Meet Our Dedicated Staff
Tracey & Heather's Dance Synergy
At Tracey & Heather's Dance Synergy, you'll find educated, trusted teachers with 25+ years of combined dance studio ownership. We're a locally owned business and offer family discounts. Meet your teachers below and contact us today to schedule a dance lesson!
Tracey Sims Kopecky
Co-Owner and Artistic Director
As a student, Tracey was named as Miss Dynamite and an All-Star dancer at many dance conventions. One of her many awards came as she was a cast member in the 1996 FedEx Orange Bowl half time performance.
In addition, you may have seen her in the Heartland Magazine and the television programs Life Without Limits and What's Up, What's Happening!
As one of the strongest instructors in Illinois, Tracey is well known for her extraordinary choreography. Tracey has instructed many students who have received numerous dance scholarships. Tracey is a regional and national title winning dance instructor and had studied at both the EDGE Performing Arts Center and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles, California.
She has been awarded such honors as: Top Teacher, Top Studio, Overall Studio, Best Choreography, Most Entertaining, High Power High Energy, Show Stopper and the list goes on. Tracey brings unique, cutting edge choreography and incredible energy to each dance. She continues her own studies in classes and workshops and was recently awarded a Teacher Scholarship to “Pulse on Tour.”
Miss Tracey and fellow colleagues participated in the opening act for Soulja Boy at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center. As a teacher and choreographer, she teachers Master Hip Hop classes for other dance companies, high school and college dance teams. Tracey is also certified in Kripalu DanKenetics and Shake Your Soul, which draws from Movement Therapy, Qi Kung, and Yoga.
In these therapeutic forms, mind and body are connected as an outlet for emotions and a pathway to finds meaning in the movement of our bodies.
In addition to her impressive dance and choreography abilities, Tracey has expanded her passion for teaching into the college classroom. As an adjunct instructor in the Psychology program at the University of Illinois at Springfield, Tracey is able to share her expertise and passion for working with at-risk special needs populations.
Tracey earned a B.S.W. degree in Social Work as well as a Master of Arts degree in INO- Movement and Wellness from the University of Illinois at Springfield. A judge for Star Systems National Talent Competitions, Tracey strives to help dancers of all levels achieve success. Miss Tracey was nominated by readers of the Illinois Times and was chosen as Springfield's Best Dance Instructor in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. This honor clearly reflects Tracey's dedication, passion for and commitment to dance.
Tracey Sims Kopecky B.S.W, M.A.
Owner / Artistic Director ~TurnOut Movement Arts Studio
Co-Owner / Artistic Director- Tracey and Heather's Dance Synergy; Team KoMo
traceyheatherdancesynergy@gmail.com
Certified Kripalu DansKinetics Instructor
Founder "Gettin’ Down” ~ The movement program for individuals with Special needs
Instructor ~ Jane Mannion School of Dance, Highland, Illinois
Instructor ~ Sara’s School of Dance, Jacksonville, Illinois
Instructor ~ St. Johns Hospital and Kohl’s Cares
Heather Morris
Co-Owner, Artistic Director
Heather has 37 years of dancing experience, 5 years of teaching assistant experience, and 23 years of teaching experience through Heather’s Dance Centre’ and Tracey & Heather’s Dance Synergy and is a certified dance instructor through Dance Educators of America.
She has received scholarships to the Broadway Dance Centre in NYC as well as LA Danceforce and Dupree Dance Convention Scholarships. She was chosen as a “Sweetheart” scholarship winner at the I Love Dance dance competition, and was also chosen to participate in the “Success America” scholarship program through the Star Systems nationals competition, where she was invited to attend several classes in New York and participate in a special performance for industry professionals.
She has studied under many professional instructors from all over the nation, including NYC and LA. She has also competed in many regional and national competitions, and has performed in the “Nutcracker on Broadway,” Disney’s Magic Music Days program in Orlando, Florida, and was a half-time performer at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
She also performed in the opening act for Phyllis Diller at the PCCC, was a Universal Dance Association Instructor, and was a member of the Illinois State University’s competitive dance team. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Springfield where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Management.
Following in her footsteps, many of her students have also received scholarships on the convention circuit, All-Star scholarships, Edge Performing Arts Centre scholarships, Collective Scholarships, CLI admittance, Joffrey Scholarships, AMDA Scholarships and more. Her students have performed at several local events, as well as Disney’s Magic Music Days in Orlando, Florida and aboard the Carnival Cruise Line. Her students and staff have also won many achievements on the competition circuit including, but not limited to Technique Awards, Choreography Awards, Ultimate Achievements, Highest Scoring Routines of the Weekend and IDAs.
Several of her dancers have continued their dance careers through outlets such as college dance teams, college performing arts programs, and professional companies in NYC. Miss Heather would like to say thank you to all of her students, past and present, for helping shape the person and educator she is today! She would also like to thank her family for their continued support!
Miss Kendra Sagle Schmulbach
At the age of 2, Miss Kendra began taking dance classes. After a couple of years of sitting the wrong way and blundering through recitals, her parents and dance instructors thought gymnastics might just be a better fit. In 1980 she started training at L & M Gymnastics School and ended up spending a majority of her adolescence there.
