DANCE GALLERY CHICAGO - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of Modet Dance Collective
Anna Zordan is a certified performing arts teacher with 15 years of teaching, directing, and choreographing experience in Chicago.
She grew up in Beverly/Morgan Park and even took dance classes from Miss Marylee! Her love for dance led her to participate in various high school and community theatre musicals. She then joined the theatre department at Elmhurst University, where she decided to follow her passion for teaching and love of theatre and dance to obtain a degree in Theatre Education. She continued to take dance classes at both the university and trained at various studios in Chicago such as Lou Conte and Joel Hall.
Since graduating, Anna has taught thousands of students in theatre and dance within the Chicago Public Schools, and Chicagoland. She is a huge believer in the powerful benefits of the arts, and thoroughly enjoys watching students grow and progress throughout the years.
Anna is also a founding member of Modet Dance Collective, performing in and choreographing for Stage 773, Links Hall, and THAW. When she is not acting, directing, dancing or teaching, she is enjoying raising her two silly children with her husband in Beverly.
Job Titles:
- Dance Gallery Owner & Artistic Director
- Dance Gallery Owner, Artistic Director and Ballet Instructor
In 1998, Marylee Sinopoli accomplished a life-long goal, becoming an instructor for future generations of dancers by opening Dance Gallery. Sinopoli's experience in both teaching and choreography along with patience and enthusiasm makes her a natural teacher where she puts a smile on the little ones' faces. She embraces the opportunity to share her knowledge and love of dance with all of her students as well as the community. Since Dance Gallery's grand opening, she has taught thousands of students ranging in age from two through adult; to experience the art of dance.
"As a choreographer and dance teacher, I feel it's important for students' growth and development to be exposed to many types and styles of dance," Sinopoli said. "We hold many special events for our students and the community at large so they are better able to experience and be exposed to the art of dance."
Over the years, Sinopoli has had the opportunity to see many children take dance, and transform from toddlers and preschoolers in her creative movement classes to graceful ballerinas dancing in such performances as Dance Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet's annual production of "The Nutcracker." Many of her former pupils have also chosen to follow in their instructors footsteps, attending some of the countries best performing arts and dance schools and pursuing dance as a career, much to Sinopoli's delight. Students not pursing a career in dance also benefit from the discipline of class and confidence students gain from experiencing the art of dance.
The idea behind the studio decor was to provide a place where students will become immersed in creativity. The images and movement reflected in the many dance themed paintings, sculpture and more help inspire the students experiences of dance, art and movement.
Marylee graduated from Barat College in Lake Forest with a B.F.A. in Theatre and Dance and danced professionally. She trained extensively in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance at such prestigious schools as the Ruth Page Foundation, the Lou Conte Studio of Dance and the Gus Giordano Dance Studio. Additionally, she danced in the Arie Crown Theater's production of The Nutcracker for 13 years and later performed in numerous commercials and industrial videos.
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Miss Lia Khan is a proud Dance Gallery Alum! She is well versed in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Acro. During her time at Dance Gallery, Lia simultaneously trained with Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Lindblom Dance Ensemble, and student taught honors dance at her high school.
Lia attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in coaching. While at SIU, she danced on the Saluki Shakers Dance Team for 2.5 years before joining the coaching staff due to an injury. Lia is a current graduate student at DePaul University obtaining her Masters of Education in Physical Education set to graduate Spring 2025.
During undergraduate Lia had the opportunity to be an instructor at Studio 84 in Murphysboro, IL, specializing in the choreography of solos, duets, groups and production numbers. She also teaches ballet, jazz, tap, and pointe. Lia has many dance pieces that are recognized at the national and regional levels.
Lia is very excited to return back to her roots and continue to foster her love for dance education in the same place her very own career started!