Sara is a singer/dancer who got her start at the Artistic Dance Academy in Wisconsin. As a young performer, she appeared in the ballet A Christmas Carol, and was a featured ballet dancer in The Wizard of Oz. Sara continued her arts training through college where she studied classical, musical theatre, and jazz voice, as well as piano, flute, alto saxophone, and percussion. On a scholarship, Sara continued her dance training at Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago, and was also privileged to attend masterclasses at the Broadway Dance Center in New York. Sara obtained her B.A. in Music from Elmhurst University (summa cum laude) with an emphasis in voice and music theory. Sara’s professional credits include Chicago Keys, Six Flags Great America, Heart & Soul Chicago (music director), the Spirit of Chicago Cruise Lines, the Gaslight Club, Broadway in Chicago Concert Series, radio spots, video game soundtracks, and stage and pit for such musicals as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Cabaret, The Drowsy Chaperone, and The Wedding Singer.
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Sara went on to study vocal technique with renowned instructor Jeffrey Skouson in Las Vegas, NV. She taught private voice and piano lessons at Rising Stars and Grayslake North High School before opening BCS with Brynn Arseneau in 2009.
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In addition to teaching privately, Sara is also an accomplished music arranger, composer, producer, clinician and adjudicator, and has been working with show choirs around the country for over 18 years. Sara continues to perform as a dueling pianist when she can, and arranges music for nationally recognized show choirs each season. She also enjoys playing and recording music with her incredibly talented husband, Brandon, and teaching piano lessons & solfège scales to her son, Desmond!

Ms. Jen has been dancing for over twenty years and is an experienced student, teacher, choreographer, and performer. Growing up in Elmhurst, Jen competed with local dance studios in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theater for nearly ten years. In addition to competing regionally and nationally, Jen also became captain of her state finalist high school dance team. Jen has had the opportunity to train with Emmy-winning choreographers, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, and Travis Wall, among others. She has also performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and with the American Ballet Theatre. Jen also had the opportunity to train with New York City’s Broadway Dance Center. Jen attended Western Michigan University where she was a dancer and choreographer for their dance team for three years. She received the “Most Valuable Dancer” award her sophomore year on the dance team for her talent, hard work, and dedication.

Jen received her B.S. in Special Education and M.S.Ed in Literacy and ESL, but continues to teach dance as it has always been a huge part of her life. Jen is the Director of the BCS Company and has received various awards for her choreography, including a National Championship and Highest Overall Score. She is also the director of the Beyond Barriers program at BCS. She loves to share her passion for dance and looks forward to working with and meeting new students.

Ms. Kat has been dancing for 18 years and began competing at age 12 with Beyond Center Stage. She trained in jazz, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, and lyrical, performing several group numbers, duos, trios, and solos. She was awarded first place awards and convention scholarships, as well as the highest score of an entire competition. Throughout high school, Kat was a four year member of the York Community Varsity Dance Team, winning the IHSA Competitive Dance Class 3A State Champion title her senior year. In college, Kat was a four year member of the Illinettes Dance Team, the official dance team of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in which Kat and her team performed at every home football and basketball game, as well as community and special performances. Kat had the opportunity to dance at the 2019 Bowl Game in San Francisco, California as well as the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. Kat held leadership positions including fundraising chair for two years, as well as squad leader her senior year. Kat also choreographed several pieces including jazz, hip hop, and pom sidelines, features, and halftime routines. Kat was nominated by captains and the Big Ten Spirit Program staff for the Big Ten All Conference Dance Team, as well as awarded All Big Ten Academic. Kat was also a member, club officer, and choreographer of the club Mindful Movement on campus, where dancers choreographed combinations for other college-aged students in a low-stress, no performance atmosphere.
Kat received her B.S. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and is currently attending Rush University Medical Center for her doctorate in occupational therapy. Kat is excited to continue her love of dancing through teaching at the studio that trained her to be the dancer she is!

