Meet Our Team

Studio Owner/Director

Ballet, Pointe, PBT, YAGP Coach, Lyrical, Choreographer, Pre-Dance, Boppin Tots

At 13, she began studies under Legendary Master Teacher, Larry Long at the Ruth Page Foundation in Chicago, IL. She was invited to join the Ruth Page Civic Ballet, performing works from renown choreographers such as Ruth Page, Melissa Hale Cole, and Lou Conte. 

Her summer intensive studies include American Ballet Theater NY, the Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and Broadway Theater Project under the wings of Ann Reinking, Gregory Hines, and Ben Vereen. Her greatest ballet mentors include, Larry Long, Elise Flagg, Jillana, Delores Long, Birute Biradocate, Eduardo Villaro, and Nancy Bielsky.

Her performance credits include leading roles in a national tour of The Nutcracker such as Clara, and as a principal dancer in the Civic Ballet of Chicago.

Miss Amanda transitioned her performance career to relocate as a full time cast member of Festival of the Lion King at Walt Disney World. Transitioning even

further beyond her wildest dreams, Tokyo Disney Sea then invited her to soar to new heights, performing the role of Ariel, as lead aerialist in Tokyo, Japan.

While living and performing in Japan, Miss Amanda met her husband Gary also a dancer from London. Together they danced for Celebrity and Norwegian cruise lines. They are now a family of five with three young boys living in Yorkville, IL.

Miss Amanda’s passion for teaching reaches far and wide, and she enjoys paying forward the lessons from her invaluable teachers and mentors. Helping each student develop towards their true potential, Amanda is so grateful to pass the torch to younger generations of dancers. Her students have been accepted to prestigious schools around the world including The Juilliard School, SAB, The Royal Ballet School, Marymount Manhattan, The Joffrey Ballet School, and more. 

Studio Owner/Director

Musical Theater, Conditioning, Performance Coach for MDC

Born in London, England, Gary Started Dancing at his local dance school at the age of five, with his first performance not long after that. From there on, he hasn't stopped performing. Gary trained at the prestigious Royal Ballet School as a Junior Associate, and at the age of 11, went to full-time vocational training at the Urdang Academy, in the heart of London’s Theater land in Covent Garden. He then continued his dance and performance training at London’s BRIT School (funded exclusively by the British Record industry). He finished out his studies at Reynolds Performing Arts also in London. 

During his Training, Gary performed in many shows in London’s West End including Musicals, and review shows. He was lucky enough to work with both The Royal Ballet Company, The Royal Opera, both at the Royal Opera house in London, and Russia’s Famous Kirov Ballet. 

He performed in several Pantomimes across the UK. Gary has the pleasure of performing with several Cruise lines, most notably Disney cruise line, where he was in the opening Cast of Disney’s “Twice Charmed”. He continued to work with Disney travelling to Tokyo and performing at Tokyo Disneyland. Here is where he met his beautiful wife, Amanda. They went on to perform together for celebrity and Norwegian Cruises. 

Gary Loves to perform. Telling stories through creating deeply developed and entertaining characters is his passion. He is so excited to be able to teach the next generation of performers and to help children gain the confidence they need to succeed in their chosen life path. 

Adaptive Dance, Ballet, Pointe, Pre-Pointe, PBT, YAGP, Nutcracker, Performance Coach, Choreographer 

Kristin Catalano received her early training from Sherry Moray at The Academy of Dance Arts. Catalano has danced professionally with Ballet Austin, Milwaukee Ballet and as a guest artist with the Ruth Page Civic Ballet of Chicago. In 2006, Kristin had the privilege to perform in the opening cast of the Dream Along with Mickey Castle Show at Walt Disney World.

Catalano has taught classical ballet in the Chicagoland area for the past 15 years. In 2018, she completed the Boston Ballet’s Adaptive Dance Teacher Training Program. Kristin is passionate in sharing the joy of dance with her students and is thrilled to be teaching the Adaptive Dance Program at Monarch Academy of Dance.

Kristin currently resides in Naperville with her husband Joe and two daughters, Audrey and Samantha. 

