BDA Staff   Beth Lottino is proudly celebrating 32 years as a dance educator and a true inspiration to countless young women. Beth continues to provide consistent excellence in dance education that has become her signature… a well deserved reputation of merit celebrated throughout the dancecommunity.  Katie Shaw is returning to BDA Dance as a Hip Hop instructor and choreographer for our BDA Dance Company. Katie started dancing at the age of four and has been dancing ever since. She is trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. Katie is beginning her 16th year teaching dance. She has studied Hip Hop at Hubbard Street Dance studio under various renowned teachers/ choreographers and has attended numerous dance conventions around the country. She began her career teaching Tap and Jazz at BDA while continuing her own training in Hip Hop. Katie's passion for Hip Hop led to the formation of a BDA  Hip Hop program. Since its formation, the BDA Hip Hop program has expanded to be included in the National Award winning BDA Dance Company. Katie has choreographed for studio dance teams, as well as high school dance teams in the area. She loves to share her energy and enthusiasm with her students.   .  Mindy Thomas received training from several dance schools and conventions in Ohio before graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre and Dance from Ohio Northern University. Mindy has taught at studios in Ohio, Virginia, Maryland and also at several local studios in Illinois. Mindy also teaches community classes in theatre at North Central College in Naperville. She has worked with many different competition teams throughout the years choreographing, as well as many church and school groups. Her specialty lies within teaching preballet classes and multiple levels in tap. Mindy will be starting her 7th year on faculty at BDA Dance.   Amber Murnick Amber began dancing at the age of  three under the instruction of Beth Lottino and Katie Shaw. She competed on BDA Company for 6 years and has been teaching/choregraphing since the age of fifteen. Amber has attended many summer dance intensives including the Point Park Internatinal Summer Dance Program. She has recieved numerous dance awards including and invitation to tour the U.S. with Dance Olympus/Dance America, Dancer of the year finalist with New York City Dance Alliance, "Most Promising Performer" award, and several dance opportunites including a prestigious scholarship from Gus Giordano Dance Center. She performed in Disney World as a Power Pak Performer with StarPower as well as multiple performances throughout the Chicago/Metro area. Amber continues her dance education throughout Chicago-land and loves sharing her passion for dance with her students. Tasha Johnson Tasha bagan dancing at the age of nine. She studied Jazz,tap,Ballet, Hip Hop,Lyrical and Musical Theater at Gotta Dance Studio where she competed with the Starlight Dance Co. until she was fifteen. She continued her studies at Midwest Dance Authority where she also competed and was trained to assist and instruct dance classes. Tasha began instructing classes at the age of seventeen at Midwest Dance Authority, and from there she went on teaching. She has taught Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop at Broadway Star Dance Co. She taught Tap and Hip Hop at the School of Dance West ballet, and Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop at Allegro Center for the Performing Arts. Tasha will be starting her 4th year on faculty at BDA. Joe Caruana Joseph is a founding member of Elements Contemporary Ballet, Chicago's first and only contemporary ballet company. He received his training from the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle. The Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, and through workshops with the Boston Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, Alonzo King's LINES Contemporary Ballet, and the Lou Conte Dance Center. Prior to joining ECB, he was a member of River North Chicago danc3e Company for three years.