out-of-studio opportunities for the four dance companies; such as: Dance the World in Orlando, Florida, and participating in dance events in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Jill Rector:  
​Lead Instructor

  • Teaching experience: 31+ Years
  • With Creative Dance since 2003
Miss Jill Rector began dancing at age three and has studied all forms of dance. At age fourteen she became a teaching assistant and began teaching her own classes at age sixteen. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Columbia College with an emphasis in both teaching and performance/choreography. She is also a certified personal trainer and the Choreographer for All About Music’s Children Theater in Mokena.

Miss Jill began her professional studies at the Chicago Fine Arts Academy with Rosemary Doolas and Ellen Werksman. While she was there she concentrated on Classical Russian Ballet using the Vagonova Technique. She also began to study Martha Graham technique and fell in love with modern dance. Later at Columbia College Miss Jill studied under Shirley Mordine, Anna Paskevska, Jan Erkert, Paula Frasz, Mary Wohl Hann, Deb Siegal as well as many other choreographers who came through during their guest artist residencies. She performed with many contemporary artists such as Linda Marshall, Shapiro and Smith, Jan Bartoszek, and Nana Shineflug.

Jill has always excelled in tap dancing and studied extensively with Chicago Human Rhythm Project choreographers Lane Alexander, Jay Fagan, Sam Weber, and Bril Barret. As of June 2018, Jill was certified in the teaching of junior, senior and advanced programs by Progressing Ballet Technique.

Jill’s expertise of teaching is quite evident in her classes. She keeps her choreography current by attending dance conventions and studying with professionals. She feels that as a dancer and teacher you never stop learning or trying to improve yourself. She likes to make sure the students learn something new during each class and have fun doing it. Ms. Jill feels finds it very rewarding to watch what dance and performing can do for a child. Dance not only improves their fitness and coordination, but also improves their self-esteem, creativity and imagination.

Miss Jill not only teaches her students to do the steps but also to feel the emotions of the dance and to appreciate the arts for the rest of their lives. Miss Jill was very proud to have her theater students chosen to perform one of her dance routines on the NBC morning news, and interviewed by Jonathon Brandmeier. 
​
Miss Jill is married and has two children, Nathan and Jade.

Kristen Bruns:  Instructor

  • Teaching experience: 20+ Years
  • With Creative Dance since 2010
Miss Kristen Bruns has performed in London, England with the American Performance Team. She has also performed with the All Star Dancers in California.

Miss Kristen has a BA in education with a minor in dance from Western Illinois University. While at W.I.U she spend 4 years as a member of the University dance company (modern) as well as the dance line (Hip Hop). She has had the privilege to train with wonderful teachers including Gary Flannery (orginial Fosse dancer), Michelle Plescia (Royal Ballet), & Tanya Praird. As of June 2018, Kristen was also certified in the teaching of junior, senior and advanced programs by Progressing Ballet Technique.

​Miss Kristen is married and a very proud mother to 4 boys: Cameron , Payton , Devin , and Logan.

Christina Bies:  Instructor

  • Teaching experience: 10+ Years
  • With Creative Dance since 2008
Dance has been a part of Christina’s life for as long as she can remember. She started at age 3 and fell in love with it. Every year she looked forward to starting a new piece for the upcoming recital. Even though she was relatively shy, she loved dancing on stage. 

She danced throughout junior high and high school, at both private studios and park districts. After dancing at Creative Dance Center for a few years, she became an assistant teacher, and began working with some of the younger students; teaching them the basics of ballet, tap, and jazz.

When she went away to college to earn her bachelor of Arts degree at Millikin University, Christina continued dancing with Millikin's dance team. 

After she returned home from college she went back to Creative Dance. She began taking several classes, and was soon teaching a few of her own. She is now in charge of the Senior Elite Company, and says she loves choreographing for her senior dancers for competitions and recitals.

Throughout her dancing career, Christina has attended numerous conventions and has danced under the direction of Mia Michaels, Dave Scott, Chris Judd, and Wade Robson. 
​

Jennifer Veglio:  Guest Instructor

  • Teaching experience: 8+ Years
  • With Creative Dance since 2010
Jennifer has a dance Minor from Valparaiso University. She was on the dance team (Poms) as well as Dance Ensemble (studio dance) for four years during college, choreographing various poms routines and hip hop routines her junior and senior year for dance ensemble. Being on a varisity Poms team for four years in high school, and the captain her senior year, she specializes in technique and high school Poms training at Creative Dance Center. She has taken class from various well known choreographers, such as Mia Michaels, Chris Judd, Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio, and Laurieann Gibson. She was also showcased in Laurieann Gibson’s hip hop class. 

Jennifer’s energetic personality pairs well teaching the little ones to the advanced company dancers, saying that “experiencing her students evolve and advance in their creative abilities, flexibility, as well as technique is why she teaches.” 
​
Jennifer works in Physical Therapy, which connects to her dance background and visa versa. This gives her a more scientific outlook on how the body is moving, seeing why the dancer’s specific muscles are firing in certain movements, and what smaller muscles that are not commonly activated can be used for a dancer’s optimal performance. 

Miss Jen currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and visits us often.

Julie Connley:  Instructor

  • With Creative Dance since 2015
Miss Julie has been dancing since a young age and has always had a passion for learning. She danced with the Creative Dance Center dancers through high school and was a member of the senior company. Julie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master's of Occupational Therapy from St. Ambrose University. She was a member on the SAU Dance Team for four years and was exposed to many different types of dance including tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet, modern, lyrical, pom and kick line. Miss Julie is now thrilled at the opportunity to teach what she knows and loves.

Kimmy Matas: Instructor

  • With Creative Dance since 2017
Miss Kimmy Matas has been dancing since she was three years old, and has been training and studying many styles ever since. As a child, Kimmy trained at a few different studios, but eventually landed at Creative Dance Center when she was nine years old and it has been her home ever since. Her favorite part of teaching at Creative Dance is being able to reflect and remember her own favorite memories, and trying to create those same meaningful experiences for her students.   
 
In high school, Kimmy was on her school’s varsity dance team where she competed at State, as well as Nationals each year. Kimmy helped choreograph competition routines for this team, and was named All Conference her senior year through IHSA.
 
Kimmy attended North Central College and was a member of the Cardinal Dance Company where she performed and choreographed for their showcase each year. As a junior, Kimmy was nominated to the company’s executive board, and as a senior led the company as President. Kimmy graduated Cum Laude from North Central in 2017 with her BA in Elementary Education. 
 
Currently, Miss Kimmy is an elementary school teacher and is still dancing and training with an adult contemporary company.  Miss Kimmy loves working with all ages of dancers, and is thrilled to share her passion and knowledge with all of her students!