Broadway School of Dance / Windy City Dance Studio

Faculty Directory

Ann Lenartson   - Director

Nathan Dempsey has been dancing ever since he can remember (early grammar school).  His first instructional dance began at Lisa Boem's School of Dance where he studied Jazz and Hip-Hop.  As a junior in high school, Nathan decided to begin his schools' first ever 'Dance Troupe'.  Nathan solely coordinated auditions and choreographed for his junior and senior years of high school.  After graduation, Nathan began dancing for 'Another Level Productions' group Groove Jam.  Tour Dance Performances for this group include locations such as the World Music theater with B96's B-Bash.  From there, Nathan began another tour with 'Estee' for Tommy Boy Records out of New York City.  Nathan went on to to dance for a hip-hop dance team in Chicago called 'Nike Culture Shock'.  Nathan is currently choreographing in many different places.  Some of his other choreography can be seen at NIU's Triple A's fashion show, Decatur, IL's SHow Choir Camps of America, Ohio's Show Choir Camps of America and Disney World's Show Choir Camps of America.  Nathan love instructing and is very excited about his new position with Windy City Dance Studio. 

Gabriel Ortiz - "Dance is part of everyone's life and it is what I have chosen for my life."          Sixteen years ago, Gabriel was also known as Dr. G (his breakdancing name).  He was the youngest in a group called the Soul Sonic Rockers, the best break dancing crew in Illinois.  He could often be seen performing his signature move - the head spin.  In May of '81, his team competed in a state-wide break dancing tournament.  They won after they were given the chance to represent Chicago in a "battle" (a one-on-one dance format in team competition) against New York City.  At the age of 8, he was also in a contest in Chicago at the Riviera and received the title for "Best Breaker".  Gabriel has held onto his hip-hop roots as he has gotten older.  Since then, he has  been seen dancing in a McDonald's commercial and a music video on MTV - 'Volcano Girls' by Verucca Salt.  Gabriel's advice:      "Dancing is freedom - never forget your rhythm in life!"      

Trish Rowley    began taking dance instruction at The Dance Workshop at age three.  She raised the level of her dance training by taking dance instruction from professional dancer, Joel Hall, in Chicago.  At age fifteen, Trish qualified to study for three months with Frank Hatchet in New York and was selected again in '97 for this honor.  Recently, Trish has taken classes at Lou Contes in Chicago and in September 2000 she will continue her education at Columbia College in Chicago studying and training for a degree in dance with a concentration in teaching and choreography.  Over the years, Trish has been able to compete at numerous competitions and conventions.  She has also trained with famous choreographers such as Hank Crabtree, Debbie Dee, Joan Lather and Sam Fieriello.   

During her high school years, Trish was very active in dance and her school's pom-pon squad.  For four years, she was a member of the squad and choreographed a number of routines junior and senior years.  She was also 'drill down queen' in the summer of '96 and '97 for the greater Chicago area at UDA summer camp.  In the summer of '98, Trish worked for the Universal Dance Association as a dance instructor.  Since graduation, Trish has attended Joliet Jr. College while remaining active in dance as an instructor for several studios in the Plainfield/Naperville area and has also done volunteer work for Girl Scout troops in the Joliet area.

David Wittney studied tap with such teachers as Roy Wilson, Tommy Sutton and Bill Gary.  He has choreographed over 25 musicals including the popular 'Mame', 'Hello Dolly', 'Chicago', '42nd Street', 'Fiddler on the Roof' and many others.  David has also choreographed for fashion shows and beauty pageants including 'Miss Illinois' and 'Miss Pre-Teen'.  David is not only a successful choreographer and teacher but a performer as well. He has appeared with the group 'Front ROw Center' for ten years.  He also developed his own performing group entitled 'Schubert Alley' which tours resort areas.  David also worked in the Children's Theatre at the Paramount Arts Center and toured for three years with the Cole Marionette Puppet Shows in Indiana.