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…

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.
Amanda Hickey
Amanda discovered a passion for dance at the age of ten. She began her serious training at Faubourg School of Ballet under Watmora Casey, Tatyana Mazur, and Ernesto Quenedit. She graduated from Butler University in 2014, where she studied on both academic and talent scholarships earning her BFA with honors in Dance Performance.
LisaMarie Woody
LisaMarie Woody is a seasoned dance educator, choreographer, and performer with over three decades of professional experience in various genres and is renowned nationwide for her acrobatic expertise. She grew up in San Francisco Bay Area dancing for the award-winning Dance Connection of Palo Alto’s Performing Company and began dancing professionally at the young age of nine.

Amanda Hickey
Amanda discovered a passion for dance at the age of ten. She began her serious training at Faubourg School of Ballet under Watmora Casey, Tatyana Mazur, and Ernesto Quenedit. She graduated from Butler University in 2014, where she studied on both academic and talent scholarships earning her BFA with honors in Dance Performance.

LisaMarie Woody
LisaMarie Woody is a seasoned dance educator, choreographer, and performer with over three decades of professional experience in various genres and is renowned nationwide for her acrobatic expertise. She grew up in San Francisco Bay Area dancing for the award-winning Dance Connection of Palo Alto’s Performing Company and began dancing professionally at the young age of nine.

Lorie Holtey
Lorie Holtey is originally from Yakima, Washington where she owned a successful studio for 16 years. Not only herself, but her students have won numerous awards and scholarships thru the years. Dancing since the age of 6 she is trained in all areas of dance..

Maggie Schroeder
Maggie, a Chicago area native, began dancing and tumbling at the age of four at the Dance Theatre of Elgin. Under the direction of world renowned Power Tumbler coach Linda Laaker, Maggie achieved the status of a Level 10 (Advanced) competitor with the USTA and USAG organizations.
Nicole Paukovits
Nicole performed in her first dance recital at the age of 3. She found a home at Port Jefferson Dance Academy, in Port Jefferson Station, NY at the age of 8 and began studying dance seriously. Nicole spent her first year at Port Jefferson studying ballet and jazz. By her second year at the dance studio she was studying jazz, tap, ballet, and modern.

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.


Nicole Paukovits
Nicole performed in her first dance recital at the age of 3. She found a home at Port Jefferson Dance Academy, in Port Jefferson Station, NY at the age of 8 and began studying dance seriously. Nicole spent her first year at Port Jefferson studying ballet and jazz. By her second year at the dance studio she was studying jazz, tap, ballet, and modern.

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.

Phone: 847-669-2510
Email: [email protected]
10631 Wolf Drive
Huntley, IL 60142
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