Jenny Miquelon opened Duet Dance Academy in August of 2001. Having been a lifelong dancer and dance instructor, she changed career paths after attending Northern Illinois University, teaming up with sister, Jill, to dance their own “duet” every day with the opening of DDA. Jenny was compelled to not only teach children as planned, but to specifically teach them to love dance the way she had grown to. Jenny has worked with thousands of dancers through the studio, in community outreach programs and classes, and as a youth dance team coach. As a result, she has enjoyed seeing so many little dancers with big dreams turn into professional dancers, dance teachers, doctors, teachers, pilots, media producers, and so much more. She is proud to have not only created a successful dance studio with well rounded dancers, but to have also created a place where her students can grow into dynamic adults in any field. With the creation of D2 Performing Company in 2012, Jenny has had the honor of producing additional productions each year, in addition to gaining consistent recognition for outstanding choreography, technique, studio leadership, and top scoring studios at regional and national dance competitions. She was presented the national director of the year award in 2015 and 2016 for her achievements in producing a consistently top ranked competitive and creative team. In addition to DDA, Jenny is married and mom to four daughters who also share her love for dance. She continues to push all of her dancers to new levels as the dance world continually evolves and though she insists on dedication, determination, and focus, she insists the studio classes and teams are run mainly on creativity, passion, and plain old fun. Jenny hopes that each dancer that steps through the DDA doors knows they are part of an amazing second family.​

Jessica proudly grew up dancing multiple styles of dance at Duet Dance Academy. After being a part of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Larkin High school, she attended Point Park University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Dance. At Point Park she studied with Jason McDole, Doug Bentz, and Pearlann Porter as well as other wonderful teachers. Jessica then pursued dance professionally in both Chicago and New York, dancing with companies like Pillow Project, Thodos Dance Chicago, and Mare Nostrum Elements. She currently teaches Pure Barre at multiple studios as well as teaching dance.

Rachel Benzing, a native of Chicago, began dancing in the Fox Valley area studying Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, and training with the Cecchetti School of Ballet. She has vigorously trained under the instruction of professionals in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and London. Rachel has earned numerous scholarships and awards while attending conventions and competitions across the United States. Rachel graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and History, where she was able to work with professional dance artists such as Lillian Barbeito (BODYTRAFFIC), Barak Marshall, Tony Czar, and Rosalynde LeBlanc Loo (Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company), and choreograph numerous works, one of which was featured at the American College Dance Festival. Rachel is a graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance of London, England with a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance: Creative Practice. Most recently, Rachel has performed with Chicago Human Rhythm Project in the reunion concert of the all female Tap group, Rhythm ISS and Tapman Productions. Rachel is a writer for SeeChicagoDance.com and continues to pursue her own artistic process and creation of work. Rachel currently teaches in the Chicagoland area and choreographs for dance studios around the country.  Her work has won numerous awards for Choreography, Entertainment, Creative Concept, and Overall Presentation, and she has been chosen as contending nominee for the Industry Dance Awards (2022). She is an Adjunct Faculty member of the College of DuPage Dance Program where she teaches Jazz and Tap. Rachel is also a writer for SeeChicagoDance.com, reviewing professional dance performances in the greater Chicago area. 

Zada Cheeks, a native of Aurora, IL, began his dance training at the age of 10. He became a member of The Cartier Collective and Chicago Human Rhythm Project's "BAM!" while graduating from West Aurora High School. Since then, Mr. Cheeks has performed with other dance companies such as: Chicago Dance Crash, Civic Ballet of Chicago, Corpo Dance company, Inaside Chicago Dance, Kanopy Dance Company, River North Chicago Dance, Tapmen Productions, and Winifred and Dancers. He has performed nationally and internationally in China, Italy, Spain, and Venezuela. Currently, Zada teaches at many dance studios around the Chicago land area, as well as workshops and master classes helping students with their dance education.

