About

The Studio

A Step Above Dance Academy is home to regional and national award winning choreography and holds numerous regional and national titles! With 4 spacious studios, A Step Above Dance Academy offers top of the line dance education for students of all ages. Focusing on proper technique and safety, ASA develops strong and knowledgeable dancers. We strive to instill respect, self-confidence, and discipline in all of our students, while teaching in a fun and positive environment!

  • Convenient onsite & online dance wear sales
  • 6,200 square feet, 4 spacious studios
  • Sprung Marley floors
  • Large parking lot
  • Bluetooth Sound Systems
  • Parent viewing windows and live class viewing TVs
  • Comfortable dancer waiting room

Contact Us

15 + 12 =

Get in touch!
630.326.9600
info@astepaboveacademy.net
129 Flinn St. Batavia, IL 60510

Studio Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 3:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Friday: by email or appointment only
Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday: Closed

Interested in Dancing with Us?

New Student Inquiry
Client Login

Faculty

Shannon Clayborn – CEO/Artistic Director

Shannon Clayborn opened the doors of A Step Above Dance Academy in August of 2010. Starting with just three students in her first class, she has grown ASA into one of the area’s most sought after dance programs with a growing number of students and families.

Shannon began dancing at the age of three and was accepted to train with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School at age 11, where she truly found her passion for Ballet. Throughout her home training, Shannon had the opportunity to learn from professionals such as Eddy Ocampo, Randy Duncan, Lizzie MacKenzie, Jessie Young, and many more. With this 

training, she earned National Champion titles and had the opportunity to dance in the New Year’s Day Parade in London, England. Along with her rigorous dance training, Shannon was a high level competitive gymnast and spent 4 years coaching recreational and competitive teams, and continues working with aspiring gymnasts on their artistry. She graduated from University of Iowa in 2010 with a BA in Dance, a Minor in Spanish, and a Certificate in Performing Arts Entrepreneurship. Here, Shannon had the privilege of studying under esteemed professionals such as George de la Peña, Eloy Barragan, Deanna Carter, Charlotte Adams, Jennifer Kayle, and Armando Duarte. She danced with several modern companies in both Iowa and Illinois, including Poetic Rebound Performance Company and Freespace Dance.
Shannon has been teaching for over 15 years and has choreographed countless high scoring and winning numbers. She has been awarded with some of the industry’s most prestigious honors, such as numerous choreography awards, the 2015 Choreographer of the Year, and the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 National Studio of the Year award, and the 2017 Top National Studio, Grand Champion Title Winner in 2019 for her choreography of “Unknown”, multiple 1st place Overall placements, and Sportsmanship awards from several competitions. Shannon’s passion for teaching truly stands out as she strives to make each and every dancer the best they can be, while instilling a true love for the art in every student she encounters.

Read More

Annette Lawniczak – STUDIO MANAGER, Instructor

Annette Thomann received her BFA in dance performance, graduating magna cum laude, from Northern Illinois University. After graduation, she performed with several independent choreographers and became one of the founding members and Co-Artistic Director of Fox River Dance Company. In 2001, Annette began producing and directing her own annual dance performance, Freespace, a program in which pre-professional and professional students and choreographers collaborate and raise money for charity. Annette has been teaching and choreographing in the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin for over 20 years and formerly served as Ballet Mistress for RASA Dance Chicago, Executive Director of State

Street Dance Studio, and Ballet Mistress for NoMi Dance Chicago. She continues to work for NoMi as Company Administrator. In addition to teaching at Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts, she is the Ballet Mistress for Petite Pas Ballet School in Delafield, Wisconsin. Her choreography has been named at the critically-acclaimed Dance Chicago Festival , Esencia Dance Festival and Chicago Freelance Dance.

