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.

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.

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.

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.

Annette Lawniczak – Instructor

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!

Megan Andersen – Instructor

Gina Matsie – Instructor

Andrew Camacho  – Instructor, acro

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.