Studio owner and master instructor, Nino DiGiulio, holds a master's degree in education and, together with Education Director, Margot McGraw Toppen, has designed an engaging youth dance curriculum specifically geared toward the learning styles of children and young adults. Our large and diverse staff of professional teaching artists has been trained to use our specific curriculum to deliver excellent quality programming.

Dancing With Class™ Director Bio:

Margot Toppen is a dance administrator and educator with many years of experience working in public schools. A graduate of Northwestern University, Margot uses dance as a medium to build teamwork and communication skills, as well as personal character and self-esteem. In partnership with May I Have This Dance, Margot has developed the enormously popular Dancing with Class curriculum as well as Dance Around the World. Her focus on building tiered partnerships that actively involve administrators, parents, and students has been key to creating a successful and sustainable program.

As a dancer, Margot has enjoyed an extensive teaching and performing career. She has danced live on stage with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and is a featured instructor as part of the City of Chicago's SummerDance series. Her choreography has been featured twice in Dance Chicago and she has a number of screen credits including "The Road to Perdition."

Dancing With Class™ Dance Instructors:

Dancing with Class recruits, trains and maintains a roster of high-quality dance instructors with a diverse array of experience and dance background. Our teaching staff includes professional dancers involved in the ballroom, modern, ballet and hip-hop dance communities, as well as several instructors with degrees in Education. Our team-oriented approach to training results in a highly motivated and dedicated team that benefits from the diversity of talent that exists within the staff.