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Our teaching method. . . focuses on the traditional foundations of each dance genre and is reinforced by sound educational practices and carefully-structured, progressive lessons. The Contempo curriculum encourages students to master increasingly challenging movements while developing grace and poise, musicality, and a physical vocabulary for creative expression.
Our faculty. . . models the highest standards of training and professionalism, encouraging each dancer to achieve his/her personal best while reinforcing classroom etiquette. With a unique blend of performance and academic experience, we are committed to maintaining open lines of communication with our dancers and their families on progress and opportunities for growth.
Our environment. . . reflects our commitment to a safe and healthy dance community. Our primary classroom offers 945 square feet of learning space, with two additional studios ideal for smaller classes and private lessons. The Contempo facility features floating floors with a padded sub-layer to prevent injury.
Our focus. . . results in balanced, happy, creative students! We promote excellence in dance without forcing students' bodies to achieve a certain aesthetic or level before they are developmentally ready. Qualities such as "turn-out" and flexibility are developed gradually through safe stretching and practice.
 Kimberly Kovacevich, Artistic Director, is thrilled at the opportunity to bring high quality, professional dance training to Lisle and nearby Chicago suburbs. She is an accomplished dancer, choreographer and instructor who has taught at schools throughout the Chicago area for over 15 years, including the prestigious Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. Her former students continue to dance through high school, in university settings, on the musical theater stage, as members of professional dance companies, and most of all, for the love of it!
Originally a competitive figure skater, Kim received her early training at Chicago City Ballet under the direction of prima ballerina Maria Tallchief, and continued her training as a teacher with former New York City Ballet principal, Jillana. Her mastery of Balanchine technique enabled her to give memorable performances as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, as well as in the ballets Stars and Stripes and Paquita.
Complementing her ballet training with further studies in urban jazz, hip-hop, tap, flamenco, and ballroom dance, Kim has continued to perform on the musical theater stage, as lead dancer in a television commercial, and most recently, in an instructional video produced by Northwestern University. Her choreography has been featured in dance team productions, musical theater, and contemporary dance performances. She earned an M.A. from Ohio State University, but has since completed an additional 27 graduate hours toward a Master of Arts in Teaching and been featured in a national publication for her creativity in the classroom.
Among all of her achievements, Kim is most passionate about teaching. Combining a solid classical foundation in dance technique with academic training in curriculum design and child development, Kim believes that there is an inherent joy in movement that she models in each class. She looks forward to continuing to share her enthusiasm for the dance arts with students of all ages at Contempo Dance Academy!
 Katrina Amante - Katrina began dancing when she was 15 and has trained in jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet but her love is mostly in urban dance. As a working dancer, Katrina has opened for hip hop artists such as Chris Brown, as well as back up dance for Rhymefest and DJ Dani Dheal at Lollapalooza. Through the years, she has performed and choreographed for many companies such as BPD Dance Force, Dance 2XS Chicago, Redefinition, Design, Hip Hop ConnXion along with project groups like Work in Progress, 312, Andy J's Carnival Set, Ian Eastwood, etc.. As a choreographer, Katrina's works have received a number of awards at regional and national competitions such as the Overall Highest Score at Urban Jamm and won the battle of the stars award at the Hollywood Vibe national competition. Katrina has appeared on Fox News, TV commercials, music videos, the Sears Chef Challenge as well as Oprah Winfrey's 24th Season Anniversary Show where she assisted in choreography. Katrina has taught all over the Chicagoland area at various studios such as Lou Conte, Visceral, and Mixed Motion, and looks forward to spreading her passion for dance with others!
 Angelica Garza - Angelica started dancing seriously at the age of 12, when she trained on scholarship at the Ruth Page Foundation in Chicago under the tutelage of the late Larry Long. While at Ruth Page, she also had the privilege of being a company member of the Civic Ballet of Chicago. Angelica also spent summers at both the Houston Ballet and Boston Ballet to further her training.
She went on to study at the prestigious Ailey/Fordham BFA program in New York City where she worked with notable teachers and choreographers Nicolo Fonte, Denise Jefferson, Pedro Ruiz, Christopher Huggins, and Larry Keigwan. During her time at The Ailey School, Angelica was selected to perform at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Gala at New York City Center, as well as the Ailey at the Apollo Gala at the acclaimed Apollo Theatre. During her senior year, she apprenticed with Ballet Hispanico where she performed and rehearsed with the company. Angelica's other achievements include dancing in the Oscar-nominated movie Black Swan, as well as modeling for Leo's Dancewear.
Aside from her love of performing, Angelica also has a passion for teaching. She began teaching both ballet and jazz in college, and hasn’t stopped since. Her teaching and choreography has taken her to numerous studios in Illinois, New York, and Alabama. Her main goal as an instructor is to share the gift of movement with her dancers and to help each student grow to their fullest potential.
 Ashley Gieschen - Ashley started studying dance at 5 years old and still remembers her creative dance classes fondly. She trained in ballet, pointe, and jazz for 13 years and then continued her passion for dance at the University of Utah in Modern dance. She danced with the Chicago Moving Company, Chicago, IL and has been an independent performer and choreographer in the Chicago suburbs. While working on her Master's in Communications from Wheaton College she taught and choreographed for Wheaton's dance company. Most recently she taught and choreographed for MC2 Dance Company, Elmhurst, IL. Ashley and her husband have a 3 year old son who also loves to dance.
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