Faculty

MEET THE FACULTY

Mrs. Beth Fowler (B.F.) – Creative Dance, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap

Mrs. Fowler established the Beth Fowler School of Dance in 1983 at the age of 15. She has a great love for children, which shows, in her teaching. Students are eager to learn, as the programs are both enjoyable and self-rewarding. She established the Beth Fowler Dance Company (a professional group of dancers) in 1994.

Beth Fowler danced professionally as a principle dancer with the Rockford Dance Company, Judith Svalander Dance Theatre and the Milwaukee Ballet. She has developed dancers that were accepted with the Joffrey Ballet of New York City, Milwaukee Ballet, American Ballet Theatre,  Chicago Bulls Luvabulls and many that received college scholarships for dance. Aside from teaching at both her Genoa and St. Charles locations, Beth also teaches all levels of Ballet and Jazz at Rockford College.

Krista Paulson (K.P.) – Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern

Krista was born in Seoul, South Korea. She grew up in Boone, Iowa, where she began dancing at the age of three. Krista has trained under year-round scholarships at The Virginia School of the Arts, Northern Illinois University, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Grad Program and The Lou Conte Dance Studio, home of Hubbard Street Dance Company. Krista has had the opportunity to perform in Pittsburgh Ballet’s Nutcracker under the direction of Terrance Orr. She has also danced with Luna Negra Dance Theater and Fred Garbo’s Inflatable Theater Company on their nationwide tour. Currently she is dancing with Chicago’s contemporary dance company NoMi LaMad. Krista has taught throughout the Chicagoland area since the age of 16.

Shana Flatland (S.F.) – Tap

Shana started dancing as a child with Lisa Bohem. She continued dancing as an adult with Beth Fowler and has been a teacher for Beth Fowler since 1998. She has been praised for her ability to win the hearts of children while keeping control and structure in her class.

Ashleigh Rodriguez (A.R.) – Creative Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Tap

Ashleigh has won the hearts of so many of our little dancers. She has worked very closely with Mrs. Fowler for the past 9 years assisting and taking classes. Ashleigh has progressed through the school’s dance levels which have prepared her for teaching them. Parents of our students have praised Ashleigh for her structured, disciplined classes which result in the dancer’s progression and the respect that the dancers have for her.

Chris Johnson (C.J.) Jazz, Lyrical, Modern

Chris Johnson is the Artistic Director of Dance at Beloit College. Chris has a B.A. in dance from Luther College, a M.A. in dance from California State University, and a M.F.A.in dance from the University of Illinois. She has studied with Bella Lewitzky, The Joffery Ballet, Gus Giordano, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, to name a few. For the Beth Fowler School of Dance Mrs. Johnson teaches Advanced Jazz, Lyrical, & Modern.

Robert Lewis (R.L.) – Hip Hop

Robert Lewis recently returned from LA where he performed on MTV’s hit series, “America’s Best Dance Crew.”  Robert performed with Xtreme Dance Force which was the crew choosen out of hundreds to represent the Midwest.  Robert has opened for Souja Boy, Bow Wow, and Mims, and was part of the ABDC tour performing at the Rosemont Theatre with the Xtreme Dance Crew. As a child, Robert took classes with Beth Fowler, and is now excited to come back and share the latest and greatest hip hop moves with us.  Robert has taught for several dance schools in Rockford as well as taught and choreographed for Xtreme Dance Force.  Robert’s greatest love is teaching and choreographing hip hop, and his new innovative style is fresh and exciting.

Janelle Bergin (J.B.) – Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap

Janelle has been dancing with Beth Fowler for the past 12 years. She has danced many lead roles in our productions. She is a soloist with the Beth Fowler Dance Company. She has been praised for her ability to bring out the best in her students as she pushes them to reach the highest of their individual abilities.

Randall Newsom (R.N.) – Ballet, Pointe

Randall has performed and choreographed for companies throughout the world, including the Irish National Ballet, Repertory Dance Company of the Southwest, Louisville Ballet, and was co-artistic director of Cycles Dance Company (Great Britain). He is a specialist in the renowned Benesh Movement Notation System. He was a recipient of Northern Illinois University’s Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award in 1987-88. Randall has been the Director of Dance at Northern Illinois University for the past 25 years.

Miranda Simek (M.S.) – Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern

Miranda has been dancing with Beth Fowler since childhood.  After high school graduation she danced with the Joffery Ballet in New York City.  She has also danced with professional dance companies in the Chicago area including the Joel Hall Dancers.  Miranda has been featured in many Beth Fowler Dance Company productions including the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker.”  She is now attending Northern Illinois University on a full dance scholarship.

Dmitri Peskov (D.P.) – Ballet

Peskov is the assistant director of dance at Beloit College. He is a dance panelist with the Illinois Arts Council and a member of the dance faculty of College of DuPage. He has performed with Chicago Ballet, Chicago Festival Ballet, Salt Creek Ballet, DanceLoop Chicago, and the Joel Hall Dancers in Chicago.

Rachel Benzing (R.B.) – Tap

Rachel is from South Elgin and is trained in all forms of dance with tap being her specialty.  She currently dances with Xtreme Dance and has had the pleasure of dancing at the Los Angeles Tap Festival with many excellent tap dancers including Dick Van Dyke and Debbie Allen.  Other tap experiences were with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and the St. Louis Tap Festival.

Rachel has been awarded multiple dance convention scholarships and 1st place competition awards.  She loves to teach all levels of tap to dancers of all ages.

Corey Worley – (C.W.) – Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical

Corey Worley of Batavia started his training with Moves Dance Studio.  He now teaches for “Street of Dreams Convention” as well as teaches and choreographs for multiple dance companies in the surrounding area. During Corey’s competing career he won numerous awards including 2nd place over all at Co. Dance Nationals for his solo in 2006.  He danced in the music video, “Baby Get Down” by TOMI and performed in the opening for Hillary Duff, TPain, & Soulja Boy. Mrs. Fowler first met Corey at the “Adrenaline Dance Convention” in 2004 where he was a teacher assistant for Joey Tarwater during Adrenaline’s nationwide tour.  Corey has performed in Beth Fowler Dance Company’s production of “The Nutcracker”, and taught at both the Genoa and St. Charles Beth Fowler School of Dance locations.

Bret Hamilton (B.H.) – Ballroom

Bret began his career as a dancer and choreographer over 25 years ago.  Bret began teaching ballroom dance in 1990 at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Springfield Massachusetts.  He is also a professional mime and began appearing on WGN’s Bozo’s Circus in the late 80′s.
For the past 16 years Bret has performed as Drosselmeyer in the Beth Fowler Dance Company’s production of “The Nutcracker”.  Bret enjoys teaching couples the many different styles of ballroom dance in groups as well as in private lessons.  Everyone enjoys being around Bret’s fun sense of humor.

Hannah Smith (H.S.) – (Ballet, Lyrical, Modern)

Hannah has been dancing for 15 years.  She is a principal dancer with the Beth Fowler Dance Company and recently danced the role of “Cinderella” in our ballet production last spring.  She was accepted to study with American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive for the past 3 years.  She has performed at Dance Chicago, as well as for ballet great Maria Tallchief.  Hannah loves to teach others and has been a great role model for so many aspiring dancers.