Our Faculty
Chelsea D. McKone
Owner & Studio Director
Kyla Brittain
Tava Matesi
Rachel Zeller
Chelsea McKone, the Owner and Studio Director of Studio MDC, brings nearly 30 years of dance experience and three decades of teaching expertise to our community. With a background in Kinesiology, Bachelor's in Human & Family Development, and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, she offers a unique, holistic approach that prioritizes high-quality technical training alongside the emotional well-being of every dancer.
Chelsea is a dedicated leader who has spent years developing youth programs that empower students to find their voice through movement. Her leadership is fueled by a deep commitment to fostering confidence, connection, and artistry in a warm and supportive environment.
As a mother of five raising her family within this community, she understands the importance of building a space where children feel seen and encouraged.
Through her vision and guidance, Studio MDC aims to be a place where dancers don't just learn steps, but discover how dance can enrich their entire lives. Outside of the studio, Chelsea continues her mission of care as a practicing therapist for local families.
Kyla Brittain has been teaching dance in the local community for more than 25 years, sharing her passion for movement with students of all ages. Trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop, she specializes in creative movement, helping young dancers build confidence, coordination, and igniting a life love of dance and movement.
Her approach as an educator is centered on creating a positive and encouraging environment where students feel inspired, build lifelong friendships and most importantly, have fun!
Outside the studio, Kyla is the owner of Brittain Impact Consulting, a boutique fundraising consulting firm. She lives in Elgin with her husband John and daughters, Rosie and Willa.
Recreation Director
Tava Matesi is a Chicago-based choreographer, performer, and artist. She graduated in 2025 from Illinois State University with her B.A. in Dance Performance. Tava has experience both performing and teaching ballet, jazz, contemporary, acro, and several other codified techniques.
Along with her training at ISU, Tava has worked with artists from Hubbard Street Chicago,
Chicago Dance Crash, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, and SALT Contemporary Dance.
Tava has had several notable performances throughout the United States, including the premier of her own choreographic work—which was voted to represent her university at a national collegiate conference.
Dance is more than just movement to Tava, it is a complex form of expression and art that she loves to share with everyone she can!
Company Director
Coming Soon!
Business Director
Kalie Henderson
Kalie Henderson is a dancer, performer, and choreographer who recently graduated from the University of Kentucky with a minor in Dance. She is dedicated to creating a warm and inclusive environment where dancers feel inspired to express themselves and connect through movement. Trained in hip hop, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and modern, her work emphasizes technical precision and emotional intention, creating movement that connects with audiences through clarity, musicality, and authenticity.
During her time at UK, Kalie was a four-year member of the UK Dance Ensemble, where she choreographed five pieces and was honored with the Founders Award in 2026. Prior to college, she spent 15 years as a member of DDA, including time as a company member.
Kalie is beyond excited to step into the studio and share her love of dance with her students.
Mia Siemieniec
Mia is so excited to be teaching dance this summer! She began dancing at Dixon Dance Academy at age 3 and trained there for 15 years in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, and more.
Throughout her time at DDA, she was a dedicated team and company member, including being a founding member of Infinity Company. She also competed many solos, duets, and trios and was honored to win Senior Miss Applause in 2021. Mia was a four-year member of the Dundee-Crown High School Varsity Poms and Competitive Dance Team and served as captain her senior year.
She recently graduated from the University of Mississippi, where she was a member of Ole Miss Dance Company and performed in Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, and more. She also has experience taking college-level dance courses. Mia is looking forward to bringing her passion and love for dance to the studio.
Noelle Giacomuzzi
Noelle is a dancer, choreographer, and instructor passionate about inspiring dancers to grow in confidence, technique, musicality, and performance quality while creating a positive and encouraging environment. She is well-versed in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and pom.
Noelle is currently pursuing a minor in Dance Education at Elmhurst University and is eager to return to the studio and share her creativity with choreography and coaching.
Jada Richards
Jada Richards is a recent graduate of Hampshire High School with a lifelong passion for dance, having started at the age of two. She was a dedicated four-year member of the Hampshire High School varsity dance team, proudly serving as captain during her junior and senior years. This past season, she helped lead her team to the IHSA state finals. With four years of experience assisting and teaching, Jada is proficient in ballet, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. She is thrilled to continue her dance journey at Indiana University.