Amanda discovered a passion for dance at the age of ten. She began her serious training at Faubourg School of Ballet under Watmora Casey, Tatyana Mazur, and Ernesto Quenedit. Some of her other training includes intensives with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, River North Dance Company, Visceral Dance Company, and Orlando Ballet. She graduated from Butler University in 2014, where she studied on both academic and talent scholarships earning her BFA with honors in Dance Performance. While at Butler, she had the opportunity to spend a month studying abroad in Europe where she trained and performed in Warsaw, Krakow, and St. Petersburg. As a senior, she was asked to choreograph for the study abroad program, exposing her choreography to venues across Eastern Europe . Throughout the years, Amanda has had the pleasure of performing as a guest artist for The Kate Jablonski Statement, State Street Dance Studio, The Dance Factory, Malachi Ballet, and The Schaumburg Dance Ensemble. Upon returning to Chicago after graduation, Amanda joined Nomi Dance Company, where she danced for four years. In addition to being a dancer with the company, she has also worked as a choreographer for three of the Nomi's shows. Currently, Amanda is dancing with Giordano Dance Chicago. Besides performing, Amanda enjoys teaching and choreographing for studios across the Chicago-land area.

Emma was born into dance - Training at her mom’s studio, Duet Dance Academy, her passion for the arts was fostered at a young age. Through her time at DDA, she danced competitively with D2, earning top awards on Regional and National levels. Emma is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a BFA in Dance & Communications with a Minor in Entrepreneurship. At UW, she served as 2-year Captain and 4-year Student Athlete on the Wisconsin Dance Team, she produced her own concert: "& To Begin" (2023), and her choreography was selected for adjudication at the American College Dance Association (ACDA). Most recently, Emma traveled to Scotland to perform in the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival with Jin-wen Yu Dance. Emma's passion for dance drives everything she does, and she truly loves teaching and choreographing with her DDA family.

Dance has been a part of Molly’s life since she was born. She trained at Duet Dance Academy her entire life, competing and performing with D2PC for 10 years. She won many titles and high score awards across the country, and is a performer at heart. She was a 2 year captain and 4 year member of the Huntley HS Varsity Dance Team, receiving MVP, Athlete of the Week, and 3 All-Conference Awards. Molly is currently at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, where she studies Kinesiology & Dance, works with the UW Football Team as a Hydration Specialist, and is on the Pre-Physical Therapy track.

Abigail Stachnik is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator based in Chicago where she performs with Moonwater Dance Project, Symbiosis Arts, and Still Inspired. Previously she has performed with Jessica Miller Tomlinson Choreography, MitchellMovement Collective, Cocodaco Dance Project, Marlene Skog Dance, and Chicago Repertory Ballet, as well as various freelance projects. She earned her BFA in Dance with Honors from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and after graduation Abigail relocated to Chicago where she trained in the Lou Conte Scholarship Program under the direction of Claire Bataille.

Cyx started his professional career with Dance2xs International in Chicago in 2003. In 2007, he along with three friends founded the Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance better known as CODA. In 2009 Cyx joined Hip Hop Connxion and in 2011 was named director of the Chicago branch. Cyx has performed on the Soul Train Music Awards, The Grammys, The American Music Awards, the MTV music awards and the VMAs. Cyx has danced background for Syleena Johnson, B2K, Marques Houston, Missy Elliott, Usher and Omarion. Cyx has also choreographed and performed in China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, England and Austria along with a multitude of cities in the U.S.

Katie started her dance training at the age of 3 and joined Duet Dance Academy when it opened in 2001. During her early training she studied in various styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pointe, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical. She attended the University of Illinois where she graduated with honors with a BFA in Dance and received the Senior Magnolia Award. While training at Illinois she was a four year member of the Illinettes Dance Team and held a captain position her final two years. Katie has performed in events such as the Heart of Dallas Bowl in Dallas, Texas, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and overseas in London. Katie is currently in her 9th year working with Universal Dance Association. She has toured nationally and internationally instructing, judging, and choreographing for Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate dancers. Katie is currently dancing with Inaside Chicago Dance. She also serves as the head varsity dance team coach for Barrington High School. Katie is thrilled to be back “home” to Duet Dance Academy to teach and give back to her home studio. She has won numerous choreography awards regionally and nationally. Katie adores her students and works to create a class environment in which each student can expand and explore their dance training.

More to come!

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