EDE Staff

Ruby started dancing on her Jr high poms team. From there, she joined gymnastics and orchesis (high school dance team) in high school. She was the gymnastics choreographer and also choreographed a couple of numbers in the orchesis show. She continued to teach throughout her college years at the Summer Academy of Dance in Lake Zurich, followed by various studios and park districts in the northwest suburbs. She continues to teach her competitive dance team and teaches here at Evolution as well. She love inspiring young dancers and hopes to continue to teach for as long as she can! 

  Justin Aldea began teaching himself hip-hop choreography at the age of 12 and continues to refine his skills and foundations into adulthood under the tutelage of various mentors. At the age of 18, he is a current member of the professional team: The Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance (CODA) based in Chicago, IL, and is a former Captain of The DLD Distinctive Dance Company in Downers Grove, IL. He also continues to teach recreationally at DLD Dance Center. He has performed in various events such as the opening act for the Windy City Bulls. His choreography has placed amongst the best at various competitions including Bloom, Beyond the Stars, and Dance Idol. Alongside CODA, he will compete and perform at hip-hop events such as World of Dance and Prelude Midwest. As he continues his dance journey into adulthood, he aims not only to grow as a dancer and instructor but as a person. He enjoys giving back to the community and sharing his knowledge and expertise. There’s nothing more important to him than helping the next generation of dancers succeed!  

Jacqueline Galliano has been twirling and jumping since the age of 3. Her dance career began at the Classical School of Ballet at Mt. Prospect Park District. She has been classically trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, and musical theater. She is a 2023 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in Theatre Arts and Dance. During her time at Illinois Wesleyan University, she took classes in exercise science, which assisted her dance training. Last fall, she went on tour with Lexington Children’s Theater, traveling across the U.S. and performing for children from kindergarten to 8th grade. Galliano is currently a 3rd-year veteran with Chicago Honey Bears, performing in various locations around the Chicagoland area. Additionally, she works as a student at Visceral Dance Center in Chicago, where she continues training with industry professionals in theater jazz, contemporary, and more. Galliano brings enthusiastic and positive energy into her classes, allowing dancers to express their creativity. She is excited to join Evolution Dance Experience as a faculty member and is driven to inspire young dancers to follow their dreams!

Scarlett has been dancing since the age of 3. While being homeschooled her whole life, dance was the first real class setting for her. It gave her more time to focus on her technique and helped her create lifelong friendships. Dancing recreationally most of her life in several different styles but finding love in Ballet and Contemporary. Joining a competition team when she got older, she developed a love, understanding and patience for helping other dancers around her. Expressing her love for dance in many different ways such as dancing ensemble in the Nutcracker Ballet to small town parades and fests as well as numerous dance competitions. 

Jackie is a graduate of Triton College with a degree in Associate in Arts (Political / Social Science) and graduate of University of Phoenix with a degree in bachelor’s in science (Business Management). Her full-time position is in Construction – Project Engineer in the Civil Division. Jackie has danced with Memorial Park since the age of three. She has studied Ballet, Tap, Acrobatics and Pointe. She also assisted Helen Hurley with dance classes while she was in high school. Twelve years ago, she took on the challenge of Dance Director and hired a staff that would help her revitalize the dance program. Over the past five years she was able to train the dancers to take on pointe, which had not been accomplished in over fifteen years at the park district. But as anything things change and the management at the park district did which is why she has left Memorial Park District. She performed in Trinity High School’s productions in dance roles in the “Wizard of Oz” and “The King and I”. She also figure skated, advancing thru the levels rapidly because of her dance training. She skated in the performance of “Beauty and The Beast”. She also skated competitively, choreographing her routines for competitions.

 Pliéing and tapping since the age of four, Amanda Zgonina currently teaches dance, choreographs, performs in musicals, and dances as a company member of Elmhurst Dance Theatre. Her 19 years of dance training and stage experience include mastery of ballet, jazz, tap, and pointe through DuPage Dance Academy and Ballet North, along with additional studies in musical theatre, aerial, and dance via Lou Conte, On the FLY Productions, College of DuPage, and North Central College. She has both performed in and/or contributed choreography to ballets, musicals, and jazz/tap shows, with credits such as Nutcracker Highlights (Sugar Plum Fairy, Arabian), The Sleeping Beauty (Carabosse, Enchanted Garden Fairy, Little Red Riding Hood), Peter and the Wolf (Wolf), Carnival of the Animals (Elephant), Cinderella (Stepmother), Honk! (Choreographer), Seussical (Mayzie, Choreographer), Evita (Tango Dancer), Big Fish (Little Lamb), An Enchanted Evening (Dancer/Aerialist), and Peter Pan (Tiger Lily). Motivated by her great joy in performing, Amanda is delighted to instruct and encourage dancers of all ages.

Lilah has been dancing since the age of three, with experience in studio training, competitive dance, and musical theatre. She has trained in all styles, specializing in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary. She is currently studying Theatre Education & Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance Education at Elmhurst University. She is a Co-Captain of the Elmhurst University Dance Company, where she leads practices and teaches choreography. As well as experience in performance, she has experience behind the scenes in theatre production, designing and operating lights for Elmhurst University's production of Schoolhouse Rock Live! and designing costumes for Elmhurst University's production of Puffs.