Brooke LeMaster
Owner, Director, Instructor, Team Company Director
Brooke LeMaster was a Rockette for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2012. She then traveled the world, performing with Stilletto Entertainment on the Holland America Cruise Lines. She taught dance for the Pre-Professional program at Oklahoma City University’s Community Dance Center and performed locally with RACE Dance Company. She also joined Champagne Creative Group, based out of Las Vegas, where she performed different dance gigs nationally.
She grew up dancing in North Carolina at the Academy of Dance and Fine Arts. Through training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, gymnastics, and musical theatre, she was chosen to perform at the Charlotte Philharmonic Christmas Spectacular at the Blumenthal Theatre in NC in high school. She continued her training in Oklahoma City, where she graduated with her Bachelor in Performing Arts at Oklahoma City University. She was a dancer and line captain for every Christmas and spring production with the Oklahoma City University American Spirit Dance Company and has toured with them, as well. She was part of the Spirit of Grace Liturgical Company and Pep dancers at basketball games. She performed at the Oklahoma City Centennial next to stars such as Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Sandra Day O’Connor. Right after graduation, she danced in a film, directed by Nick Cassavetes, and was in several local Oklahoma commercials. Lastly, she has judged for numerous dance competitions nationwide. Throughout her experiences she has continued to teach students, and loves sharing her passion for dance!
Brooke now resides in Rockford, IL with her wonderful, loving, and supportive husband, Justin, son, Myles, daughter, Camila, and amazing family. She was born in Hinsdale, IL but moved at the age of two. She has lived in several different states, but made a full circle back to her home state. When she is not teaching or dancing, she loves to spend time with her family, be outside, try new food, and stay in touch with her long-distance friends. She is thrilled to have taken over what was formerly Mary Lee’s School of Dance, 4 years ago and continuing to do what she loves every single day!
Tracey Monti
Instructor, Team Company Co-Director & Choreographer
About
Tracey Smith has danced all of her life. She grew up dancing at Mary Lee’s School of Dance, and she began student teaching at the age of 16. She has studied all over the United States including Chicago, New York City, Oklahoma City, Tampa, Orlando, L.A., Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, and Kansas City. She owned a successful studio for 15 years. After closing her studio, she taught at Kids Spot and Edwards Dance Center before returning back to Mary Lee’s School of Dance. Now she has been with MLSD for 15 wonderful years. Her passion is little ones, and they absolutely adore her! She strives to give her students a strong starting base with a very positive attitude to help build their confidence and self-esteem. Tracey’s goal is that every student she teaches would love dance as much as she does!
Alex Spain
Instructor, Team Company Co-Director & Choreographer
About
Alex Spain has been involved with dance since she was 3 years old. She started dancing with Kathy Nelson’s when she was only 3 and continued until their closure in 2006. In high school, Alex returned back to studio dance at Evolve Dance Co. until her graduation in 2010. During her college years, Alex took different dance classes including tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, and musical theater at RVC, Forest Hills Dance Company, and Rockford University and even a few studios in Iowa. Alex also taught for a local studio in Davenport, IA until she returned back to her homeland in 2012. Alex’s favorite styles to teach are tap, jazz, and contemporary/lyrical. Alex would say her absolute favorite to perform is tap, which she fell in love with at a young age. Alex was the assistant coach for Boylan Dance Team. She is “so excited to be joining this awesome studio with such great families and students!”
When Alex is not dancing, she is a full time supervisor at CH&A in the intact family services program. Alex also is a licensed therapist and sees clients for counseling a few nights a week at Family Counseling Services. While working at FCS, Alex is involved with their annual fundraiser, “Dancing with the Rockford Stars!”
Daniella Lane
Instructor, Assistant Team Instructor & Choreographer
About
Daniella Lane graduated from Auburn High School in June 2023 and plans to get her Associates degree of Arts, then to go through a radiology program to become an X- Ray technician. Daniella works part-time at Peak Fitness as well as babysits.
Daniella has been dancing at MLSD since she was 5 years old. Her favorite style is jazz, and her favorite part about dance is dancing with the people she loves and the kids she assists. She was in the CAPA program at Auburn, as well as their dance team all 4 years of high school. She competed with MLSD’s dance Team the last 5 years! She will continue assistant teaching Team, as well as teaching several classes this season!
