COMPETITIVE CHEER & DANCE PROGRAM - Countryside, Illinois
Our All-star Competitive Cheer & Dance Program is one of the fastest growing in the area! We like to think that is because we shatter the stereotypes that are unfortunately often associated with this sport. Our focus is on the athleticism, and believe us, not just anyone can do this! It takes alot of practice, strength conditioning, dedication, trust in fellow teammates, and the ability for 20+ athletes to operate as one unit to be a successful cheerleading & dance team in Illinois.
Cheer and Dance Galaxy Teams: Mini, Youth, Junior and Senior Cheer + Mini, Youth, Junior and Senior Pom and Hip Hop Dance!!!!
Our Flying High philosophy carries right over into our competitive cheer and dance program! We believe in keeping kids...kids! While we realize that many of our athletes enjoy the "dressing up" part of the sport, it is not the main focus. All uniforms are age appropriate and make-up use is never excessive! "Less is more" as my mother would say!
You can find out more about other programs offered at this great facility by following this link: www.flyinghighgym.com
Meet the Staff
Cheer & Dance Galaxy Director Shante' Roberts
I started teaching young girls to twirl the baton while I was in high school. There was a program called “Tiny Majorettes”, where the high school Majorettes taught the kids the basic twirls. When I moved to Chicago in 2006, I became a Chicago Luvabull. We have a program called the Junior Luvabulls that I have taught for the past two years. I teach them five dance routines each basketball season and they have the opportunity to perform them at five Chicago Bull home games.
I dance every summer for Endure Productions, which is a company the Chicago Luvabulls Choreographer owns. I also have a degree in Advertising/ Public Relations so my job has me planning events, which is also something I LOVE to do. I want my children to learn that behind every great dancer, gymnast, cheerleader, etc., there is a very humble, hard working and passionate person. Also, I want them to love what they do and NEVER give up because it gets too hard.
Cheer Galaxy Coach Gina Rizzo
Gina is from Tinley Park, and was both a competitive gymnast and cheerleader. She began gymnastics when she was about six years old and was a Level 8/9 when she decided to leave the sport at age fourteen. Gina was a cheerleader all through junior high and high school, and was one of three girls who made Varsity as a sophomore. She also competed on two different All-star cheer squads, both based in Orland Park.
Gina attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and has a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Ultimately, she would like to use her degree to work in the advertising industry, writing copy for print ads. While at U of I, Gina was invited to join the Illinois all-girl competitive cheer squad, but decided that the time commitment was too much, and that she needed to focus on her education. Instead, she joined Delta Zeta Sorority and was a member of the Flippin’ Illini, U of I's recreational gymnastics club.
She is a full-time employee at Flying High, and currently coach in the Tots, Rec, and Team programs. She also writes all of the gyms newsletters! Gina loves coaching and is very excited to be starting her second season with the Cheer program. She is looking forward to watching the girls grow as a team, both in ability and as individuals. Go Galaxy!
Cheer Galaxy Coach Amanda Livingstone
Amanda came to Chicago in 2005 in order to attend Loyola University. She recently graduated cum laude in Anthropology, International Studies, and Business Administration and is hoping to acquire an internship/job with The Chicago Council of Global Affairs in the fall or – more realistically – with anyone who is hiring!
Amanda’s cheerleading experience has been an exciting one! She has cheered with Badger All Stars in Madison, WI, Cheer Athletics in Dallas, TX, and for her high school squad at Plano Senior High in Plano, TX. It was from being on these teams that Amanda was able to gain knowledge of cheerleading and leadership experience, along with a new appreciation for those extremely cheesy cheerleading movies!
Amanda joined the Galaxy family during the 2009-2010 season and coached the youth team with Gina and Theresa. She is USASF certified through level 5 and is looking forward to another year full of fun, hard work, and most of all, competition season!
Cheer Galaxy Coach Theresa Lyon
Theresa Lyon was born in raised in Virginia where she started cheering at the age of 12. She originally tried out for the King George High School squad as a favor to a friend who was too nervous to try out alone and was delighted to find she was one of the only two freshman to make the squad. With no previous cheer experience, Theresa took all the tumbling classes and private lessons she could get to advance her skill set for competition season. After serving as captain her senior year, she tried out and made the George Mason University All-Girl Squad in 2005, competing at her first UCA College nationals in 2006. When GMU formed a small co-ed team in 2007, Theresa happily joined and helped the team rank 1st in the nation for the 2008 national championship. Theresa was also granted scholarship for her final year competing with the small co-ed squad due to academic and athletic achievement.
While completing her degree, Theresa was also an instructor for two and a half years at Fairfax Gymnastics Academy, focusing on recreational gymnastics and cheer tumbling classes. She also took time out of her busy junior year to assistant coach the varsity team at Mclean High School in Mclean, Virginia.
In 2008, after three years of college, Theresa obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources and plans to continue coaching cheerleading while working in the fitness or hospitality industry. She has worked with the youth squad , as well as coached tumbling classes at FH, and cannot wait for her second season as a coach to begin!
Dance Galaxy Coach Jaqui Corres
Originally from the a Palos Heights,IL I have been dancing since I was in the third grade. I have studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary/Modern, Pom, and Cheer.
After junior high, I attended high school in Manila, Philippines; where I was able travel to other Southeast Asian countries to study dance and perform. I then went on to Eastern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Fine Arts. I also was a member of the EIU's dance team for four years and held a position as captain my final year.
After graduation, I moved to Las Vegas,NV to teach for the next two years, which I continued my dancing career through a local dance studio. I recently moved back to the Chicagoland area in the fall of 2009 and has been teaching at Flying High's UNIVERSEity of Dance and Cheer Program ever since. I am pleased to be able to teach my love for dance to others and hope to help them find their love for the art as well!
Dance Galaxy Coach Natalie Rodriguez
Hi, my name is Natalie Rose Rodriguez and I have worked here at Flying High for the past three years! I currently teach ballet, tap, acro, and pom and am a competitive coach for Dance Galaxy.
I have a BA in Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago where I performed in various dance and theatre productions. Because of my second passion for animals, I am now in school once again, pursuing a second degree in Veterinary Technology and eventually will become a CVT. I was a cheer coach at St. Ferdinand School in Chicago for 3 years and a cheer instructor at the Park District of Oak Park. I am currently the Head Coach of the Varsity Dance Team at Lane Tech High School in Chicago.
When I am not teaching or coaching, I also enjoy hiking & camping, reading books, swimming, watching a good movie, traveling to new places, and just relaxing and enjoying the day with my family and friends.
As a teacher of dance it is important that besides just learning the movements, my students also learn respect for self and others, the idea that hard work and dedication are important to the success of their chosen discipline, the importance of teamwork, and the ability to feel proud of all the things they have accomplished, no matter how small.
Dancing has been a big part of my life, since the age of five, and has helped to shape me into the person I am today. I look forward to being a part of your child's life and helping them learn to love the world of dance as much as I do!