Our Staff

Professionally-trained instructors for all ages

Center Stage Dance Academy offers some of the most professionally-trained instructors in the area. Our staff members have decades of cumulative experience teaching dance in all genres including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary/lyrical. Having learned from masters, danced across the country, and collaborated with famous acts, we look forward to sharing our passion and enthusiasm for the art of dance each time your child attends one of our classes.

Each of the instructors at Center Stage live and breathe dance. Dance is in their souls and they are eager to pass their knowledge and excitement to the next generation of aspiring dancers. Our instructors have been in the world of dance most of their lives, have studied professionally, and danced around the globe and have worked with famous stars of their field. It is our pleasure at Center Stage to offer this caliber of trained professionals for your dancers.

Debbie Nowotnik

Owner/Artistic Director

Debbie began dancing at age 4 and was performing on stage by the age of seven. Upon completing her first dance recital, she knew she had found her niche in life. Debbie studied ballet, tap and jazz at Golden’s and Youman’s School of Dance. Debbie’s training led her to participate in numerous dance competitions and conventions…

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Alvin Ramirez

Alvin Ramirez, Co-Director of Envision Dance Company, was born in the Philippines and lived there for his first ten years. He now resides in the Chicagoland area where he earned a credited bachelor’s degree in Human Geography from Elmhurst College. Alvin trained in hip hop, contemporary and breakdancing since the age of 17.

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Megan Nowotnik

Megan Nowotnik literally grew up in the dance studio and started dancing when she was 2 years old. She began her dedicated studio training with Envision Dance Company at Center Stage Dance Academy studying under Avnun Yakubov, Steve Norman, Alvin Ramirez, Maggie Schroeder, Amanda Prieser, Amanda Hickey and Debbie Nowotnik.

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Sky Nowotnik

Sky Nowotnik is a Chicago native who began her dance career at the age of three. Her dedicated in-studio training was with Envision Dance Company at Center Stage Dance Academy, enhanced by a traveling apprenticeship with LA Dance Magic. 

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Debbie Nowotnik

Owner/Artistic Director

Debbie began dancing at age 4 and was performing on stage by the age of seven. Upon completing her first dance recital, she knew she had found her niche in life. Debbie studied ballet, tap and jazz at Golden’s and Youman’s School of Dance. Debbie’s training led her to participate in numerous dance competitions and conventions…

Learn More

Alvin Ramirez

Alvin Ramirez, Co-Director of Envision Dance Company, was born in the Philippines and lived there for his first ten years. He now resides in the Chicagoland area where he earned a credited bachelor’s degree in Human Geography from Elmhurst College. Alvin trained in hip hop, contemporary and breakdancing since the age of 17.

Learn More

Sky Nowotnik

Sky Nowotnik is a Chicago native who began her dance career at the age of three. Her dedicated in-studio training was with Envision Dance Company at Center Stage Dance Academy, enhanced by a traveling apprenticeship with LA Dance Magic.

Learn More

Megan Nowotnik

Megan Nowotnik literally grew up in the dance studio and started dancing when she was 2 years old. She began her dedicated studio training with Envision Dance Company at Center Stage Dance Academy studying under Avnun Yakubov, Steve Norman, Alvin Ramirez, Maggie Schroeder, Amanda Prieser, Amanda Hickey and Debbie Nowotnik.

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Debbie Nowotnik | Owner/Artistic Director

Debbie began dancing at the age of 4 and was performing on stage by the age of seven. It was then she knew she found her niche in life. Debbie studied ballet, tap and jazz at Golden’s and Youman’s School of dance. Debbie’s training led her to participate in numerous dance competitions and conventions in the Chicagoland area and around the United States. Debbie is proud of her several first place awards earned at Nationals in Las Vegas and New York.

Debbie’s experience as student director for her high school’s orchesis team her sophomore, junior and senior years is where she discovered her passion and love of choreography and teaching. Debbie also provided choreography for her school’s musical productions. Debbie started teaching dance in the studio setting at the age of sixteen and has been ever since.

Debbie continued her studies in jazz, ballet, tap and modern at Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. She has studied under master teachers such as Sam Watson, Nan and Debbie Giordano, Randy Duncan, Kenneth Green, Frank Hatchett, Lou Conte, Kirby Reed, Tom Evert and Meribeth Kisner. She also had the privilege of attending several level five jazz classes taught by Gus Giordano himself – a truly unforgettable experience as he is known as the “Father of Jazz Dance in Chicago”.

After high school, Debbie went on to attend Illinois State University on a dance scholarship where she earned her bachelor’s degree in dance education and performance. She was a member of the UDT Dance Company for five years performing in jazz, ballet, tap, folk and modern dance. Two of Debbie’s student choreography works were selected for the American College Dance Festival and an additional choreographic piece was selected and highlighted in a Levi Jeans fashion show. Debbie also earned her certification to teach aerobics, step and toning classes.

