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. 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 possibilities they can uncover through dance.

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!

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Katie has been a dance teacher for more than 15 years. As a teenager, she began assisting classes at her local studio and moved up to teaching her own classes. Katie has taught at The Dance Academy in Chicago, Soul2Sole in Highland Park, and at Dance to EvOLvE in Chicago. She has studied Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, and Lyrical. Katie is very passionate about the benefits of dance for children; promoting physical expression and emotional, social, and cognitive development. Additionally, Katie is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization, regularly taking professional development courses, and currently sits on their Development Committee.

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. If there is a day Jenna is not at the studio, which is rare, you can probably find her playing with her puppy named Kirby!

Miss Vikki is a dancer, performer, teacher and choreographer. She has been dancing since the age of 3, and continued her studies throughout her high school career on the dance team at Guerin Prep, as well as her college career at Columbia College Chicago where she studied dance and health care. After college, she has been on a dance crew with Movement Revolution and done performances across the Chicago-land area. She is currently working with KuumbaLynx, performing across the city. She has a passion for working with kids and showing the world anyone can dance! She has studied ballet, tap, Latin, street style, hip hop, jazz, and musical theater! She's even dabbled in  a few zumba classes! She's taught the ages of three, all the way through to adults, and is incredibly excited to be apart of the Intricate team and continue her journey with the studio!

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!