Meet our Staff
Miss Lindsey
Miss Lindsey is the owner and artistic director of
Soul Dance Connection, LLC, and she was truly placed in this world to teach dance. She started dancing at the young age of 3, and she has been a studio director and owner for over 19 years. Miss Lindsey is trained in jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, poms, cheer, tumbling, acro, ballroom styles of dance, and Latin american styles of dance. She coaches and consults for many dance and cheer teams in the Northern Illinois Area, is a wedding and Quinceañera choreographer. She has won numerous regional and nation championships with her costuming and choreography over the years, and is excited to continue this season. In addition to teaching dance, cheer and tumbling, Miss Lindsey has been a school teacher for over ten years, she has a double masters in Spanish and Hispanic Studies, and Latino Graduate Studies, a professional education license, an ESL endorsement, and a Bilingual Education endorsement. Miss Lindsey is a mother to three children, who also are involved with dancing, and she has a wonderful husband, that has been one of her most amazing supporters. Her biggest hope to constantly teach her students that the sky is truly the limit, and that they should never stop striving for greatness. Miss Lindsey is so eager to welcome everyone to Soul Dance Connection.
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Miss Debbie
Miss Debbie began dancing at the young age of four and knew she belonged on stage. She began her
training and competition career with Golden’s and Youman’s School of Dance. Debbie’s
experience as student director for her high school’s orchesis team her sophomore through senior
years is where she discovered her passion for teaching and choreography. Debbie began teaching
in the studio setting at the age of sixteen and has been ever since.
Debbie continued her studies in jazz, modern, tap and ballet at Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago in
Evanston where she studied under master teachers such as Nan & Debbie Giordano, Sam Watson
and Gus himself (a truly unforgettable experience as Gus is known as the “Father of Jazz Dance
in Chicago”). Debbie also had the honor of training with Randy Duncan, Kenneth Green, Frank
Hatchett, Lou Conte, Kirby Reed, Tom Evert and Meribeth Kisner.
Debbie went on to earn her bachelor’s degree double majoring in dance education &
performance along with business administration. She was a member of the UDT Dance
Company and two of her student choreography pieces were selected to be represented in the
American College Dance Festival two years in a row. Debbie also earned her certification in
aerobics and step aerobics.
Upon graduation, Debbie was offered the head coach position for the Schaumburg High School
Orchesis Team. Debbie was also an instructor and choreographer for multiple studios in the
Chicagoland area and taught for Dancercise Kids. Debbie’s choreography was highlighted in the
Levi Strauss & Co fashion show.
After having three children of her own, Debbie followed her life-long dream of opening her own
studio which she directed for 25 years earning multiple ADCC Studio of Excellence Awards,
numerous National Championship Titles and appearances in the filming of ABC’s Christmas
Parade in Disney World dancing with the Broadway cast of The Newsies and Neil Patrick Harris
along with being invited to perform on the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. Debbie has earned
numerous Industry Award nominations for her choreography in Jazz, Modern, Contemporary,
Lyrical and Musical Theater.
Debbie has enjoyed traveling around the United States as a competition judge and has also
enjoyed working as a Regional Director for a National Competition company.
Debbie is so excited to start this new chapter and is looking forward to sharing her passion of this
art with all of you!
Miss Autumn
Miss Autumn has been dancing since the age of 2, dancing various styles of dance since she was 5. By the time she was 10 years old she was in 15+ dance classes and by the time she was 13 years old was a part time student and full time dancer. Miss Autumn has been trained by many professionals from so you think you can dance, the Pulse intensive, master classes by various other famous choreographers who have trained Janet Jackson, Brittney spears, Madonna. Miss Autumn, has been teaching for 18 years, and loves all of her students and wants to see all of her students succeed and grow as dancers. Miss Autumns favorite style of dance is lyrical and jazz with a side of hiphop. Miss Autumn takes great pride in her classes and her students as she wants everyone to love dance the way she does. Stay tuned for what Miss Autumn has in store for her classes; you never know she might end up on stage next to you in her own class!
“I cannot wait to meet all of my new students; and see some returning faces as well; we will have a wonderful time in class! Remember smile big and have fun”
Miss Megan
Miss 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 a graduate of the
University of Memphis and made the Memphis Pom team all four years. Megan fulfilled her
dream of competing on the UDA Nationals stage at the ESPN all four years and earned her
Championship Ring – it was the 16 th National Title for Memphis Pom. In her college career with
Memphis Pom, she and her team have earned two bronze, three silver and one gold medal. She
finished up her dance career by dancing at March Madness in Seatle. 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 was on staff at CSDA and 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 Soul Dance Connection!
Miss Kayla
Kayla Bowlin grew up in a small town in Illinois and began dancing competitively at the
age of 4. Kayla has been trained in many styles of dance including jazz, lyrical, ballet,
hip-hop, contemporary, tap, open, and jazz-funk. At age 20, Kayla signed with The
Movement Talent Agency and moved to Los Angeles where she pursued a professional
dance career while training at The Edge and Millennium Dance Complex. After moving
back from Los Angeles, Kayla found her love for teaching back at her home studio
Centerstage Dance Company in Dixon, IL. where she has been teaching and
choreographing for the competitive program since 2017. Kayla choreographs for other
studios in the area, teaches master classes, and travels as a staff member and
choreographer with Celebration Talent Competition. She also teaches at Celebration
Talent’s conventions. Kayla specializes in contemporary, lyrical, and jazz. Throughout
her career as a teacher, she has watched her students receive accolades such as
scholarships, the highest levels of adjudications, 1st overalls, grand national champions,
and dancer of the year title winners. Her 2019 team was also a final nominee for The
Industry Dance Awards. Kayla’s choreography has been recognized on both regional
and national levels for its artistic excellence. Her favorite thing about teaching is
instilling the passion and fundamentals she has gained over the years into her students.
The most rewarding part is watching her students grow and achieve goals they never
thought possible!
Miss Jordan
Miss Jordan is a proud mom of three daughters. She has over 11 years of dance training in tap, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. After graduating highschool , she pursued a career in cosmetology as a professional hair and makeup artist, and she is now the owner of my own salon. While Miss Jordan loves her career, dance has always been her first passion, and she is so excited to be assisting at Soul Dance Connection, and sharing that love with others.