Upon graduating from ISU, Debbie was offered the head coach position for the Schaumburg High School Orchesis program. She also taught and did choreography at various Chicagoland dance studios and gyms. After having three children of her own, Debbie decided to follow her life-long dream of opening her own dance studio which has become Center Stage Dance Academy. Debbie has earned many prestigious Top Studio, Owner/Director awards and Choreography Awards since launching the Envision Dance Company in 2007. Debbie also enjoys traveling around the United States as a Competition Judge and Regional Director for National Competition Company.

Debbie takes great pride in providing an unmatched dance education program in our community. Her latest joy is being the first in our area to launch a “concert dance” based company called the Envision Dance Collective. Debbie, along with her daughter Sky, are thrilled to provide this unique experience for her dancers that want to pursue dance beyond high school.

Alvin Ramirez

Alvin Ramirez, Co-Director of Envision Dance Company, was born in the Philippines and lived there for his first ten years. He now resides in the Chicagoland area where he earned a credited bachelor’s degree in Human Geography from Elmhurst College. Alvin trained in hip hop, contemporary and breakdancing since the age of 17. Through his performing/competition and training years, Alvin lived in the competition world winning numerous overall first place awards and earning scholarships throughout the country. He has performed and opened up for several top recording artists such as Ciara, Ludacris, Soulja Boy and Twista.

Alvin has also been showcased in top shows in Las Vegas and recently was a choreographer for the internationally broadcasted MLS All Star Game Half-time Show featuring top recording artist Lupe Fiasco on ESPN. He has also choreographed for the NBA Detroit Pistons dance team Automotion, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as well as Western Michigan University dance team.

Alvin continues teaching all over the country while he sets award winning hip hop routines for numerous dance studios and companies. Alvin is currently working on choreography with brand new up and coming recording R&B artist Stevie Brock who was recently signed with Mosley Music Group/Interscope Records. Among all this, Alvin is on faculty for Tokyo’s Move Dance Intensive. Alvin was also on MTV’s Season 2 of America’s Best Dance Crew. He was the main choreographer and co-mentor of Xtreme Dance Force crew. Alvin is currently self-training through different movements and executions and continues to search for more knowledge.

Megan Nowotnik

Megan Nowotnik literally grew up in the dance studio and started dancing when she was 2 years old. She began her dedicated studio training with Envision Dance Company at Center Stage Dance Academy studying under Avnun Yakubov, Steve Norman, Alvin Ramirez, Maggie Schroeder, Amanda Prieser, Amanda Hickey and Debbie Nowotnik. Megan spent several summers at the Faubourg School of Ballet studying under Watmora Casey and Tatyana Petuhova and continued her journey as a senior company member with LA Dance magic traveling to various states assisting choreographers and performing with the company. Megan has had the privilege of performing in the Disney World Performing Arts Program and her Professional credits include the Moscow Ballet, the Dancepack and ABC television’s filming of the Disney World Christmas Parade with the Broadway cast of the Newsies and Neil Patrick Harris,. She has performed at Carnival in Chicago and in the opening number for The Trifecta Dance Festival in Chicago. Megan thrived on the competition circuit earning many National Championship Group Titles and Solo National Championship Titles. Megan is currently in her third year on Memphis Pom and has earned a College National Championship title. In her college career with Memphis Pom, she and her team have earned two bronze, two silver and one gold medal. Megan is also on staff with UDA – Universal Dance Association and teaches at High School and College Dance Camps in Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee. Megan is proud to be on staff at CSDA and has made her choreographic debut with Envision Dance Company. Her choreography is already placing in the top 10! Megan looks forward to sharing her passion and artistry with the dancers at CSDA!

 

Sky Nowotnik

Sky Nowotnik is a Chicago native who began her dance career at the age of three. Her dedicated in-studio training was with Envision Dance Company at Center Stage Dance Academy, enhanced by a traveling apprenticeship with LA Dance Magic.

Sky’s professional credits include Nōmi Dance Company, the Moscow Ballet, the International Dance Forum of Chicago, Kairos Dance Company (LA), the Dancepack, and ABC television.

Her most recent accolades include Purus Motus/Mad Motus Production’s Season 2 Finale, “Perfect Imposition,” screened at the International Dance Festival in Chicago and at InMotion in India. Other film credits include features in Ricardo Bouyett’s short films, “FLWRS 2019,” and, “So Many Little Deaths 2020”.

In addition to teaching dance, she is motivated by holistic well-being and is certified in The Kaivalya Yoga Method.

Sky is soon to graduate as a student of Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University, with plans to pursue her PhD in Clinical Psychology.