Maggie Eden
Instructor, Assistant Team Instructor & Choreographer
About
Maggie Eden is from Byron, Illinois and graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 2022. She has been dancing with Mary Lee’s School of Dance since she was 4 years old. She grew up doing all styles of dance, with her favorite styles being Hip Hop and Contemporary. She trained with many different instructors, as well as attended many dance conventions and competitions to further her training in the dance industry. She joined the competition team her last 3 years of high school and enjoyed the dance family she made along the way! Her favorite moments of competition season were her duet practices, the feeling performing on stage, and doing makeup for her other team members. She performed in groups, duets, and solos throughout the competition season. Dance is a reason for her to express her emotions and truly feel the music, which is why she is so passionate about it!
After graduating high school, Maggie attended Tricoci University for Cosmetology, graduating with her license in cosmetology. She now works for S & S Salon in Byron. Her passion for Cosmetology came from doing makeup for team members at competitions. She is back at Tricoci for her Teacher Training!
Maggie is excited to be back teaching at the studio she grew up dancing at and sharing her passion for dance in her Hip Hop classes, Advanced Adult classes, and now Team!
Erin Smith
Instructor, Assistant Team Instructor & Choreographer
About
Erin Smith has been dancing for 18 years. She trained at Edwards Dance Center, Mary Lee’s School of Dance, and Evolve dance company. She has attended numerous dance conventions and competitions in Chicago, New York, and Minneapolis. She began student teaching at 10 years old. She choreographed, taught and performed in her first award winning competition group number at age 16. She is very passionate about dance and enjoys sharing her passion with students. She is experienced in all types of dance.
Tumbling and cheering run a close second to dance in Erin’s life. She participated in gymnastics at a very early age and then continued on with tumbling, which lead to her cheerleading career. She started cheerleading at age 8 through high school and held the role of captain for a few years. While in high school She helped out with camps for the Jr. high cheer team. Through her cheer years she was able to experience all the positions of flyer, base, back spot and front spot. In high school she attended numerous cheer competitions. She has choreographed and assisted several cheer routines over the years at Mary lees.
Erin is looking forward to sharing her experience, creativity and passion of dance and cheer!
Brianna Torres
Instructor, Assistant Team Instructor & Choreographer
About
Brianna Torres,
Brianna Torres graduated from Rockford Lutheran High School in 2023. She is now attending Rockford University where she is studying to be an Early Childhood Educator. Brianna also runs cross country for her university. She spends her summers working with preschool aged children at camp.
Brianna has been dancing since she was 4 years old at Mary Lee’s School of Dance. She has been a part of the dance team since 2020. Her favorite style of dance is tap.
Brianna has danced with Miss Tracey since she was 5 years old and is honored to take over for her on Saturday mornings. She loves working with preschoolers and helping in developing their love of dance. Brianna is so excited to continue dancing, teaching and assisting our dancers this upcoming dance season.
Cori Herrera
Front Office Associate
About
Cori Herrera is a full time stay at home mom of 3 beautiful girls. She graduated from Boylan Catholic High School in 2005, Rock Valley College in 2007, and then from Kishwaukee College in 2010 with an Associates Degree in Radiologic Technology. She worked as an X-ray Technician up until 2020 when the Covid pandemic began.
Cori has a passion for baking, thrift shopping, and watching her girls dance. Her oldest and middle daughters have been dancing with MLSD since they were toddlers.
Cori enjoys being at the studio with her girls and getting to know all the families at the studio!
JoAnn Lane
Front Office Associate
About
JoAnn Lane, COMING SOON!
Sue Nagy
Front Office Associate
About
Sue Nagy , Ms. Sue, is a mom of 3 kids (1 being Ms. Brooke), and 6 beautiful grandchildren! She was born and raised in the suburbs of Illinois and made a full circle back here after living in NC and CO. She has been a nanny and worked in the medical field most of her life. She currently works at North Western Hospital in Huntley, babysits her granddaughter Camila, along with working behind the scenes at the studio! She is the most hard working, passionate, loving person you will ever meet.
She loves being able to support her daughter’s passion of dance, and loves seeing that passion shared with young students at the studio!
Lexi Vermies
Front Office Associate & Instructor
About
Lexi Vermies grew up in Rockford and trained at Mary Lee’s School of Dance! She danced for 13 years and competed for 5 years! She is versatile in all styles of dance, but her favorite is lyrical! During her competitive dance years, 2 of her most memorable awards were being chosen as “Dancer of the Weekend” at Odyssey, and “Dancer of the Year” at Dance America competition! She traveled to NYC for continued dance training and performance opportunities! Lexi did all conference cheer and was the Varsity cheer captain in High School! She has truly enjoyed every experience she had the opportunity to be a part of!
Lexi graduated from Rock Valley College and will be attending NIU for continued early childhood education. She will be busy dancing as a Silverette on the NIU dance team (Congrats Lexi!), so we will see her around the studio on some Saturdays and to substitute teach this coming season.