Intrigue Dance and Performing Arts Center is dedicated to teaching, sharing, and encouraging a passion for the art of dance and performance. Our highly skilled teachers are committed to creating a fun and safe learning environment for adults and children alike. By inspiration, determination, and discipline, Intrigue Dance aspires to "intrigue" people of all levels and backgrounds to follow their love for dance.
instructor bios
Pia Hamilton
Owner, Instructor
Pia has been dancing since the age of 3. As a kid, Pia played the character "Min" on the popular children's television show, "Barney and Friends". Pia continued to dance throughout high school and college, receiving numerous awards and trophies, including scholarships to study in New York and Los Angeles. She has studied with the renowned Paula Morgan, with whom she assisted internationally in Italy, Canada, as well as in the U.S.
Other national credits include dance industrials for Reebok, Smirnoff, American Airlines, and Mark Kay Cosmetics. Pia danced as an apprentice for River North Chicago Dance Company for a year and a half, and then went on the become a dancer in The All Night Strut musical at Marriott, Lincolnshire. In 2008, she performed with the touring company of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Buffalo and Cleveland.
Through these endeavors, she is a proud member of the Actorç—´ Equity Association and the American Guild for Variety Artists. She is now currently dancing with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, a modern and contemporary dance company. She has been blessed to work with amazing artists and directors such as Kevin Iega Jeff, Gary Abbott, Paula Morgan, Frank Chaves, Laura Wade, and Sharon and Brandye Burriss. Along with her professional experience, Pia has been teaching, assisting, and choreographing dance since college. She has taught all levels of dance to students and adults of all ages.
With her extensive knowledge and love for dance, she brings dedication, passion, and professionalism to her classes. Pia also has a B.S. degree in Sports Medicine from Pepperdine University. Her knowledge of the kinesiology and anatomy of the body has aided in providing her students with a healthy approach to the exercise and health benefits of dance. Pia is excited to own and operate Intrigue Dance and Performing Arts Center. It has been her dream to create a nurturing, supportive, and educational atmosphere for adults and kids, and she loves sharing her passion for dance with others. She thanks her family, friends, and especially her husband for all of their love and support!
Dustin Hamilton
Co-Owner
Dustin has an extensive background in the performing arts. He received his BA in Acting at Illinois State University, and has performed in over 30 professional productions in and around the Chicago Land area.
Regional credits include Of Thee I Sing (Vladimir Vidavitch), A Christmas Carol (Young Scrooge US), The Music Man (Tommy Djilas), Forever Plaid (Sparky US), Superman the Musical (Rascalnokov), Pinocchio (Pinocchio), The Nutcracker (Nutcracker US), Kamasutra the Musical (Dick), The Fantasticks (Matt), Broadway Man (Ensemble) starring Sam Harris, The Christmas Schooner (Oscar), Dr. Sex (Edgar), Kiss of the Spider Woman (Fuentes), Animal of the Year (Jo-Jo), Joseph..Dreamcoat (Joseph), The Laramie Project (Moises Kaufman), Crazy For You (Bobby), Godspell (ensemble), and Brigadoon (Charlie).
Dustin has been seen in National and Regional print ads for Miller Lite, Sears, and The Chicago Independent Film Festival. He has also been seen in National TV spots for Budweiser, Miller Lite, US Cellular, and the US Armed Forces. Film Credits include "Keeper of the Necklace" and An "Enigma". He is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) as well as Actors Equity Association (AEA).
Dustin co-founded Intrigue Dance with his wife Pia in the hopes of creating a great learning environment for young kids as well as current and aspiring artists to grow in the realm of dance performance. It is his desire to continue his own growth along with all of the students at Intrigue in various forms of dance. None of this would be possible without Pia, who along with her incredible talent, brings the very essence of what Intrigue Dance is all about to each and every student she teaches. It is her love, desire, passion, and professionalism that makes Intrigue Dance what it is.
Kathleen Purcell Turner
Instructor - Modern and Pilates
Kathleen was born in Columbus, Ohio where she trained at BalletMet with the distinguished April Berry and Yoko Ichino. She continued her dance education at such institutions as the American Dance Festival, Julliard, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Ohio University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors Tutorial College with a degree in dance.
