Instructors/Staff

Liz is a former Fortune 500 executive who decided to make an entrepreneurial change after 20 years in publishing and support the instillment of a love of dance and the arts in kids.  She partnered with Julie Simon in 2014 to open a dance studio based on training the well-rounded dancer.  With an emphasis on technique and training, as well as life skills such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, and character their goal was to build a studio where anyone who wanted to dance could learn with the right encouragement and training.  Additionally, having a daughter who danced, she wanted to make sure that Pure Vibe was a safe and nurturing dance studio not only for her own daughter, but for all.Liz lives in Downers Grove with her husband George and has 2 grown children.  Jonny is in the real after college world working as a programmer and Mackenzie attends The University of Southern California.

Katie attended the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, where she graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Health and Wellness Promotion Minor. While at the UMN, she worked with choreographers such as Luke Olson-Elm, Brian Brooks, Sidra Bell, Gregory Maqoma, and Michel Kouakou. Her favorite moment in college was performing at Northrup Theatre with Brian Brooks Dance Company as a guest performer. Upon graduation, Katie joined Karen Charles Threads Dance Project, taught at various dance studios, and traveled to choreograph on her alumnus company, Forum Dance Theatre. While with Threads, the company toured to Philadelphia, PA, and performed at the IABD festival. Most recently, she now resides in Chicago teaching dance at various studios and freelance dancing with the following companies; Movementum Dance Project and Still Inspired. She is very excited about this new endeavor at Pure Vibe!

Marley Schmidt has been with Pure Vibe since its first year, and took on the role as Assistant Artistic Director in 2016. She loves to be a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to teaching, and has expertise in many different genres and across all ages. As a choreographer for Pure Vibe, her pieces have received recognition at both regional and national competitions. As a professional dancer, Marley has worked as a freelance artist for choreographers Rebecca Lemme, Autumn Eckman, and Kalin Morrow, and danced as a company member with Kristina Isabelle Dance Company and Same Planet Performance Project, under the direction of Joanna Read. Before living in Chicago, Marley graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Michigan University. In her years at WMU she had the opportunity to work with guest artists such as Harrison McEldowney, Autumn Eckman, Lauren Edson, and Nelly Van Bommel, and performed at the Dance Chicago Festival, Oakland Dance Festival, Eat to the Beat, and ACDFA nationals in Washington, D.C. Her additional training includes a semester abroad studying dance at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England, and the scholarship program at Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago, IL.

Angela is a recent graduate from Central Michigan University who double majored in Psychology with a Mental Health Concentration and Family Studies. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health at Lewis University to become a counselor. Angela has always had a passion for dance. She danced for 15 years and trained in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, contemporary, and poms. She was also on her high school dance team at Lemont High School and continued to dance for a few years at Central Michigan. She is excited to be a part of the Pure Vibe staff!

Anthony Lofendo is one of the premier dancers in Los Angeles. He has worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, The Backstreet Boys, Gwen Stefani, The Pussycat Dolls, Hillary Duff, Will.i.am, Stevie Wonder and many more. He has been featured in video games, television, and films including appearances in Avatar, This Is the End, and hit shows like Glee and How I Met Your Mother. Now based in Chicago with years of industry experience behind him, Anthony’s newest mission is to teach and inspire the next generation of dancers, helping young artists unlock their potential and follow their dreams just as he did.

Caitlin Clark (Detroit MI) is a dancer, choreographer, and dance educator based in Chicago, IL. Caitlin holds a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University. After graduation, Caitlin joined Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and has been a main company dancer and soloist in the company for 4 seasons. She has performed works by Shannon Alvis, Noelle Kyser, Katlin Bourgeois, Michelle Manzanales, Kia Smith, Tsai Hsi Hung, and Monique Haley. Notable performances include dancing as a guest artist with South Chicago Dance Theatre at their Auditorium Theatre debut in 2023, being selected for the 2024 NewDances company in collaboration with DanceWorks Chicago and Thodos Dance Chicago, and most recently making her international debut in Seoul, South Korea in 2026 with Mark Gonzalez and dancers.Caitlin is also a dedicated dance educator and choreographer. She has taught and choreographed all around Southwest Michigan and the Chicagoland area. Currently, Caitlin is on faculty at Synergy Dance Academy, Pure Vibe Dance Center, and The Movement Dance Studio. While being a choreographer for her competitive studios, Caitlin is also a choreographer and coach with m3 Dance, a youth nonprofit dance company under the direction of Lauren Blain. Caitlin is a Choreographer alongside Brandon DiCriscio and Megan Wolter for the company’s biggest event, M3 Dance Presents The Nutcracker, at the Hemmens Cultural Center.

Christina Luebbe, grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago. She attended Concordia University Chicago, a private school in River Forest. She interned at CBS Radio and a Chicago Chamber of Commerce Association before graduating Cum Laude honors in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing Communications. Christina has worked in the marketing world in both corporate and agency settings, before finding her way to Pure Vibe in January 2021. Christina started taking dance at the age of 4, and continued on and off throughout her childhood and into her college years at the university. Chistina’s work at Pure Vibe Dance Center helps to support our owner, company/crew directors, instructors, and families. She loves that Pure Vibe provides a welcoming environment where students can learn and grow towards their goals!