Read More
Chloe McCoy – Instructor, Director ASA Shooting Stars

Chloe McCoy began her dance training at the age of thirteen at A Step Above Dance Academy in Batavia, Illinois. In May 2020, Chloe received a BFA in Dance Performance along with Minors in Special Education Foundations and Psychology from Northern Illinois University. She performed in multiple productions from Northern Illinois University’s School of Theater and Dance including How Slow the Wind, Cabaret, Charleston!, Le Corsaire, Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine, and Shirtwaist Factory.

While at Northern Illinois University, Chloe choreographed in multiple productions 

including Art for Life and Student Choreographic Showcase. She also choreographed for Penguin Players for three productions. During her time with Penguin Players, she found her love of working with individuals with disabilities. In 2019, Chloe created Dream It, Dance It; an annual inclusive summer dance intensive for adults with disabilities. Currently, Chloe serves as the creator and Artistic Director of Dream It, Dance It.

Read More
Alanna Kletcke – Instructor
Alanna started dancing at the age of fifteen, she continued her training at Northern Illinois University where she received the Dance Service Award and earned her B. F. A. in theater with a concentration in dance. During her time at Northern Illinois University she studied immensely under Autumn Eckman, Judith Chitwood, Brian Carey Chung, and Paula Frasz. She also was a 2013 scholarship recipient at Chicago’s Visceral Dance Center and trained at Lou Conte Dance Studio. Post graduation she has been seen with Paul Christiano’s “Hungry Ghosts”, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, DanszLoop Chicago, and has participated in multiple freelance dance shows. She has also performed with Winifred & Haun Dancers “Open

Rehearsal”, DanceWorks Chicago “DanceBytes”, Chicago’s “Carnival”, and in a wide repertoire with Northern Dance Theatre in DeKalb, Illinois. Alanna was also a principal dancer with Hedwig Dances where she toured internationally to perform. She has been most recently contracted to perform with Aerial Dance Chicago, taking her dancing to new heights and opportunities. Alanna has a passion for choreographing and teaching, she loves watching children’s love for dance grow.

Read More

KAITLIN ALLEN – Instructor

Kaitlin Allen is a Chicago-based dance educator and choreographer renowned for her dynamic movement style and commitment to inspiring dancers. Her innovative choreography has consistently achieved top honors at regional competitions across the United States.
She was the first-ever choreographer to win HEAT’s Supernova Group Dance Award. Kaitlin is currently on faculty at Activate Your Artistry dance convention and served as the Assistant Director for HEAT Dance Convention. She has also worked as a Lead Assistant for Dupree Dance, where she helped train and mentor young dancers nationwide. Kaitlin continues to work in the Chicago area as a freelance teacher and choreographer.

Her performance credits include dancing as a backup performer for Donnie Wahlberg, WE DAY Chicago, Ashley Ashton’s music video, Dance for a Cure, and Jenny McCarthy’s fashion show. Kaitlin’s choreography portfolio features work for Revolution Dancewear, Empower Dance Company and IHSA competitive dance teams. She has also assisted with Karmagraphy Entertainment, broadening her experience in commercial and theatrical dance.

A graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in Kinesiology, Kaitlin brings a deep understanding of movement mechanics to her teaching as she continued her training at NIU’s Dance Department and Visceral Dance Center in Chicago, IL. As a former member of the NIU Dance Team, she refined her skills in performance and leadership.

Through her diverse experience in choreography, instruction, and performance, Kaitlin continues to shape the next generation of dancers while leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
Read More
DONIELLE RICHMOND – Instructor
Donielle Logan-Richmond is a professional dancer and choreographer currently under contract with Ascension Performing Arts Hip Hop Dance Company in Chicago, Illinois and Outlet Professional Jazz Company of Elk Grove Village. Donielle was formerly under contract with Diva Le Dance Professional Hip Hop Company for four years. Some of Donielle’s most recent achievements include being Lead Choreographer for the Calvin Harris Concert Opener hosted by KISS FM radio at the Aragon Ballroom, performing in Dance Chicago: Urban Movement, FreeSpace Dance Festival, Tales of Herror Art Festival and ABC’s Extreme Make Over Weight Loss Edition. In addition to her choreographic and performance credits, Donielle currently teaches Hip Hop and Contemporary at the award-

winning RISE Dance Center of Schaumburg.