Kathleen has recently relocated from Cleveland, Ohio where she was a member of Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater. She has worked with artists such as Ronald K. Brown, Craig "Bopi" Patterson, Murray Louis, Shapiro and Smith, and has performed at the Kennedy Center and various venues around New York City.
She was honored to play the role of "Mary" in Karamu's Black Nativity for its 90th Anniversary season. Ms. Turner is currently a member of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater 2 and a guest artist with Chicago Dance Crash.
Buddy Reeder
Instructor - Tap
Buddy has been teaching tap for over 20 years. He has taught at various studios and universities around the country, including Lou Conte Dance Studio, Hubbard Street Outreach Program, Columbia College, Roosevelt University, Dance Academy of Libertyville, Naperville School of Dance, University of Akron, and Kent State University.
Buddy is Co-Owner of C.R. Rainbow Studio, a Chicago based recording studio. His stage credits include Cabaret (Emcee), Cats (Mongojerrie), West Side Story (Arob), 42nd Street (Billy), and Gypsy (Tulsa). His TYA credits include Sleeping Beauty (Prince Hunter), Peter Pan (Lost Boy), The Nutcracker (Jack in the box), and The Velveteen Rabbit (The boy).
As a director and choreographer his credits include All Shook Up, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Cats, Soleil Moon World Concert Tour, Some Like It Hot, A Night with Harold Arlen, Anything Goes, Annie, 42nd Street, and work for Mystique Productions.
Amber Jackson
Instructor - Jazz
Amber is from Madison, WI, trained at Monona Academy of Dance and Dance Wisconsin, performing in classical works such as The Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Gardée, and Coppélia. After graduating from high school, she was an apprentice with the Louisville Ballet for one year before attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received a degree in Elementary Education. During college Amber was a member, as well as team captain, of the UW Dance Team and also performed with Jazzworks, an award-winning jazz, modern, and contemporary ballet company.
After graduation, Amber moved to Chicago where she was an apprentice with River North Chicago Dance Company. Amber joined Dance Works Chicago in July 2010..
Jane Meredith
Instructor - Ballet
Jane is a native of Norfolk, Virginia, where she received her training at the Academy of Tidewater Ballet and Norfolk Civic Ballet. She continued her studies at the University of Utah, where she was placed in senior and graduate level dance classes upon entry, and was a William F. Christensen Scholarship recipient. She joined Ballet West after her freshman year. After taking time off to start a family, she joined Ballet Iowa, where under the direction of Artistic Director Kennet Oberly, she rose to the level of principal dancer and had numerous lead roles created for her. She also performed with the Des Moines Metropolitan Opera and Wisconsin Ballet Theatre. During her career, she has danced in well-known ballets such as Symphony in C, Konservatoriet, Napoli, Don Quixote Pas De Deux, Coppelia, Cinderella, Swan Lake Pas de Trois and Giselle.
Ms. Meredith’s teaching experience includes schools in Salt Lake City, UT, Des Moines, IA, and Green Bay, WI. She helped create a pre-professional program at the Green Bay School of Dance which consistently placed students in prestigious schools such as the School of American Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Pacific Northwest Ballet School and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Many have gone on to professional careers that include Carolina Ballet, Nashville Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Louisville Ballet, and to Broadway shows such as Young Frankenstein.
Keeley Morris
Instructor - Hip Hop
Keeley started dancing at age 13 taking a break dance class at Danza Viva. There she studied with a youth group and trained in styles like African, swing, jazz, modern, and hip hop, getting trained by instructors such as Christopher Courtney and Dunni T. Cosey Gay. Currently studying for her degree in Performing Arts Management and Dance at Columbia College, some of her performance experiences include performing back up with artists like Ben One, Angela Martin, Money Penny, Company of Theives and Marcus Austin, while performing in places such as The House of Blues, The Regal Theatre, and Lollapalooza.
Projects that she is currently working on include dancing and performing back up vocals for Local artist Nikki Lynette choreography alongside artist Jahmilah alazm of Stick and Move Crew. A firm believer of being trained both mentally and physically in this art form, she hopes that she can inspire and share that same passion with others.
