FACULTY
Ms.
Christine Belpedio
Founder, Owner & Artistic Director
Since 1978, Christine Belpedio has served as the Founder, Owner, Artistic Director, Instructor, and Choreographer of Christine Belpedio’s School of Dance. She began her dance education at age six and pursued extensive training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Tumbling in New York, Chicago, and California.
A certified member of Dance Educators of America, Ms. Christine has performed professionally throughout the Chicagoland area with the Entertainers performance troupe and as a member of the Chicago Bears Honey Bears.
Ms. Christine also directs and prepares dancers for regional competitions, creating award-winning choreography that showcases technical excellence, artistry, precision, and performance quality. For nearly five decades, she has upheld the highest standards of dance education while inspiring generations of confident, disciplined, and versatile performers to achieve their fullest artistic potential.
Coach Matt
Acrobatics & Tumbling Instructor
Coach Matt brings an exceptional background in competitive gymnastics and more than a decade of professional coaching experience.
He trained and competed through the Chicago Park District gymnastics program for over 10 years, participated in six NAIGC National Gymnastics Championships, and served as the Men’s Gymnastics Club Coach at Xavier University. He also received advanced training at a Junior Olympic camp in Pittsburgh with Olympic gymnast Blaine Wilson.
Coach Matt provides high-caliber instruction for students of all ages and abilities, from beginner through advanced. His disciplined, technique-focused approach develops strength, flexibility, coordination, body control, and confidence while ensuring the safe and progressive mastery of acrobatic and tumbling skills.
Ms. Francesca
Hip Hop & Contemporary Instructor & Competition Team Choreographer
Ms. Francesca is an accomplished professional dancer, instructor, and award-winning choreographer with more than 10 years of experience in Hip Hop. A graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in Dance, she has performed with acclaimed companies including Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, CODA, Urban Dance, and Boom Crack. She is currently a member of the Emmy Award-winning performance group, The Puzzle League.
Ms. Francesca began her training at Christine Belpedio’s School of Dance at age four and has developed extensive experience in Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Latin dance. She currently teaches Hip Hop, Contemporary and directs the studio’s Elite Competition Teams.
Known for her innovative, award-winning choreography, Ms. Francesca combines technical precision, musicality, creativity, and exceptional performance quality. She is dedicated to challenging dancers to reach their highest potential while developing confidence, individuality, versatility, and commanding stage presence.
Mr. Jose
Latin Dance Instructor & Competition Team Choreographer
Mr. Jose is a distinguished Latin dance performer, instructor, and respected choreographer with more than eight years of professional experience. His performance career spans local, national, and international stages, including appearances at premier events such as the Chicago International Salsa Congress and the Chicago Bachata & Salsa Festival.
Having performed with several prestigious Latin dance companies for more than seven years, Mr. Jose brings exceptional technical expertise, authentic Latin styling, musicality, partner connection, and performance artistry to his instruction. For over five years, he has taught and choreographed for the CBSD Latin Performance and Competition Teams, preparing dancers for high-level competitions and distinguished showcases.
Renowned for his innovative choreography and exacting artistic standards, Mr. Jose develops dancers who are technically refined, artistically expressive, stylistically authentic, and captivating on stage. His disciplined approach challenges every performer to achieve technical excellence while embodying the energy, sophistication, and cultural richness of Latin dance.
Ms. Miriam
Mexican Folklórico Instructor & Choreographer
Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Ms. Miriam is a distinguished Mexican Folklórico instructor, performer, and choreographer with more than 25 years of professional experience. She studied at the University of Guadalajara and served as a dance instructor for Secretaría de Educación Pública y Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia in Mexico.
Ms. Miriam performed professionally with La Casa de la Cultura in Mexico and has choreographed large ensemble productions representing the distinctive traditions of numerous Mexican regions. Her extensive cultural knowledge brings authenticity, technical excellence, and artistic depth to every class and performance.