Donielle has over 11 years of teaching & coaching experience both recreationally and competitively. Donielle has created award winning competitive routines in the genres of Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz and Lyrical. Donielle recently launched her own company ACTIVATE YOUR ARTISTRY that hosts Master Classes and Intensives in the Northern Illinois area to provide dance instruction that focuses on building positivity and passion in dancers. Donielle has been dancing a total of 26 years and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University under the direction of Judith Chitwood, Autumn Eckman, Steven Norman, Paula Frasz and Brian Carey Chung. Donielle was also a three time scholarship recipient in Theatre Dance when she attended Elgin Community College.

Read More

Gabriella Estes – Instructor

Gabriella Estes is a BFA alumni of the University of Arizona School of Dance. During her time there, she trained at the professional level in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and commercial dance styles.  She was selected as an artist for the University of Arizona Dance Ensemble, where she performed works by Tamara Dyke- Compton, Michael Williams, Cat Cogliandro and Juel D. Lane.

Growing up in the Chicago area, she competed across the Midwest, receiving scholarships to study at summer programs throughout the country. In the past decade, she has had the

 

opportunity to spend her summers training with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Visceral Dance Company, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, River North Dance Chicago, and Interlochen Academy for the Arts, to name a few, under partial and full scholarships.

She currently freelances as a professional throughout the city and loves teaching the next generation of dancers.

Read More

Jordan King – Instructor

Jordan graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BFA in Dance Performance. Dancing since she was 3, she began her dance training in the suburbs. Her passion for dance grew over the years, focusing on various genres. Her interest really peaked when she reached the sigh school level. She took classes, competed at a national level, was captain of her high school dance team and was part of her high school’s dance performance troupe. She earned numerous first place recognitions and National Champion titles over the years. Chosen by the Universal Dance Association, Jordan was an Al-Star dancer with opportunities to dance nationwide and internationally, both in Paris and London.

During her brief studies at University of Kentucky, Jordan performed with the University of Kentucky Dance Ensemble. At Northern Illinois University she had the privilege to study under Judith Chitwood, Paula Frasz, Autumn Eckman, Rich Grund, Blair Vaudelle and Brian Carey Chung. Her training focused on Ballet, Jazz, and Modern techniques but Jordan never outgrew her love for Hip Hop and Contemporary. Throughout her college career, she had the honor of performing in pieces choreographed by Kate Hadfield, Autumn Eckman, Jeff Hancock and Wade Schaaf.

The combination of Jordan’s natural competitive spirit and passion for dance give her the immeasurable drive in directing ASA’s National Award Winning Company. Jordan has been choreographing for many years and most recently, her work has been recognized at a National competition, placing her pieces in the top 5. In addition, she has danced and choreographed for Freespace (an annual charity event) and has been teaching dance for the past eight years. Jordan hopes to teach her students to find their true passion while challenging them to express themselves to the best of their abilities through the art of dance and performing.

Read More

Faye Mueller – Instructor

Faye began dancing at the age of four. She performed and competed as a member of a Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Robin Kersey-Dickerson and Becky Cooper, for ten years, earning numerous high-scores, overall, and special awards. She was the recipient of a “You Be the Judge” award and a dance scholarship from the Chicago Human Rhythm project and earned a second-place finish in the Dance Chicago Dance Slam. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. from DePaul University and earned an M.S. from Northwestern University. While at DePaul, she choreographed and performed with Revelations Dance Company and studied modern dance under Linda Kahn.

Faye has studied tap under Mark Yonally and Lane Alexander and taken master classes with such tap greats as Dianne Walker, Maurice Hines, Sam Weber, Linda Sohl-Elison, Tres Dumas, Ayodele Casel, Michelle Dorrance, and others. She has continued her teaching education through participation in the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s teacher training program for three consecutive summers, Thelma Larkin Goldberg’s tap teacher training, and several teacher convention classes.

