Ayanna became a student at Evolve in 2009. She was a member of our competition teams for eight years, and is a two time national champion! She learned so much here as a dancer and loves taking what she learned and passing it on the the next generations.

Ayanna loves working with the other staff members and creating a safe place for all of the amazing dancers who come in the studio doors! She also works as an assistant teacher at Taylor’s Tots Child Care and Preschool. Ayanna has been a guest dance teacher at West Middle School in their CAPA program. Ayanna has recently performed in two Carnival Choreographer’s Balls- in Chicago. She has loved working with our recital and competition dancers and is ready to help celebrate Season 20!

Ciara has had a passion for dance ever since she started at age 5. She has experience in tumbling and a variety of different dance styles with extensive training in ballet. While competing throughout middle and high school she won many overall high scores, technique awards and scholarships. She has been very fortunate to be able to train with numerous local instructors and several nationally renowned choreographers as well. Ciara has performed in many local and regional concerts and productions including Dance Chicago and Carnival Choreographer’s Ball-Chicago. She has taught master classes and choreographed competition routines for multiple high school dance teams, and also previously taught both recreational and competitive students at Evolve from 2007-2015. Since then she has continued to help with various Evolve events, had two adorable kids, and in her free time enjoys hand lettering and spending time outdoors.

One of Ciara’s favorite things about teaching dance is that it allows students to have a fun and creative outlet while simultaneously instilling important life skills such as discipline, perseverance and teamwork. She is very excited to continue sharing her love and knowledge of dance with her students!

Bri began dancing at Evolve in 2009, and was a member of our competition teams for nine years. She became an assistant teacher in 2018 and has loved teaching since 2020!

Bri continues to teach recital classes and also choreographs for our competition solo, duets, trios and teams. She is a creative and high energy teacher that we adore having in our Evolve family!

Bio Coming Soon!

Bio Coming Soon!

Ashley grew up in the Rockford area where she began dancing at a very young age. She was very fortunate to train under some excellent teachers (some favorites include Evolve staff Jenny, Joe, and Mike)in a wide variety of styles. While competing, she earned many overall high scores, distinguished performer titles, and scholarships to various programs in the country and popular conventions. She also had the opportunity to assist many classes and eventually began teaching some on her own.

Ashley attended Oklahoma City University where she received her Bachelor’s in Dance Performance. While there, she performed in the American Spirit Dance Company, co-directed the PEP dancers, and performed in a wide variety of other productions put on within the dance program. She also had the opportunity to train from outstanding professors and take many master classes.

After graduating, Ashley worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She performed multiple shows a week in all different styles of dance while traveling the world, and was a featured dancer and dance captain. Currently, Ashley is a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, certified Pure Barre instructor, and had the opportunity to choreograph at Rockford’s Starlight Theatre! She is passionate about working with dancers of all ages and levels and bringing out the best in them!

Brooke began dancing competitively at Evolve in 2009; she was an assistant teacher before attending North Central College. She graduated with an elementary education major, as well as minors in dance and studio art. Brooke is currently a teacher at Holy Family School.

In addition to seeing Brooke perform in the teachers dance at our annual recitals, you may have also seen her in Starlight Theatre’s “Legally Blonde”, “Newsies”, and “Grease.” She was also the choreographer for Starbright’s “Mary Poppins.”

We are thrilled that she has been back at Evolve as part of our teaching staff since 2017. Brooke teaches all levels of recital classes, as well as some technique classes. Her dedication and versatility are appreciated and valued!

Bio Coming Soon!

Maddy began dancing at Evolve in 2011 and was a dancer in our recital classes for 13 years. She also performed on her high school’s dance team, choreographing a majority of their poms routines. She became an assistant teacher at Evolve in 2023 and has loved getting to pass on everything she has learned at Evolve down to new eager dancers!

Maddy also works at the Rockford Park District as a program coordinator as well as going to Rock Valley College to get her associates in special education. She is excited to continue teaching and inspiring dancers this season!

Bio Coming Soon!

Mariah began dancing at Evolve when it opened in 2005, and was a member of our competitive teams. Mariah began assisting classes in 2008 and teaching classes in 2010. She graduated from Rockford University in May 2014 and taught math at an area high school until moving to Washington State, where she taught and choreographed for several studios as well as completed her Master’s degree in math education.

Mariah was the teacher/ choreographer for our crew level competitive teams, that began in 2015. She has choreographed both levels of competition teams since 2018 and won several choreography awards over the years.

We are very excited to have Mariah teaching at Evolve and congratulate her on her Co- Artistic Director position!

Morgan danced competitively for eleven years and won several awards for her performances! She has been a teacher at Evolve since 2008. She is wonderful with dancers of all ages and has a special quality that helps dancers with less confidence bring out their best.

Morgan graduated from NIU with a master’s degree in Special Education. She has choreographed for the Children’s Theatre Project/Youth Theatre Project, Boys and Girls Club performances in the Rockford area, the Children’s Community Theater, and the Penguin Project. Morgan has also volunteered at GiGi’s Playhouse for several years. We are happy to have Morgan on our staff at Evolve; she brings many unique talents, and we love her spirit!

Sara began dancing and tumbling at age of three and competing in dance from eight to eighteen with a dance studio in Central Illinois. Besides earning many awards competing, she went on to be a student demonstrator, assistant teacher, and teacher.

After graduating high school, she danced on the Silverette dance team at Northern Illinois University for two years and took part in the NIU theater and dance programs. Sara graduated from NIU in 2009 with her master’s degree in Physical Therapy and has been a physical therapist in the Rockford area since 2010. She is currently a physical therapist at Van Matre Hospital and loves helping individuals through their rehabilitation journey. Sara has also enjoyed returning to NIU’s football stadium to perform with the Silverette alumni.

Sara is the mother of four wonderful girls, all who have danced at Evolve from preschool, combo, and jazz/lyrical classes to her older two girls joining Evolve’s competition teams. Currently her older two are part of Evolve’s Performance Collective. Sara has had so much fun returning to teaching dance and joining Evolve staff and is looking forward to returning this season! She continues to be eager to help her students develop their own love and passion for dance.

Tera danced for eighteen years, thirteen of which were on a competitive team, and began teaching in 2004, before moving to Rockford in 2008. She joined the Evolve staff in 2009 and has had the unique privilege of watching some of her preschool/combo dancers “evolve” into high school seniors. She feels incredibly blessed to, week after week, share her passion for this art, and all of the life lessons that go along with it. This year Tera is excited to be teaching a variety of ages in the recital and competition level!

Before her time at Evolve, Tera cheered her freshman year and was on the dance team for the rest of high school and college. She has also coached dance teams at the high school level. For ten years Tera taught ballroom and Latin competitive and social dancing at Arthur Murray and has choreographed for Dancing with the Rockford Stars. Tera enjoys working with adults at Evolve when the opportunity arises, whether it’s in ballroom, ballet, country line dancing, or getting a special dance prepared for weddings and events.

Outside of the studio, Tera enjoys spending time with her husband and their four kids, going to church, and keeping up with the local Buy Nothing group. She is excited for Season 20 and so thankful to still be a part of something so rewarding!

Bio Coming Soon!