Meet our Staff
Ms. Diane King
Ms. King is the Founder and Director of DANCE IMAGES. She began her dance training at the age of three. Attending Illinois State University, she received a Bachelors Degree in Dance and Business as well as that University’s award for Outstanding Creativity and Achievement. Ms. King has performed locally, as well as in Europe, with the American Heritage Dancers. Working with youngsters and adults throughout classroom teaching, workshops, and lecture demonstrations, Ms. King founded DANCE IMAGES in 1992. Her teaching style encourages physical activity, discipline, technique, and lots of fun! She has been teaching for over 30 years. Ms. King and her husband, John, reside in Tinley Park.
Ms. Lindsay Johnson
Ms. Lindsay has grown up with Dance Images, having started dancing at the age of three. Ms. Lindsay attended Illinois State University, receiving a Bachelors Degree in Special Education and also Concordia University of Chicago to receive a Masters Degree in Administration. She is currently an assistant principal in New Lenox. She has been teaching at Dance Images for 20 years. Ms. Lindsay's performance background includes Sleeping Beauty, the Nutcracker, and countless Dance Images productions. Ms. Lindsay lives in Tinley Park, with her husband, Kurt, their children Bryce, Brooks, Raelyn, and of course their dog, Piqué. The Johnson family can't wait to welcome their baby boy in November, 2024!
Ms. Tracy Macke
Ms. Tracy has been dancing for 22 years and graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Dance. She is trained in ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. While attending Columbia she had the privilege to work with and take class from Jeff Hancock, Reggie Wilson, Margie Cole, Anna Paskevaska, Banu Ogan, Michael Cole, and many more. She also had the opportunity to take master classes with members from Merce Cunningham Company, Alvin Ailey Company, Joe Goode, Urban Bush Women, etc. Tracy enjoys working with children and loves to further their knowledge through the gift of dance. Ms. Tracy resides in Frankfort with her husband Tom and their children Rory, Fiona, and Will.
Ms. Bridget Wetzel
Ms. Bridget is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education and dance. Ms. Bridget has performed in countless Dance Images performances. Ms. Bridget loves teaching at Dance Images! Ms. Bridget resides in Chicago and is an elementary school teacher.
Ms. Joey Costillo
JOSEPHINE (Joey) CASTILLO is originally from Dallas, Texas and started her dance education under the direction of Kirt and Linda Hathaway at Hathaway’s Academy of Ballet and The Collin County Ballet Theatre. She continued her education at George Mason University in Virginia where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2019. At GMU, she had the opportunity to work with renown artists Donald Byrd, Doug Verone, and Yin Yue. She came to Chicago after college and has danced with companies throughout the city, including Alluvion Dance Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater and Identity Performing Arts. Joey also teaches many genres including Ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, modern and in 2024 received her certificate in Cecchetti Grade 1. For Dance images she teaches Ballet, pointe, and Contemporary, as well as working and choreographing for the EDIT competition team. She’s been teaching at Dance Images for 4 years and loves sharing her art with the next generation of dancers.
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Ms. Emily "MG" Mejicano Gormley
Emily Mejicano-Gormley is an emerging dancer and choreographer based in the Chicago Land Area. She graduated from the Hope College Dance Department in 2018, receiving the DeLong Senior Dance Award. MG has performed and choreographed with local companies such as Chicago Tap Theatre and Simantikos Dance Chicago, as well as abroad in Mexico, Scotland, and France. She teaches at various studios around the Chicago area and is Currents Dance Theatre’s inaugural guest choreographer.
Ms. Emily Zega
Ms. Emily Zega has most notably performed as a member of the Radio City Rockettes, performing at Radio City Music Hall and touring for 8 seasons. She spent her early dancing years in Michigan as a member of the Lakes Area Civic Ballet and The Dance Shoppe competition team. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance with a focus on Kinesiology and exercise science from Western Michigan University. Upon graduation, Emily traveled and performed on board Holland America Cruise ships. She is certified in yoga, pilates, and barre and teaches fitness classes in addition to the Jazz classes at Dance Images. Emily enjoys sharing her love of movement and dance with her students.
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Ms. Morgan Schoenecker
Ms. Morgan is originally from Minneapolis, MN where she started dancing and fell in love with tap dance! She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BFA in Musical Theater and has been in Chicago ever since! When she's not teaching she's performing in shows in the Chicagoland area. She is ecstatis to start her third year teaching at Dance Images!
Ms. Madyson Palenik
Ms. Madyson has been a part of the Dance Images family since she was three. She recently graduated from Purdue University with a degree in elementary education. She was a part of the Purdue Dance Team for four years, earning multiple awards and the opportunity to lead the team as a captain during her senior year. Miss Madyson currently resides in Tinley Park and is so excited to join the Dance Images staff!
Ms. Lexi Kwiat
Ms. Lexi began dancing at Dance Images at the age of three. She currently attends North Central College in Naperville, IL where she studies elementary education. Lexi was also a part of the dance team for 2 years at North Central College and is a three time national champion with the team. Ms. Lexi is excited to continue to be a part of the Dance Images family!