Janae is an experienced dance instructor, choreographer, performer, and BCS alum! She grew up dancing competitively in jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop styles, although she also trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, pom, and pilates. Graduating from Hope College, she has degrees in dance performance, business, and dance pedagogy. Janae's training comes from Sharon Wong, former co-chair of the Jazz Department of the Alvin Ailey School, Matthew Farmer, Crystal Frazier, and Tracy Dunbar to name a few. Her professional dancing career includes being a member of StrikeTime Dance Company and H2 Dance Company. Most recently Janae was an ensemble dancer in the Christmas Show Brand New Hallelujah. Outside of performing, Janae has worked on the administrative team at The Joffrey Ballet School and as a dance competition judge. If you’d like to connect, follow her on Instagram @movement.by.janae!

Diana's passion for music blossomed early in her childhood and permeated every aspect of her life, from the TV series she watched to the toys she played with. She had an intense desire to be able to create music herself, so she set her sights on learning to play a musical instrument. After much consideration, she chose the piano as her musical companion.

Enrolling in an art school, Diana's love for the piano only grew stronger, and her dedication didn't go unnoticed by her teachers. Throughout her 8-year journey at the art school, she actively participated in concert activities, performing in duets, ensembles, and even achieving prestigious prize placements. The piano had truly become an inseparable part of her life, fueling her artistic aspirations.

Diana's enthusiasm for music extended beyond the boundaries of the art school. Together with her brothers, she formed a band, and they embarked on numerous memorable performances at youth festivals and charity concerts. Being part of a musical band became a profound passion for her, as it not only allowed her to express her talent but also fostered a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork.

Her devotion to music extended beyond her personal achievements. Diana took great joy in sharing her knowledge and experience with new members of the band, becoming an encouraging mentor for them. Witnessing their growth and success filled her heart with happiness, as she firmly believed in the tremendous benefits of teamwork and the transformative power of music in people's lives.

Ms. Grace holds a Bachelor of Arts in Worship Arts with a minor in Communication Studies from Judson University. She hopes to continue her studies in Community Music after taking a year post-graduation to work and continue teaching voice lessons.

Grace is an experienced singer and musician; she has been singing in school choirs since the age of 8. Grace has participated in several OMEA solo and ensemble competitions and has helped her students prepare for similar events. Grace has participated in a number of choral and band ensembles including chamber choirs, university choir, and a women's barbershop quartet. She also has a background in musical theater, and loves incorporating musical theater into her lessons.

Grace loves to share her passion for music with others, especially kids, and loves helping others grow a love and appreciation for music.

Tatyana Mazur was trained at the world famous Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg. Following her graduation from the Vaganova Academy she danced with the Odessa Opera in Ukraine and the Moscow Ballet where she enjoyed international touring to India, Ceylon, Jordan and Egypt.

After the termination of the Kiev Theatrical University and Kiyevo-Mogilyansky Academy of dance, Tatyana became the head of the choreography department of the Kiev’s School of The Arts, where she staged many classical ballets as well as her own choreography for the classical ensemble or the “Yaroslavna” ensemble. She served as Artistic Director for 10 years where she led tours to Germany, Israel, France and Poland.

After relocating to the USA, Tatyana worked for 5 years as a professor at Akron University, teaching their highest-level students. She moved to Chicago on 2002 forwork as the Ballet Mistress of Faubourg Ballet. From 2017-2019 she served as a key ballet teacher at Salt Creek Ballet.

Tatyana’s students have gone on to countless ballet companies across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Tatyana has prepared many students for participation in the prestigious competition Youth America Grand Prix where her students in 2005 and 2011 became winners in the Ensemble category and in 2011 one of her students was a winner at the New York finals. Tatyana was awarded the prestigious honor of “Best Ballet Teacher” in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 by YAGP.

Tatyana has staged and set various classical ballet’s and variations including Swan Lake, Snow Maden, Snow Queen, Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote, Cippolini, Coppelius, Shopeniana.