Emma attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she graduated in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Communication Sciences and Rhetorical Studies. While at UW-Madison, she was a member of the University of Wisconsin Dance Team, competing nationally in the Pom and Jazz divisions and earning a Top 10 finish at UDA Nationals in both 2025 and 2026. She also performed in several university dance concerts throughout her time on campus. Emma has built a career in dance instruction and choreography, serving as a Summer Staff Instructor for the Universal Dance Association (UDA) and currently working with College Dance Prep, where she helps aspiring collegiate dancers prepare for auditions. Her choreography credits include the Montini Broncettes and DGN JV Athenas competition teams, Oak Lawn High School, and a solo routine for USO Miss Teen Wisconsin. In 2026, she was also named a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Finalist. She is thrilled to bring her passion for dance, teaching, and mentorship to Pure Vibe!

Ericka started dancing at the age of 5. She danced competitively at the Dance Academy of Antioch until she graduated from high school and continued dancing in college on the DePaul University Dance Team. Ericka danced professionally for the Chicago Bulls as a Chicago Luvabulls from 2017-2021. During her time with the Bulls, she performed at Lollapalooza with Louis the Child as well as performed throughout NBA All-Star 2020 weekend in Chicago with the Luvabulls, Jeremih and Lil Wayne.She spent time coaching for Grayslake North High Schools JV dance team from 2017-2020. Ericka loves to share her passion for dance with young dancers and is looking forward to continuing to work with dancers in the future!

Based in Chicago, Gabriella Estes is a freelance dance artist and teacher. She is an BFA alumna of the University of Arizona’s School of Dance. Additionally, she has trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Boston Dance Theatre, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet.  She currently dances with Darvin Dances Chicago, VDK Dance Company, and Michael O’Dea Entertainment.  Her performance credits include works by Jana Bennett, Julia Schaffer, Jessica Van de Koot, Jojo Alsberry, Juel D. Lane, Tamara Dyke-Compton, Cat Cogliandro, Mariah Eastman and Hanna Brictson to name a few.  In addition to dancing, she teaches ballet, jazz, hip-hop, jazz funk, modern and contemporary throughout the Chicagoland suburbs.

Hayley Midea is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher originally from Wixom, Michigan. In 2020, Hayley received a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University where she has performed works by Jackie Nowicki, Monique Haley, Carolyn Pavlik, Kelsey Paschich, Jeremy Blair, Joseph A. Hernandez and BAIRA MVMNT/PHLOSPHY. Hayley was also a company member of Western Dance Project, under the direction of Whitney Moncrief. The Michigan Dance Council awarded Hayley the Maggie Allesee Choreography Award for her piece “Dear Larry,” in 2019. Hayley also performed her work at the 2020 ACDA East-Central Regional Conference where she was selected to perform at the National Conference in Long Beach, California. She was also selected to perform at the SoloDuo Dance Festival, Detroit Dance City Festival, Trifecta Dance Festival, Chi Dance Fest and Simantikos Dance Chicago Choreography Kick-Off. Hayley’s work won “Best Spoken Word Used in a Film” and “2021 Viewer’s Choice Award” at the inaugural Dance Is Activism Film Festival produced by Earl Mosely’s Diversity of Dance. Hayley has danced with South Chicago Dance Theatre from 2020-2025. With SCDT, Hayley has performed in works by Kia S. Smith, Crystal Michelle Perkins, Wade Schaaf, Ron De Jesus, Joseph Kim, Monique Haley, Stephanie Martinez, Tsai Hsi Hung and Joshua Blake Carter. As a professional, Hayley has toured nationally and internationally, most notably with SCDT and Choomna Dance Company in Arnhem, Netherlands. Other notable performances include the 2023 collaboration with South Chicago Dance Theatre and Giordano Dance Chicago as well as the Dance For Life Finale Choreographed by Randy Duncan and Jonathan Alsberry. Hayley is currently performing with Niko8 Performance as a company member and has appeared nationally in many freelance festivals and performances. Hayley loves to teach in the Chicagoland area and has been with Pure Vibe since 2020!