Through the years she has many notable accomplishments, including USGF, USTA and AAU/USA National titles. Among her most memorable accomplishments are qualifying as one of six gymnasts to represent Illinois at the Junior Olympic Games in Tallahassee, FL, as well as representing our nation at the Canadian National Championships, not once but twice!
A broken back derailed her gymnastics career for a short time. Not wanting to sit idly by, she set her sights on cheerleading. In 1992, she was chosen as a UCA All-Star. This honor enabled her to travel to London for the New Year's Day Parade where she was also chosen to perform for the Lord Mayor of Westminster himself.
Miss Kendra then moved on to Southern Illinois University as a Physical Education major with a specialization in Exercise Science. While at SIU she was a member of the Saluki Shaker Dance Team. As a member of this squad, she was selected as captain and then an NCA All-American.
Miss Kendra believes that she has been so blessed and somewhere along the way she found her calling. Teaching at L & M throughout high school, college and the birth of her daughter, Breanne, she expanded her knowledge by becoming a USATTA Tumbling Judge. She continued to further her love of the sport by coaching the cheerleaders and dancers at Riverton High School from 2001 – 2006.
In 2009, Miss Kendra became part of TurnOut Movement Arts Studio. Despite her noteworthy accomplishments, Miss Kendra feels that “After all of the wonderful things I have been honored to achieve and accomplish, my family is what I am most proud. The best part...I get to work with my family and those I consider my family every day. Who could ask for anything better?”
Emma Doll
Miss Emma Lavin started playing the violin and dancing at the age of 3. Even though the violin helped her timing and musicality, her first love was always dance. She started with Ms. Linda Ushman for the first 5 years of her education and continued to take lessons from Ms. Heather Morris for the next 9 years.
She was a teacher’s assistant for 5 years, on the competition team for 6 years, on the company team for 10 years, and performed at locations like Disney World and Carnival Cruise Ships with Heather’s Dance Centré. In high school, she was on the Scarlet Line Dance Team and named captain her senior year. She was also chosen as a UDA All-American and later hired to be a NDA instructor.
Although high school ended, she continued to find ways to dance by becoming a teacher at Heather’s Dance Centré. Soon after, she worked on becoming a certified dance teacher through Dance & Gym USA. While in college, she was on the Dancing Stars Dance Team at University of Illinois Springfield and was named co-captain her last year.
Miss Emma has not only been educated inside the dance studio, but outside too. She attended Lincoln Land Community College and earned an Associates of Science in Biology. She then moved on to University of Illinois Springfield where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Biology. After UIS she decided to continue her education by attending St. John’s College of Nursing, where she just recently graduated.
Lexi Bergschneider
BIO COMING SOON!
Bre Grieve
BIO COMING SOON!
Aaron Lederbrand
Aaron began dancing at the age of 8 at TurnOut Movement Arts Studio under the direction of Miss Tracey. At the age of 10, he joined the competition team and continued to compete until the age of 19 for TurnOut Movement Arts Studio and later Tracey and Heathers Dance Synergy.
Originally from Pawnee, IL Aaron trained under Miss Tracey, Miss Kendra, and Mr. Alvin Ramirez while being a student at TurnOut and Tracey and Heather’s. While competing he was a part of multiple award-winning routines including High Overall placements, judges awards, highest-scoring routines, and other accomplishments.
After he was done competing Aaron taught on and off at Tracey and Heathers while going to Blackburn College where he Graduated with his Degree in Education in the Fall of 2022. He returned to teaching in 2023 and couldn’t be happier to be back where it all started!
Kayla Overmeyer
Miss Kayla’s dance journey began at the age of three as a student at Heather's Dance Centre. She continued her training at THDS following the merge of HDC & TurnOut, until graduating from Williamsville High School in 2021.
Miss Kayla has been teaching dance for 3 years as of 2024 and is excited to continue inspiring young dancers in the years to come. Throughout her 18 years of dance experience, she has been trained in various styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and her all-time favorite—pointe. Her dedication to dance is further demonstrated by her 7 years in the dance company and 1 year on the competition team. She also served as a teacher assistant for several years, honing her skills in teaching prior to having students of her own.
Beyond her dance education, Miss Kayla graduated from LLCC in 2023 with an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts and is currently pursuing a degree in neonatal/NICU nursing.
In high school, Miss Kayla also explored other artistic interests, such as band, choir, madrigals, and vocal jazz. She participated in numerous vocal competitions and was selected for ILMEA advanced choirs throughout junior high and high school. Additionally, she co-founded and co-led the WHS chapter of Jared's Keepers, a group dedicated to suicide prevention and providing mental health resources to students.
Miss Kayla can’t wait to continue teaching & sharing her love of dance with her students, and is excited to be able to stay connected to both dance and her dance family in the coming years!!
Ceelyn Slater
BIO COMING SOON!
Sarina Teeter
BIO COMING SOON!
Business Hours
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
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