Who We Are
Victoria Warren
Artistic Director | Instructor
Courtney Beltz
Instructor / Collective Choreographer
Kaylin Moreland
Instructor I Special Events
Collective Choreographer
Emily Buellesbach
Instructor
Fall 2024 Instructors
*Headshots/Bios Coming Soon*
Abby Burman
Ariel Solger
Shannon DeWitt
AbbA
Victoria Tucker
Instructor | Acro and Dance
Victoria
Warren
Victoria has been teaching, directing, and inspiring dancers for over 20 years in the Northern Illinois area. She has pulled her talents as a professional from her own vast experiences through dance. Some of her noted accomplishments include apprenticing with The Milwaukee Ballet, instructing at dance conventions, as well as an elected board member to a non-profit dance organization. She is credentialed to teach by examination ballet/pointe, tap, and jazz through a national and statewide dance organization. Each of these experiences aides Victoria in prepping dancers for what the dance world has to offer. Not only does she enjoy instructing dancers and sharing her passion of dance, but she relishes in nurturing dancers to be amazing individuals in all that they do in and out of the studio atmosphere.
Victoria has a degree in Sign Language Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a Master’s in Social Work from Aurora University. These degrees have allowed Victoria to work alongside individuals and families who have had needs for advocacy, to consult in the public school sector, and deepen her own understanding as she is a parent of a special needs child herself.
Courtney
Beltz
Courtney started dancing when she was ten she started off with jazz then grew to love hip hop! A few years later she continued expanding her dance knowledge by taking acrobats, ballet, pointe, modern and lyrical, she joined a dance competition team and competed for two years winning first and second place at the Hall of Fame dance competition. She started apprenticing with Michi Barber when she was 13 teaching pre-ballet and pre-jazz classes, she continued her apprenticeship with Andy Tomlinson, teaching hip hop from 6-7 yr olds to high school students and with Donna Lynn Collings teaching pre-ballet to intermediate ballet classes. She has also accompanied Victoria Warren and Laura Thurston as an assistant at The Dance Masters of Wisconsin convention. She danced with Ashly Mari Dance Company for a year where she choreographed dances for mini conventions, and her own solo pieces. By the time she was 18 she was teaching pre-jazz and funk classes and continued teaching for four years teaching all ages of hip hop, pre-jazz, jazz 1, pre-ballet and ballet 1 classes. Courtney has taken a year off from studio teaching and is excited to be teaching with us at Above the Barre!
Kaylin
Moreland
Kaylin is originally from Cary, Illinois where she found her passion for dance when she stepped in the studio at the age of 3. Kaylin grew up in McHenry County taking dance classes, teaching youth athletics and participating in school musicals. Kaylin went to Illinois State University and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and minor in ESL.
While in college, Kaylin continued her love and passion for dance at ISU as she danced on Poise Dance Team. During her time on the team, she held the positions of Fundraising Chair as well as Vice President. Kaylin had the privilege of being able to choreograph for her team as they participated in shows, fundraisers, and events around the Bloomington- Normal area. Kaylin loved being part of a team that was encouraging and supportive where everyone could learn and grow and makes it her goal to bring that to every dance class!
When Kaylin is not dancing, she loves her job teaching 4th grade as well as traveling and photography! Kaylin is honored to be part of the Above the Barre Dance Academy family!
Emily
Buellesbach
Emily is from McHenry, IL, but currently is about to be a Senior at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. Emily has a tumbling background from tumbling for 9 years at Fox Valley Power Tumblers. She also has been dancing for 9 years between studios and dance teams. Emily was on the McHenry High School West Campus Varsity Dance Team for 3 years until she graduated early. Throughout her time on the Varsity Dance Team, Emily choreographed multiple pom routines and jazz competition routines. Emily's dance teacher was Victoria Warren for 6 years, and during her time with Victoria, Emily gained experience in lyrical, modern, contemporary, and jazz.
Currently, Emily is going on her fourth and final year on the St. Norbert College Dance Team. Her college is a D3 school, and in 2019 they took 2nd in the Pom Division. Besides dance, Emily is a Communication and Media Studies Major. She is also an opinion columnist for the college's newspaper and has several poems published in the college's Graphos book.
Victoria
Tucker
Victoria Tucker grew up in Crystal Lake, IL where she trained in gymnastics from 3 -10 years starting in a beginner class and advanced to the level of a team competitor.
Throughout her time as a gymnast, she learned the fundamentals of flexibility and strength, which enhanced her performance in both gymnastics and a variety of styles of dance. Her true passion for dance started around age 12 and flourished over the following years. Throughout her time as a dancer, she took classes in ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, modern and tap. As a student, she was instructed by Victoria Warren, Lindsey Draves, Kirsten Stark and Brook Burkhardt.
When Victoria isn't dancing, you can find her working as a licensed hairstylist, caring for furry friends at her dog grooming job, or enjoying a nice day taking pictures of nature scenes and flowers.
Victoria is excited to combine her creative and artistic abilities as a dance and across instructor at Above the Barre!