Jessica Miller Tomlinson graduated from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. She was a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for Thodos Dance Chicago from 2005 - 2017, performing and touring nationally and internationally. Jessica produced her first evening-length performance, JMT /JLS Choreography, following a Grand Prize Win and a $10,000 Grant from the Joyce Theater Foundation’s A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2009.Jessica’s Award Winning Choreography has been commissioned or produced by the Chautauqua Ballet Company, New Century Dance Project, Dance Wisconsin, Water Street Dance Milwaukee, Aerial Dance Chicago, Moonwater Dance Project, Hot Crowd, Dance Works Chicago, Chicago Repertory Ballet, The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Idaho Dance Theatre, Spring To Dance Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Dance For Life, Common Conservatory, Dance in the Parks, The Dance Gallery Festival, The Mid West RAD Fest, Dance Wisconsin, Visceral Dance Chicago, The Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, SHIFT DANCE | FESTIVAL Albuquerque, and Thodos Dance Chicago. She has collaborated with Dance For Life's Our Voices Dance, Jacqueline Stewart/JAXON Movement Arts, Joshua Manculich, local Chicago band District 97, and the Andy Warhol Silver Clouds Exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.Jessica was Adjunct Faculty at Northern Illinois University for two years. She has been a Guest Alumni Choreographer for UNCSA and an Artist in Residence at Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Columbia College of Chicago, and Washington and Lee University. Jessica was recently named a Choreographic Fellow for the New Century Dance Project in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In August of 2026, she will be helping restage Thodos Dance Chicago’s “A Light in the Dark” for American Midwest Ballet.  She is a ballet instructor for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and South Chicago Dance Theatre, where she also served as Rehearsal Director for four seasons. She is a faculty member for The Rooted Space, Chicago Movement Collective, and Pure Vibe Dance Center.

Jordan Moyer, originally from St. Joseph, Michigan, graduated from Western Michigan University in the spring of 2024 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. She spent a year training with the WMU touring dance company, Western Dance Project under the artistic direction of Kelsey Paschich.During her time at Western Michigan University, Jordan has worked with acclaimed choreographers including Jae Man Joo, Tsai Hsi Hung, Penny Saunders, Kimberley Cooper, Seyong Kim, Kelsey Paschich, and Jeremy Blair. Her performances have been featured in Western Michigan University's Winter Gala Dance Concert from 2021-2024.Additionally, Jordan has performed professionally nationally and internationally at the following prestigious venues: the River Dance Festival, American Dance Guild Festival, Palm Desert Choreography Festival, and others. Her virtual performances include the World Congress on Dance Research in Greece, Seoul International Dance Festival, and Milwaukee Fringe Festival. Jordan completed a year as a company member with CPR Dance: Inhale Movement under the artistic direction of Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers. She has toured with the company to Chicago, Illinois, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Grand Rapids Michigan, St. Joseph, Michigan, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Currently, Jordan dances as a company member with The Piece Makers under the direction of Caiti McDonald, Davina Moralicz, and Matt Pumanes for their 24th season.Jordan is an accomplished dance artist who has trained under leading choreographers. Her performing career spans renowned venues locally and worldwide, on stage and virtually.

Lauren grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago and started dancing at a young age at Bataille Academie of the Danse. She continued dancing through college as a member of the DePaul University Dance Team and graduated with a degree in Secondary Education. Laurens love for dance and teaching brought her back to Bataille where she taught various styles of dance including ballet, contemporary, tap and hip hop for 18 years. She choreographed many competition pieces over the year that earned her choreography acknowledgement at competitions. While teaching Lauren choreographed for high school dance teams around the suburbs and is currently the JV dance coach at a local high school. Lauren is excited to join the Pure Vibe community and continue to inspire young dancers to find their passion!

Lindsey Urbanski is a Chicago-based dance artist, educator, and recent graduate of the University of lowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Ethics.

During her time at lowa, Lindsey trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, somatic movement practices, and anatomy/kinesiology under Britt Juleen, George De La Peña, Eloy Barragan, Jennifer Kayle, Melinda Jean Meyers, and more.Throughout her career, Lindsey has also had the privilege of performing as a featured dancer in works presented in both the U.S. and internationally by Martha Graham, Kieron Sargeant, Danielle Russo, Eloy Barragán, Kristin Marrs, Todd Rhoades, Mikey Rioux, Brady Van Patten, and others. Additionally, Lindsey is looking forward to entering her fourth season as a staff member with Inferno Dance Competition and Dance Team Union (DTU). Her work as both an artist and educator is rooted in somatic awareness, embodied technique, and a commitment to cultivating inclusive, empowering spaces for dancers of all ages.

Ruben Andres Castillo Gomez is originally from Mexico City but in 2014 came to the United States on scholarship for the Idyllwild Arts Academy high school to major in dance. After graduation, he was accepted on scholarship to attend the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. He has performed in works by Ana Maria Lucaciu, Annie Rigney, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Johannes Weiland, Jose Limón, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano and more.

Sara Ekern is a Chicago-based dance educator, performer, choreographer, and teaching artist. She earned her B.F.A. in Dance with a concentration in Jazz from Point Park University. While at Point Park, she performed works by renowned choreographers Kiki Lucas, Kiesha Lalama, and Jason McDole. Professionally, Sara has performed and rehearsed with Gus Legacy Company, where she also served as rehearsal director. She has been a member of the faculty at the Original Gus Giordano Dance School, teaching students of all ages while supporting the school's day-to-day operations behind the scenes. Her performance experience has included appearances on WGN Chicago, as well as work in commercial projects and concert dance. In addition to teaching dance, Sara is a certified barre3 instructor and enjoys incorporating strength, alignment, and body awareness into her classes. Whether working with recreational dancers or those pursuing advanced training, she is committed to helping each student grow both as a dancer and as an individual. Sara is passionate about creating a positive, encouraging environment where dancers build strong technique, confidence, and artistry while feeling empowered to reach their individual goals.