Through disciplined and inspiring instruction, Ms. Miriam develops dancers who demonstrate precise footwork, musicality, expressive movement, cultural understanding, and exceptional stage presence. She is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the richness of Mexican heritage while preparing dancers to perform with confidence, artistry, and regional authenticity.
Ms. Rachel
Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz & Poms Instructor & Choreographer
Ms. Rachel is an accomplished professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor with a distinguished background in commercial dance. She has performed alongside numerous recording artists, appeared in a variety of music videos, and taken the stage at renowned events, including World of Dance, Lollapalooza, and Carnival. Her choreographic experience includes traveling throughout Illinois to create and stage competitive routines for dance teams.
Ms. Rachel holds a degree in Fine Arts from the College of DuPage and specializes in Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Poms.
Ms. Abby
Flamenco Instructor
Ms. Abby is an accomplished flamenco performer and instructor whose dance journey began at the Christine Belpedio School of Dance, where she trained extensively in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Flamenco. A graduate of The Chicago High School for the Arts, she completed a rigorous pre-professional dance program that strengthened her technical foundation and artistic development.
Since 2021, Ms. Abby has performed professionally with Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater at nationally recognized venues, including Chicago’s historic Auditorium Theatre. Her dedication and artistry have earned her numerous scholarships and honors, including the City of Chicago’s Rising Star Honor Roll Award and the Carmela Greco Scholarship, which supported her flamenco studies in Cádiz, Spain. She was also awarded a 2026 DanceWorks Chicago Microgrant to pursue advanced flamenco training in Sevilla, Spain, further demonstrating her commitment to excellence, authenticity, and continued artistic growth.
Mr. Luiz
Latin Dance Instructor
Mr. Luiz is an accomplished Chicagoland-based Latin dancer, instructor, and choreographer with more than nine years of experience in Latin dance. His passion for movement began while growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the city’s vibrant culture inspired his lifelong connection to music and dance.
Specializing in Salsa and Mambo, Mr. Luiz has trained extensively under renowned instructors Angel Martinez, Rocky Quinones, and Kimberly Rivera. He has performed with numerous Latin dance teams throughout Chicago and continues to share his expertise through professional instruction and choreography. His classes reflect his dedication to strong technique, musicality, cultural authenticity, and compelling performance quality.
Ms. Lorely
Latin Dance Instructor
Ms. Lorely is an accomplished Latin dancer, choreographer, and instructor with more than 10 years of professional performance experience. She received her technical training in Ballet, Modern, and Latin Dance at Columbia College Chicago, developing a strong and versatile foundation across multiple dance disciplines.
Her dance journey began at a young age with Taino Dance Company and Soneros del Swing before advancing her professional career with Flavor and Urban Vibes. Dedicated to sharing her passion and expertise, Ms. Lorely continues to choreograph and perform for quinceañeras, sweet 16 celebrations, and specialty events. Her work combines technical excellence, creativity, and captivating performance quality to create memorable experiences both onstage and in the studio.
Ms. Sabrina
Ballet, Pointe & PBT Instructor and Choreographer
With more than 20 years of performing and teaching experience, Ms. Sabrina is an accomplished dance educator, performer, and choreographer. She began her dance training at Christine Belpedio’s School of Dance at age three and continued her education at Joel Hall Dancers & Center and The Joffrey Ballet. She also served as Student Choreographer and Captain of the competitive Orchesis Dance Team.
A certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor, Ms. Sabrina has extensive training in Cecchetti Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Poms. She currently teaches Creative Movement, Ballet & Tumbling, Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe, and PBT.
Her technically focused instruction emphasizes proper alignment, strength, control, musicality, precision, artistry, and performance quality. Drawing upon her extensive experience performing with and directing performance troupes and Poms teams, Ms. Sabrina has created distinguished choreography and prepared dancers for high-caliber performances.
Recognized for her creativity, technical expertise, and disciplined teaching approach, Ms. Sabrina provides a structured and inspiring environment that challenges dancers to achieve their highest potential. She is dedicated to developing confident, expressive, and versatile performers distinguished by their individuality, artistry, and commanding stage presence.