As a performer, Faye was the founder and artistic director of Joie de la Vie Dance Collective from 2018-2020. Additionally, she has performed with Dig Tap Society under the direction of Sarah Savelli.  Recent appearances have included Juba Masters of Tap, Glenn Leslie and Friends, Lighthouse Dance Festival, and in Delve Dance Chicago’s Work’s Progress showcase.  

 Currently, Faye teaches and choreographs in the Chicagoland area and performs as a guest artist. She is excited to join A Step Above Dance Academy and grow the tap program!

Read More

Megan Andersen – Instructor

Megan started her dance training at the age of four. She was a member of A Step Above Dance Academy’s competitive team for nine years and has assisted at Activate Your Artistry Dance Convention for the past two years.
Currently, Megan is pursuing her BFA in Dance at Western Michigan University. During her time there she has performed in multiple shows, including guest artist and student
choreographed pieces, participated in dance-for-cameras, and is a current member of several student dance clubs.
Next year, Megan will be part of the university’s pre-professional traveling dance company, Western Dance Project. This company will offer additional performances, collaboration with esteemed choreographers, and travel opportunities throughout the Midwest.
Read More

Gina Matsie – Instructor

Gina Matsie graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology. While obtaining her Dance degree, she had the pleasure to perform in new works by Tere
O’Connor, Earl Mosley, Abby Zbikowski, and Kemal Nance. Gina trained with Kate Kuper in her Creative Dance for Children program from 2014-2016. Alongside her teaching experience, Gina is also a certified M1 Acrobatic Arts Instructor and a program developer for early childhood curriculum DiscoverDance with Andrea Trench. 

Gina has honed her teaching and choreography skills by working consistently at various studios in the Chicagoland area since 2016. Nothing brings her more joy than seeing the happiness that dance brings kids of all ages!

She is looking forward to joining the A Step Above team and helping the dancers achieve their goals! 
Read More

Andrew Camacho  – Instructor

Andrew’s passion for dance began at the young age of three, training at Shirley’s Dance Studio in Crest Hill, IL.  Over the years, he has studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and acro.  He attended many workshops and intensives at Lou Conte Studio, Visceral Dance, Xtreme Dance Center and The Puzzle Box. 

For over ten years he competed and trained at countless dance competitions on both the regional and national level, winning multiple awards such as, Crowd Pleaser, Outstanding Dancer, Standout Dancer, Mr. Energy, and Dance Spirit Magazine Future Star.  During high school, he also competed on the varsity dance team at Minooka High School. 

Currently, Andrew teaches recreational dance, poms, cheer, acro and choreographs for dancers/performers on the competitive level at a local Park District.  Andrew truly enjoys sharing his love of dance with students and fellow dancers. 

Read More
Becky Cooper – Instructor

Becky Cooper is a seasoned choreographer, director, and teaching artist whose career spans over three decades in musical theatre, concert dance, and arts education. Known for her creative vision and heartfelt storytelling, Becky has choreographed a wide range of productions—from large-scale musicals to youth theatre—bringing energy, clarity, and emotional depth to every stage she touches.

She holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University and has performed professionally with concert dance companies and at Walt Disney World. These experiences as a dancer and performer deeply inform her choreographic voice, which blends technical precision with theatrical nuance and character-driven movement.

Becky has created choreography for a wide variety of educational and community settings, including middle school productions like Shrek Jr. and annual works such as Let It Be Christmas—a beloved nativity retelling set to the music of The Beatles, which she has staged since 2008. Her work reflects a unique ability to meet performers where they are while challenging them to grow as artists and collaborators.

As a teaching artist, Becky currently leads music and movement for infants through preschoolers at The Goddard School, drawing on her background in early childhood development and DCFS-licensed education. Her classroom and rehearsal spaces alike are built on a foundation of kindness, curiosity, and the belief that the arts are powerful tools for connection, expression, and lifelong learning.

