Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Emily has been a member of Leap of Faith since 2005. She has grown up dancing at the studio and now enjoys teaching the current LOF students. Emily has trained in multiple styles of dance including: Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary and Pointe but she particularly loves Tap! She strives to help her students find their true artistry and connection with the Lord in their dance experience and believes that Leap of Faith fosters a dancer’s faith through serving, application of truth and godly friendships. Emily also has a heart for children with learning differences/special needs and holds a certification with “Rhythm Works Integrative Dance” Program. Emily has also stepped up in directorship and oversees all Shining Lights Teams. She is committed to her dancers and studio and will continue sharing her heart with everyone who steps into her classroom!

Ms Jamie has been dancing since the age of three and teaching since 2002. Starting her training under Kathleen Sims Villari (Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo) and Maria Villari at American Dance Center where she trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Modern. She performed nationwide including the International Dance Festival in California. She was a cast member of Chicagoland's longest running original ballet "Hansel and Gretel" from 1995-2000. She also performed in The Joffery Ballet's "Nutcracker". Jamie's modern training (Graham, Horton, and Cunningham) came from Melody Geraci. Jamie also trained with Olga Ravasi, Joel Hall, Dardi Mcginley-Galivan, Christie Lowe (ABT), Eduardo Vilaro (Ballet Hispanico), Adam Sklute (Ballet West), and John Magnus (Joffery Ballet) to name a few. She is a certified instructor for Joel Hall technique. She is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. Jamie has also been certified in Discover Dance, a child dance and development program. She has been teaching in the Chicagoland area for 25 years and continues to guest teach and substitute teach where she is needed. She has taught for conventions such as Dance Masters Wisconsin. She enjoys judging and teaching at local conventions and competitions. Some of Jamie's favorite musical credits include, Gypsy, 1776, Music Man, and Cats. Jamie is the founder of the Child Exploitation Awareness Task Force (CEAT) which is an organization promoting awareness and education on child exploitation, abuse, and trafficking. Jamie, her husband David, and their two children Lila and Killian reside in Plainfield IL.

Mrs. Ana grew up in the Washington DC area, training at The Washington Ballet and competed at a local studio lead by Gloria Hampton. During her professional career, she has performed with a multitude of ballet companies; from the Maryland Youth Ballet to the Royal Danish Ballet. She has performed on Broadway, completed several national tours and performed in multiple productions by Debbie Allen and numerous productions with The Dance Institute of Washington. 

She has done choreography for multiple professional dance teams, dance companies, and theaters nationwide. As a teacher and choreographer for the past 15 years, she looks forward to sharing her experiences and knowledge with the next generation of dancers and performers. 

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Sophia Bernar has been dancing at Leap of Faith Dance Studio since 2010, where her passion for dance and worship first began. After graduating, she moved to Texas to further her training with Ingredients Dance Company before returning home to teach at the studio that first inspired her love for dance.

As an instructor and choreographer, Sophia is grateful for the opportunity to invest in the next generation of dancers while sharing her love for the Lord through movement. She believes dance is a powerful form of praise and worship, and her desire is to create an environment where students not only grow in their technique and artistry but also learn to use dance as an expression of their faith. Through teaching and choreography, Sophia’s goal is to blend her passion for dance with her love for God, inspiring others to glorify Him through every movement.

Bio coming soon!