Chase the Spirit of Dance
Faculty & Staff
Stephanie Chase
Owner/Director
Training: Professional Dancer/Master teacher in NYC at the Broadway Dance Company, Steps & Juilliard... Radio City Music Hall Rockette for 13 yrs (‘85-‘97). Chase Dance/Fitness in Lincoln past 30 yrs
Hobbies: Cooking, Gardening, and enjoying my grandson! I also love a good workout at PureBarre LNK
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: Having all my wonderful, talented, stellar young faculty that surrounds me...along with the best parents/students possible💞
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Chelsea Hyland
Company Director, Lyrical, Leaps & Turns, Jazz, Clogging
Training: Competitive dancer winning numerous titles and awards, Arkansas state dance champion, award winning choreography, Husker Scarlets Dance Team
Hobbies: Teach first grade, work out, and spend time with family and friends
Favorite Part of Chase Dance:the students I get to teach! Dancing brings out so many emotions in students and I am so grateful to be there for all of the happy moments, sad moments, and everything in between.
Vijay Olander
B.O.Y.S. Director, Tap, Hip-Hop
Training: I grew up dancing at Chase Dance. I’ve been dancing for 20 years now and professionally teaching for the past 10 years. I’ve learned from great artists like Gregg Russell, some of Michael Jackson's back-up dancers, dancers from the "So You Think You Can Dance?" TV series, dancers from the "Step Up" series movies, and more. I competed in Tap in the Rhythm of the Soles tap company. Currently, I’m apprenticing on the M.A.D.D. Rhythms tap dance company in Chicago, IL and serving as a board member for the Nebraska for the Arts.
Hobbies: I’m a huge Saint Louis Cardinals fan. I like going fishing and to the movies with my friends.
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: The students and staff make me want to come teach!
Elizabeth "Liz" Carey
Ballet, Pointe, PBT
Training: Was a ballet dancer for twenty years, have been teaching for over a decade. Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, Pilates Mat, injury prevention, group fitness, and formerly a certified personal trainer.
Hobbies: Love spending time with my children, being outdoors, cycling, and pretending to know what I'm doing in my vegetable garden.
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: Second only to snuggling my kiddos, this is my "happy place". These students fill my bucket - fill me with energy, with smiles and happiness, with the shared joy of movement. What I give them, I get back double. These kids just leave me smiling and excited for the next class.
Janice Parker
Ballet, Tap, Latin Jam
Training: I began studying ballet at the age of 5 with the Royal Academy of Dance in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Thanks to my ballet background, I became a company dancer for “The Young Canadians” Over the next 8 years, I had the opportunity to dance in many musicals, ballets, half time shows, opening ceremonies, and even danced for Queen Elizabeth, twice.
Hobbies: I love spending time with my family, friends and dogs!
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: I am proud to have been a part of the wonderful Chase Dance Family for the past 14 years! Bob and Stephanie are the reason that so many wonderful dance teachers have come together to bring the joy of Dance into so many kids’ lives! We are all better people because of Bob and Steph’s passion, generosity, direction and kindness!
Brittany Frewin
Acro, Jazz, Lyrical
Brittany began her dance training at the young age of three in Houston, TX. She started competing at age five under the direction of Steven Boyd, a nationally recognized jazz dancer and choreographer. Over the years, she began to train at the top studios in Houston, becoming more versatile in each dance style, including hip hop, acrobatics, tap, and contemporary. During this time, she got the opportunity to work with prestigious choreographers. It was then she found her love of mentorship and teaching. While competing in the United States, she acquired several national titles as a soloist and group competitor. She began to instruct at various studios, and her excitement grew. She continued to dance through college, forming a dance crew who won the honor of SFA’S Best Dance Crew. After graduating, Brittany traveled back to Houston, where she spent 2013-2018 choreographing competition routines for various studios, including middle school drill teams. In 2018 Brittany traveled to Nebraska from TX. Not too far after, she found a wonderful opportunity at Chase Spirit of dance and became a certified Pure Barre instructor. Brittany continues to enjoy teaching and sharing her knowledge to help better others in the art of dance.
Allie Thompson
Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop
Training: Started dance at 5 and grew up in Lincoln taking from and competing with the chases! Moved to California in 2011 and spent 3 years training there! Came back in 2014 and have been teaching here since 2015!
Hobbies: I love fitness and teach barre classes at pure barre! I don’t have that many hobbies hahahaha but I like to bake and spend time with friends! I spend most of my time on going to school 🤓
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: I love working with kids who are so positive and fun-loving!! 💓
Con O'Shea-Creal
Boys Contemporary, Boys Hip-Hop, Adult Tap Dance
Training: I grew up studying dance with the Chases. Graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in Musical Theatre performance, and had an over decade long career performing in Broadway shows and National Tours
Hobbies: Playing with my kids, reading, and fixing things.
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: The positive vibes, huge studios and variety of classes for all ages and levels.
Kimberly Vander Woude
(Substitute)
Jazz, Lyrical, Twirling, Contemporary
I am finishing my bachelor's degree at UNL in Chemical Engineering and just got married in May of 2022!
I started competing in baton twirling when I was 4 years old and went on to twirl worldwide through 2019. I also twirled for the Cornhusker Marching Band on home football game days (2018-2022).
I started dancing at age 7, went on pointe at age 11, attended professional dance intensives across California, and continued dancing ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and modern dance at an elite level until I graduated high school. Dance and baton twirling have a special place in my heart and I cherish every moment I get to teach the younger generations how to express themselves through beautiful movement!
Sarah Smith
Ballet, Tap, & Asst. Office Manager
Training: Studied with Marianne Sanders, True Dance, and then the Chases starting the year they came to Lincoln - Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. Have taught ballet, pointe, tap and modern for Chase & studios in Idaho and South Carolina. Cheerleader turned coach to nationally competitive coed and all-girls teams.
Hobbies: Movies, shopping, and hanging with my three kids.
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: Bob & Steph are family to me - this studio is full of life and acceptance and has played a major role in my life and now in my children's lives as well!
Jeremy Harris
Business Manager
Training: Banking and accounting for the State. I also watch a lot of YouTube dance videos.
Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking , fishing, lifting weights.
Favorite Part of Chase Dance: The energy that people bring into the studio.