REGISTRATION OPENS ON AUGUST 1ST FOR OUR NEW SEASON!!
Meet Our Staff
"We Aspire to Inspire"
Melissa Poulsen (Owner, Artistic Director & Instructor) -
Miss Melissa has been surrounded by dance for 32 years by, performing, competing, attending conventions, teaching, choreographing or taking classes. Melissa studied Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop locally for 17 years. When she went to college at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL she continued to study Ballet and Jazz, she also expanded her dance education to Modern. While attending WIU, Melissa was asked to teach and choreograph for Dana’s Dance and Tumbling Studio in Macomb. Melissa taught Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical and Competition dance team for two years. As a teacher and choreographer locally and in Macomb, Melissa received a Top Teacher Award in 2004, two Top Choreography awards in 2005 and another Top Choreography award in 2006. As the Artistic Director for the Express Yourself Competition Team at Expressions she has won many outstanding awards over the past 15 years including winning an outstanding choreography award at Nationals in 2017, this award was given to one dance out of almost 1,000 dances that week. Melissa graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management in May of 2006 and established Expressions of the Quad Cities Dance Academy in October 2006. In her free time she loves to scrapbook, go bowling, watch movies and spend time with her friends and family. Melissa currently resides in Bettendorf with her husband Kyle and their daughters Reagan (10) and Haidyn (7).
Lyn Lear (Instructor) -
Lyn has over 20 years of experience teaching experience in the areas of tumbling, fitness and dance. She is certified in tumbling and has both taught and participated for many years. She is also a licensed Zumba instructor. Lyn is a graduate of Augustana College, where she was a member/ choreographer of the Augustana Dance Company for four years. She served as the Company president her senior year. She also taught and performed with the City Center for the Performing Arts. Lyn lives in Bettendorf, Iowa and works as a Vice President for First Midwest Bank. She enjoys spending time with her family, husband Chris, daughter Sydney and son Ethan. Lyn is very excited to be part of the Expressions staff!
Cheyenne Calabrese (Instructor) -
Miss Cheyenne has been dancing for the past sixteen years, starting at the age of five. She trained for thirteen years at Dorothy’s Dancing Unlimited, her home studio back in the Chicago Northwest suburbs. At Dorothy’s, she studied tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop and musical theatre. In 2012, Miss Cheyenne began teaching at Dorothy’s at only fifteen years old; she taught intro classes (3-5 years), creative classes (5-7 year olds), and beginner level classes (7-8 years). In 2015, Miss Cheyenne graduated high school and began studying at Augustana College across the river. At Augustana, Miss Cheyenne was a part of Dance Company for two years and also participated on the Vikettes Pom team. She is now in her senior year of college, majoring in Elementary Education, and currently student teaching in the Bettendorf school district. Miss Cheyenne joined the Expressions family in 2017 where most of her classes are tap, and she is ecstatic to start her second year working with their supportive staff and passionate students! In her free time, Miss Cheyenne enjoys watching movies, drinking coffee, reading, and going on outdoor adventures with friends.
Jessica Kohs (Instructor & Office Staff) - Coming Soon!!
Emma Curtis (Instructor) - Coming Soon!!
Darby Sutherland (Instructor) - Coming Soon!!
Jamie Bice (Instructor) - Coming Soon!!
Allyson Lineburg (Instructor) - Coming Soon!!
Sydney Lear (Instructor) - Coming Soon!!
Aly York ( Instructor) - Coming Soon!!
Essence McGrew (Instructor) - Coming Soon!!
Beth Ann Erbst (Office Staff) - Coming Soon!!
Laura Smith (Office Staff) - Coming Soon!!