Read More

Testimonials

Best studio ever!

A Step Above Dance Academy provides so more than just excellent dance techniques; the instructors and studio owner are positive role models with regards to healthy living, self-discipline, and personal responsibility. With one daughter on the Competitive Team and one on the Community Troupe, the studio has become a place where they go work hard, gain confidence, and have a whole lot of fun with the friends they have made. Best studio ever!”

– Susan Andersen –

A Positive, Encouraging Environment

My daughter has been a student at A Step Above Dance Academy since it opened. A year after starting, Ella asked if she could join the dance company and has been growing each year in her dancing, and in so many other areas of her life. All the girls are encouraged to participate in community outreach, extracurricular activities, fun activities such as sleepovers and art performances, and much more. We are so happy to have found Ms. Shannon, Ms. Jordan, and all the wonderful teachers at ASA. It’s such a positive, encouraging environment.

– Missy Miller –

The Teachers love what they do

We have seen so much growth in our dancer; in her skills and confidence. She has made wonderful friendships and connections, we couldn’t be happier. For her, ASA is her happy place, it adds so much value to her life. She loves going to classes, seeing her teachers and friends. We have so much appreciation for all the staff at ASA. It’s amazing to see the community created at ASA and how much all the girls admire the staff. When teaching young kids it takes a great amount of heart, it is so apparent that all the teachers at ASA love what they do.

– Mandy Cote –

I highly recommend this studio!

My daughter came to ASA when she was 12 years old. We were welcomed with open arms from the staff and the other dance families! In the last 5 years, she has grown so much as a dancer and as a person. We can not thank the ASA staff enough for all of their support, guidance, training, and love. I would highly recommend this studio to anyone looking to start or continue their dance journey!

So much more than just a dance studio!

My daughter started taking classes at ASA in the fall of 2017 when she was 3 years old. We had tried other studios, however, Addison wouldn't even walk in the door, she would cry and refuse to participate. From the first time she stepped inside ASA she has felt comfortable and safe, she ran into her first class and never looked back. She loves going to ASA. It is her happy place. Every teacher takes time to get to know their students to provide appropriate instruction. You can tell they all really have a passion for dance. Not only has Addison's love for dance and technical skills grown over the last 5 years but so has her confidence. Dancing at ASA has taught my daughter so much about respect, responsibility, taking care of your body, friendship, problem-solving, and teamwork. For us, it is so much more than just a dance studio.

Learned so much through dance

My daughter started dancing at ASA when she was 3 and is almost 9. She has learned so much through dance, different techniques, and styles of dances, and has grown so much as a dancer! She also has grown more confident in herself and how she holds herself, because of the loving staff at ASA. Her teachers have taught her how to be a great dancer, but most of all, her teachers have taught her how to be a wonderful person, in the studio and out of the studio. Can’t wait to see what else she can learn in many more years of dancing ahead.

Fosters a love for dance

I have two tiny dancers at ASA. The faculty at ASA is beyond welcoming. Each instructor is patient and loving all while teaching techniques to even the youngest little dancer. I love watching my five-year-old look up to the older girls and how the older girls encourage her. The inclusive environment at ASA fosters a love for dance at every level.

We ALL appreciate ALL that you guys do

We ALL appreciate ALL that you guys do…. The hours putting your ideas together from music to costumes to staging to car/choreography…. To the relationships that you build with our kids…. To the ever-changing COVID protocols and balancing everyone's opinion on them…. To teaching our kids character and life lessons (the good and the bad)…. To giving up so much of your weekends and daily life for our kids to dance and have amazing experiences doing what they love…. I can go on and on but I will stop. I just know that the last two years have been brutal in my world and this world is so thankless…. I just want to thank you and your team…. ASA is Elle’s (and slowly becoming Gia’s) world. I can never repay any of you for everything that you have done and continue to do for my rugrats.