Mikayla Harrington
Coming Soon!
Lead strength coach focusing on kinetic awareness and postural precision.
Morgan McKone
Morgan McKone is a local senior who has been dancing since the age of two and has spent many years teaching and assistant teaching young dancers within the community. Known for her natural connection with children and positive leadership, Morgan is passionate about creating a fun, encouraging, and supportive environment for every dancer she works with.
In addition to dance, Morgan is actively involved throughout the community as a member of the National Honor Society and a volunteer with L.E.A.P., Replanted, and DeLacey Preschool. She also serves as a student ambassador and mediator at Hampshire High School. Morgan recently attended IHSA State Finals with her high school dance team and looks forward to continuing to inspire young dancers through her love of movement, mentorship, and community involvement.
Awesome 3!
Coming Soon!
Awesome 4!
Coming Soon!
Guest Instructors
Reese Harper
Reese Harper recently completed her freshman year as a member of the The Ohio State University Dance Team, where the team earned two UDA National Dance Team Championship titles. She was one of six dancers recruited in her class to join the program’s 13-time national championship team and proudly represents the university at both game days and national competitions.
Reese began her dance training at LoMastro Performing Arts Academy, where she built a strong foundation in a wide range of dance styles. She later became a four-year member of her high school's Varsity dance team, competing in both pom and jazz at the state and national level. She helped lead her team to two state championship titles during her sophomore and junior years. During her senior year, she served as co-captain, further demonstrating her leadership skills and passion for team culture.
Currently, Reese teaches and choreographs throughout the North Shore area, where she is passionate about inspiring young dancers to stay motivated, disciplined, and confident in their training. Her choreography has received recognition at regional competitions, and she especially enjoys helping dancers refine both their technical skills and performance quality. She continues to train in all styles of dance and is excited to continue growing as both a dancer and mentor during her second year as a Division I collegiate athlete.
Ashley Alvarado is a dedicated and accomplished dancer with 16 years of experience in the All-Star and studio environments, where she built a strong foundation across multiple dance styles. Ashley is a current member of the University of Memphis Pom and Ambush Crew, where she contributed to earning a silver medal in the D1A Game Day division at the 2026 UDA Nationals. With a passion for performance and mentorship, Ashley finds great fulfillment in helping dancers by choreographing and inspiring confidence as they grow in their artistry and performance while achieving their goals.
Leadership: Eight years of assistant experience at a studio, captain of her high school dance team, and brand ambassador and assistant at ID Dance Competition.
Choreography: Created routines for local high schools, middle schools, and audition solos for dancers on their post-high school path.
Performance Highlights: Appearances in the “Memphis 901” music video, Varsity All-American Christmas Spectacular, and Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Ashley Alvarado
Katie Nicole Harmon is an interdisciplinary movement artist based in Southern Appalachia. Harmon’s work is centered on the synthesis of art forms with strong influences from nature, environmentalism, and science.
Katie was the first Principal Dancer in Aerial Dance Chicago’s rich creative history of 26 years, where she toured regionally, created aerial dance choreography, and performed in Chicago’s most prestigious venues such as the Aeon Ballroom at Navy Pier and The Auditorium Theater.
She has mentored generations of young dancers through instruction and choreography at highly competitive levels for over a decade. While she has presented staged choreography throughout the East Coast and abroad, she is passionate about using film to explore the relationship between the physical/animal body and the digital/virtual realm. Harmon’s dance film work has been screened and televised in 13 countries.
Katie continues to explore contemporary ballet movement vocabularies through aerial arts, contortion practices, digital mediums, instruction, and improvisation as a way to help people strengthen their emotional connections to the natural world.
Katie Harmon
Guest Artists Wanted!
We are currently looking to connect with passionate and inspiring instructors interested in teaching master classes and workshops at Studio MDC in West Dundee, IL. We are seeking experienced teachers and industry professionals in a variety of styles who are excited to share their knowledge, artistry, and energy with the next generation of dancers.
Send us your resume: info@studio-mdc.com