Taytum Bultema
Assistant Director, Instructor

Ms. Taytum began dancing at the age of 3 at the Munster Academy of Dance. She continued her study of ballet and jazz at the Dance Gallery until she graduated from high school and went on to Indiana University. Growing up Taytum performed with Ballet Legere in the Nutcracker for 6 years and had many leading roles including Clara understudy, Columbine and Angelica. She performed with the Indiana Ballet Theater Northwest in Cinderella and the Nutcracker. She was named All-American Cheerleader and performed in the half time show of the live broadcast Florida Citrus Bowl in 2001. She ranked in the Top 12 at the Miss Illinois Teen USA 2001 Pageant. After graduating high school she continued the study of dance while at Indiana University in ballet and jazz. During her time there she was a member of In-Motion Dance Company. She choreographed a musicale theater piece for Pi Beta Phi for the campus wide IU Sing competition and was also a dancer emcee for IU Sing. During her junior year she taught at the Dance Gallery and at Finale Studio in Illinois. Taytum graduated from IU with a B.A. in Communication and Culture. She is currently continuing dance training and education at Lou Conte Dance Studio and is very excited to be returning to the Dance Gallery.

Laura Brand
Instructor

Laura Brand has studied dance with Loretta Rozak, Ruth Page, Richard Avre, Larry Long, Lou Conte, and the University of Illinois. Ms. Laura has performed with The Chicago Ballet Company and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has been a guest soloist with the Lithuanian Opera Ballet, appeared in the PBS production of Der Fledermaus and has performed for many years in the annual production of Ruth Page's The Nutcracker. Ms. Laura has been with us for 12 years.

Kris Koulianos
Tap Instructor

After owning her own studio for 15 years, Kris Koulianos returned to the dance world teaching in the EPAT program in Munster for the past three years. Ms. Kris' past experiences include ballet studies at both Ruth Page and Ellis Du Boulay studios in Chicago.  Ms. Kris has toured for Radio City Music Hall and choreographed for several universities. Her tap instructors include the infamous Tommy Sutton and Jimmy Payne. Ms. Kris has been with us for 3 years.

Kaitlin Ritchie
Instructor

A Dance Gallery Alumnus, Kaitlin has danced with the Dance Gallery since the age of 4, appearing in many major roles, including Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. Kaitlin was a teacher assistant for 5 years under the direction of Ms. Amy where she learned curriculum and teaching skills. Upon graduation, Kaitling left for Dallas Texas where she spent a year with their training company "Ingredients". There she studied all disciplines of dance with a concentration on Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Hip Hop. Ingredients performed in many venues, but Kaitlin's favorite was taking the message of Hope to the inner city in places such as Texas and California. Kaitlin is excited to bring everything she learned to The Dance Gallery students where she is looking forward to expanding the repertoire of Dance In Love. Kaitlin will continue to study all discipline's of dance at Lou Conte Dance Studio where she has received full scholarship for her outstanding talent, discipline and character.

Cara Scrementi
Instructor

Cara began her dance training at the age of three and studied at the Dance Gallery with Amy White Hanas, Laura Brand, Nick Pupillo, among others through high school. During this time, aside from the annual Dance Gallery Celebration of Dance, she performed various roles in productions of "The Nutcracker", including five seasons in the children's cast with the Joffrey Ballet. She continued her training at Loyola University where she earned a minor in Dance and studied under the direction of Sandra Kaufmann, Sarah Cullen Fuller, Karen Castleman and Amy Wilkinson. There she was the first recipient of Loyola's Outstanding Dance Minor Award in 2009. She continues to learn and grow as a dancer and instructor and is blessed to have dance be such an important part of her life. Cara is now Artistic Administrative Intern at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
 

Kim Dooley
Instructor

Kim is a current undergraduate at Northwestern University pursuing a degree in Communications Studies, as well as a degree in Dance and Business. Before attending Northwestern, she trained for ten years in ballet and jazz at The Dance Gallery. Kim has received dance scholarships at both Lou Conte Dance Studio and The George Washington University. Currently she trains in ballet, jazz, modern, and hip hop at Northwestern University. Kim has danced in the Joffrey Ballet Nutcracker children's cast and has performed in works by the Assistant Artisitic Director of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Laura Wade, and former Giordano company member, Ruth Sherman. Kim is currently the Artistic Director of Graffiti Dancers, Northwestern's premier dance company.