Contemporary, Modern, Choreographer, Performance Coach for MDC

Wendy Taylor Appling is passionate about the art of dance. As an instructor she believes every student has infinite potential and strives to help each dancer achieve personal excellence while learning to cultivate their own artistic voice. Wendy is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts / Dance Performance. She began her professional career performing and teaching as a member of The Chicago Moving Company, one of the longest running modern dance companies in Chicago Illinois. She had the great honor in CMC to be mentored by the legendary Nana Shineflug; one of the founders of the Chicago modern dance scene. Wendy also enjoyed dancing as a founding member of the Cindy Brandle Dance Company and climbed to new heights with Aerial Dance Chicago as a guest artist/choreographer. Wendy had the privilege to dance with trailblazers such as Bob Eisen Dance, Clinard Dance, Maggie Kast and Company, Melissa Thodos and numerous independent choreographers. While in Chicago Wendy continued to hone her craft training with some of the best instructors in the world of dance at Hubbard Street Dance, Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Joel Hall Dance Center, Homer Bryant Ballet, Rast Ballet and at The Dance Center of Columbia College. She spent many wonderful years teaching dance around Chicago including residencies in public schools. Wendy has taught a variety of dance forms, has integrated movement into curriculum , led students in the creation of in-school performances, worked with special needs children, students in arts camps, summer camps and after-school dance and drumming programs. Since moving back to the Fox Valley area Wendy has been teaching locally where her love for inspiring the next generation of performing artists continues to grow. She is excited to fly with Monarch Academy of Dance and be a part of each dancer's metamorphosis. Wendy lives in Yorkville, Il with her husband, her three cool kids and their dancing cat Puma.

Acro, Choreographer, Performance Coach

Reneé Porter is a Plainfield native, who grew up in her hometown dance studio, where she received both dance and acrobatics training. At the age of 13, she transitioned from student to an acro teaching role: teaching gymnasts, cheerleaders, and dancers. She continued to build the acro program while attending North Central College in Naperville, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Her time in the studio highlighted her love of education, which drove her to receive her masters of education for school psychology at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater. Reneé returned to the area to practice as a school psychologist, where she has served local school districts since 2005. Upon returning from Wisconsin she taught acro at several local dance studios, furthering her love of acro and dance. Renee’s passion lies in acro for dancers, which allows individual skill development, but also partner and group work, which is the catalyst for team building, confidence boosting, friendships and fun!  With her deep understanding of education, Reneé believes strongly in differentiation within her class, and meeting each student where they are to achieve individual goals. There is nothing more exciting than seeing students achieve different goals on different timelines with the support of their peers and staff.   Renee is thrilled to join the Monarch team, as she knows it’s a special studio that fosters community, positivity, and support of all students. 

Tap, Jazz, Team Building, Performance Coach for MDC, Stage Director

Amanda found her passion for dance at the young age of three. Growing up she was a member of competitive dance and convention teams training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Modern, and Lyrical. Amanda is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management and Dance minor. While dancing in college, she had the opportunity to work with numerous choreographers through exploring and performing a wide variety of new styles of dance. In addition, Amanda was selected to attend and perform at the American College Dance Association throughout her college career. 

From an early age, Amanda knew that she had a passion for teaching. She believes in the importance of a well-rounded dance environment where children are encouraged and challenged to reach their fullest potential. With a decade of teaching experience, Amanda is committed to helping students develop the skills needed as well as fostering a love of dance. Her mission is to enhance each dancer’s talents while promoting positive relationships, just like former teachers have done for her.

Jazz. Lyrical, Performance Coach for MDC

Lauren Willmann is from Dallas, Texas, and she began her serious training with the International Conservatory of Performing Arts Pre-Professional Company under the direction of Geralyn Del Corso Gardner and Jamie Thompson. Her passion led her to attend numerous conventions and classes for all styles of dance all over the DFW area. Lauren continued her higher education at Oklahoma City University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Pedagogy (American Dance Teacher) with a minor in Mass Communications. Since graduating, she became a member of Urban Performing Company based in Dallas TX, under the direction of Stevo McMaryion. Lauren was also the Performance Team director at McKinney Dance Studio. She has taught classes: creative movement, pre combinations, ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theatre to various ages at numerous studios across Texas and Oklahoma. Lauren has also toured as an assistant teacher with the Manhattan Dance Project convention with Bill Hotaling, and the ConnXion Experience convention with Suavé. When teaching, she emphasizes connecting music to feelings to movements. She also integrates teaching life values in the classroom such as respect, inclusivity, courage, love, and open mindedness. Her number one priority is safety in the classroom, followed closely by instilling a love for dance within each and every student. She is very excited to share her passion for dance and be a part of Monarch team! 

Pre-Dance, Choreographer, Performance Coach for MDC

Sophia has enjoyed dancing since the age of two and has been dancing competitively since the age of five. She was member of Danceon Chicago which is a non -for-profit dance organization for anti-bullying. She was a featured performer on "Wrist Bands" music video which was about changing perception and inclusion. It was choregraphed by Mikey Winslow ( Hamilton) and Karlee Ferreira (Hamilton). She has assisted along many different teachers for the last 6 years and has learned so much. She has been teaching at many different studios for the past 4 years. Her favorite style is contemporary and jazz, but she is also trained in ballet, pointe, tap, tumbling and hip hop. She was on the varsity dance team at Joliet West and Metea Valley High School.  She continues to share her love of dance to her students.