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 Mary Lee’s School of Dance for 13 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 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 also is involved with their annual fundraiser, “Dancing with the Rockford Stars!”

Maggie Eden is from Byron, Illinois and graduated from Stillman Valley High School. 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 will be going back to Tricoci for her Teacher Training this fall!

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 and Advanced Adult classes!

Erin Smith has been dancing for 17 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

Sue Nagy , Ms. Sue, is a mom of 3 kids (1 being Ms. Brooke), and 5 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 the front desk a couple days a week, and does all the 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!

Larissa DuMelle was a dancer for over 18 years, with a passion for ballet. She danced with Mary Lee’s as a teenager, as well as taught several classes. Now, her oldest daughter dances at MLSD and has found her passion for dance. Larissa loves being a mom of 2 girls, a wife, home school teacher, and hairstylist. She is also very active with weight lifting and fitness, and is looking forward to taking more adult dance classes when her youngest daughter gets a little older! 

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.