Ms. Emma is a native of Elmhurst and has been an active member of the community. For the past five years, Emma has coached and led various youth sports programs, while also attending Benedictine University. She is studying her undergrad in business and working toward a career in Human Resources. While Emma often works behind the scenes of BCS, she also enjoys the performing arts and attends all dance competitions and nationals with the BCS Company. Emma is excited for the expansion of BCS and looks forward to meeting new families and students.

Alexa Petrando is super excited to be a part of the BCS staff. Alexa developed a love for the performing arts when she was two years old at her mother’s summer show choir camp, Rising Stars. Alexa is proud to have trained with Ms. Sara at BCS for over 9 years (voice and piano). She also took a variety of dance classes at BCS through the years, and she is now a proud staff member since summer 2021. Alexa is currently studying Choral Music Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she enjoys singing in the choir, participating in student musicals, and having fun in social activities through her sorority and on campus. Alexa is grateful for the opportunity to continue her BCS journey and can’t wait to meet new students and families along the way!

Bio coming soon!

Brandon Schreiner’s love of music began when he was grounded in grade school for throwing a pencil on the school bus! Wishing he could be outside playing basketball, he flipped on the radio and began his love affair with music. Brandon studied Music at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he produced an album with his band, If Then Else. Upon graduating, he participated in a national tour with the band Charlemagne, playing his original music. Currently, Brandon is an accomplished drummer and guitar player who frequently performs for musicals in the Chicago area. Brandon’s recent guitar credits include "American Idiot" (ECC), "Rent" (SPA), "Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Leader of the Pack” (Big Noise Theatre), “Annie” (Big Deal Productions) & "Godspell" (SFHS & COD). His recent drum credits include “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (Summerplace Theatre), “The Wedding Singer” (Big Deal Productions) and “The Drowsy Chaperone” (Big Noise Theatre). Bass credits include "Grease" (COD), & "Little Shop of Horrors" (SFHS). Currently, Brandon enjoys recording tracks with his wife, Sara, and playing in his bands, Optical Distortion and Overboard.​

Aimee is an Oak Park native who has been dancing for 17 years. She began at the Oak Park Park District, then continued at Panda Studios. While at Panda Studios, she competed in tap, jazz, and ballet for 7 years, and also taught classes of her own. Aimee was also a part of the varsity poms team at her high school from her sophomore to senior year. She enjoys being at competitions and supporting the team, making sure everyone is relaxed and ready for their performance. She is excited for the growth of BCS and meeting new students and families!

Bio coming soon!

Emma Sterner began her dance training at the age of 2 at Dorothy’s Dance Unlimited in Schaumburg. She has been dancing for 20 years, having trained in numerous styles such as Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballroom, Modern, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. Out of all of styles that she had been trained in, her favorite styles to dance and teach are Contemporary, Ballroom, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. She became involved with Christian Youth Theater company at the age of 5 and has been with the company for 17 years. She was in a total of 19 productions, but her favorites were Les Miserables, Singing in the Rain, and Hairspray. After she graduated high school, she began to choreograph full length productions and teach dance classes with CYT. Throughout her dance career, she started training at Joel Hall Dance Center in Chicago, where she got to work and learn from amazing instructors such as Rosetta Fair and David Leaf. Emma has been teaching dance for 7 years and is currently working towards earning her degree in Sports Medicine, with a Minor in Dance Therapy. She is so beyond thrilled to be working with this amazing company and hopes to inspire and have a positive impact on her students.

Laura is a performer and teacher who loves to help children grow and thrive in the arts. She is a Chicago native and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She has been teaching for the past several years and has worked with students of all ages. When she’s not teaching, she serves as a Speech and Debate coach at York High School in Elmhurst. Laura is thrilled to be joining the BCS family!

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Bio coming soon!

Dance Bright student helper

Dance Bright student helper

Dance Bright student helper

Beyond Barriers student helper

Dance Bright student helper

Beyond Barriers student helper