Willie White (aka Jr.)
Instructor - Hip Hop
Junior is a Native of Chicago, Junior White has been performing since the tender age of (9). Mr. White attended Collins High School, majoring in Performance Arts, Theatre and Music. Willie has studied intensely with Elaine Mclaurin and many other choreographers and dancers in Chicago. He is a former Three year member of the Perfect Tymin Performance Company where Ms. Mclaurin was the Director. Taking his experiences and all that he had learned, he created his very own hip hop dance Company called StereoPhonix Dance Co., where he is also the Dance Director.
His goal is to develop his dance team and open there eyes to different dance styles and cultures. The students learn Jazz, Modern Dance, Ballet and Hip Hop techniques and have incorporated these with a touch of his own personal style to develop a unique and exquisite dance ensemble. Willie not only use’s his dance techniques to better himself but to better other’s as well.
Victoria Massey-Lorick
Instructor - Children's Classes and Cardio Strip Tease
Victoria was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she found her love of dance at age 14 on her high school dance team. Victoria came to Chicago in September 2008 to start her formal dance training at Columbia College where she is pursuing a BA in Dance Teaching. Victoria also dances and trains with Intrigue’s Framework Dance Chicago, where she has been since Fall of 2009. With Framework, she has been given opportunities to dance at many events here in Chicago, including Lollapalooza in 2010.
Victoria hopes to continue her dance training in Chicago, and once graduated from Columbia, use her degree and passion to continue spreading the art of dance through teaching and performing.
India Smith
Instructor - Children's Classes
India was born and raised in the Metro Detroit area of Michigan. She is a dancer, performer, and teacher. Her styles consist of a variety of all different dance styles. Smith started her dancing at the age of 10 training in hip-hop, modern, and ballroom. She competed in ballroom competitions until the age of 14, where she then continued her modern dance training under choreographer and instructor Deborah Wilson at Romulus High School and other various studios. Smith has constructed and performed several collaborative works on stage. She then premiered her on stage choreography in spring 2007 and received the award for Most Outstanding Dancer at Romulus High School.
Smith has been teaching hip-hop dance for children and teenagers since 2007. She has coordinated several talent shows with choreographic works of her own and she has performed in the 2009 African Idol dance competition held at the University of Illinois-Chicago, in St. Charles Illinois, at Chicago State University, the "O" project held for Oprah's 2009 season show premiere, and other numerous places. Smith is currently interning as well as instructing dance classes at Intrigue Dance in Chicago, dance captain for Chicago's StereoPhonix Dance Company, and she plans to continue her dance training at Columbia College Chicago.
Jordan Beyeler
Instructor - Children's Classes
Jordan was born in Witchita, Kansas, and has been dancing since the age of three. She’s competed since the age of seven in various dance competitions all over the world, taking home multiple titles in Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Lyrical/ Contemporary dance styles. Jordan has trained and performed various works under multiple choreographers: Pia Hamilton, Jeff Hancock, Jarrett Kelley, Paige Cunningham, Jenny Warnick, Hanna Brictson, Trae Turner, Lori Merriman, Joanna Rosenthal, Emily Stein and more. Jordan was a founding member and company manager of Framework Dance Company where she performed alongside Dance Crash Chicago at Duets of My Valentine Spring 2010 and at Lollapalooza Music Festival Summer 2010.
Jordan is currently studying at Columbia College Chicago majoring in Dance with a concentration in teaching, while still training under member’s of Giordano Jazz Dance Company. Jordan currently teaches at Intrigue Dance.
Kira Obermeier
Instructor - Children's Classes
Kira has been involved in the world of dance since a young age. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, she attended Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School where she was an active participant in their theatre department performing in both musicals and straight plays. From there she went on to attend Columbia College Chicago to study Musical Theatre under the direction of Jonathan Mastro, David Cromer, Stephanie Shaw and many others. While attending Columbia, Kira began her serious studies of ballet with artistic director of Intrigue Dance and Performing Arts Center, Pia Hamilton.
She continues her studies with Pia and hopes to pursue a career as a professional ballet dancer. She would like to thank Pia and her family for believing in her and her dreams.
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