About our Instructors

Teia Podgorny is our Owner/ Artistic Director/ Competitive Program Director. At 23 years old, Teia opened Intricate Dance Chicago to give her students a safe place to practice their love of dance.Teia has trained studio-style since the age of 3, and grew up as a competitive dancer, later becoming a choreographer. She is trained in Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, and Tap. Teia holds national recognition for her awarded choreography. She Has earned her BA in Dance, and Marketing from Columbia College Chicago. Teia has trained with companies across Chicago in workshops and intensives, as well as has earned national accreditations for her choreography. Teia loves to share her knowledge and love of dance, and watch her students safely explore what movement and creative they can uncover through movement.

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Jenna Podgorny is our Office Director. She began her love for dance at her local studio at the age of 6. Even though not dancing anymore, Jenna is at every dance event throughout the season, showing constant support for the dancers at Intricate Dance Chicago. Jenna specializes in creating content for the studio's social media, and handling anything, and everything in the front office to make sure things run smoothly. Organization and planning are two of her favorite things. Miss Jenna is always there to lend a listening ear or a helping hand, and always has her candy bowl filled to share after class!

Breane Bowling has been a dancer since the age of 3. As a teenager, she started assisting classes at her local studio and eventually moved up to teaching her own classes. She has studied Tap, Jazz, HipHop, Lyrical, and Ballet throughout high school, college, and adulthood. Breane loves to teach, and she has worked with all age groups from 2 – adult.  Breane is excited to share her passion for dance with the students of Intricate Dance Chicago!

Lawrence is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Chicago. Since 2009, he has trained in various genres of dance including ballet, hip hop, contemporary, tap, modern, African, jazz, Latin. His favorite moments of his dance journey so far has been attending ChiArts, studying under Homer Bryant, performing in St.Thomas, dancing with The Happiness Club, dancing for Nick Cave, guest choreographing for Ballet Chicago, freelance dancing for artists and productions such as The Nutcracker, and competing in dance battles. Additionally to being an Eagle Scout, he’s a photographer, videographer, music producer, Youth American Grand Prix semi finalist, and founder of The Kinetic Collective. His Philosophy behind dance is that no matter who you are or where you come from as long as you have the heart to dance YOU CAN DANCE!

Destiny has been dancing for 14 years now, 7 of which have been competitively under Miss Teia. Starting at the age of 4, Destiny began with tap and ballet classes, which later opened to jazz, hip hop, and lyrical when she joined her local studio’s performance group. There, she found her love of performing. Once she started competing at the age of 11, she then also found her favorite genre— contemporary. For high school, Destiny attended the Chicago High School for the Arts to dance, where she had rigorous training with countless instructors in many styles including ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, Spanish, African, and more. She also found her love for teaching in that time while assistant teaching with Miss Teia. She is now beginning to take over the tricks and turns classes at the studio, which happens to be her two favorite things to do in dance. With multiple national and regional titles under her belt, she will be teaching many of the younger students at Intricate Dance Chicago while also continuing her dance training at Loyola University Chicago as a Dance Major.

Jess began dancing at the age three.  When starting at Intricate, Jess learned about passion, dedication, and embracing a raw emotion for dancing. Dancing has become a huge part of her life and has  taught her so many things, but most importantly to dance for herself. Jess has been a competitive dancer for 10 years, and continues to dance throughout the city of Chicago. She has assisted classes since 16, and loves to help dancers reach their goals! Jess believes dance is a way to truly express yourself when it's hard to find words that can.