ELITE DANCE TRAINING WITH HEART.
Bringing joy back into training. The WANT to better yourself in the studio should be led by your passion and not by obligation.
ELYSE
SKALKA
CEO, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, COACH, MENTOR
Hailing from the Chicagoland area, I have dedicated my life to the art and discipline of dance since the age of two. My foundational training in Classical Ballet, specifically the Balanchine technique at Ballet Chicago, laid the groundwork for a lifelong pursuit of excellence. One of my most formative and honored performance experiences was dancing in the original production of The Joffrey Nutcracker, an iconic milestone that fueled my commitment to artistry and professionalism.
My passion for team-based performance emerged after relocating to Northwest Indiana, where I joined the Munster High School Dance Team. As a student-athlete, I helped lead the team to double IHSDTA State Titles in Pom and Hip Hop in 2006. This competitive success continued at Purdue University, where I served as a Captain, lead choreographer, and standout performer for the Purdue Golduster Dance Team. Simultaneously, I choreographed for the Higher Ground Dance Company, earning recognition for my innovative and high-impact routines.
After graduating from Purdue in 2010, I launched my coaching career at IC Catholic Prep in Elmhurst, Illinois, quickly making a name for myself by guiding the team to a TeamDance Illinois State Championship in Lyrical during my second year. Since then, I’ve built a reputation as a versatile and respected leader in both the studio and dance team worlds. My professional experience includes serving as an instructor and judge for the Universal Dance Association (UDA), where I’ve mentored countless dancers and contributed to shaping national-level standards in choreography and technique.
In 2019, I returned to Munster, Indiana, and rejoined the Munster Varsity Dance Team as Head Coach in 2022. Under my leadership, the program has continued to thrive and elevate. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Indiana High School Dance Team Association (IHSDTA), playing an active role in shaping the future of competitive dance across the state. In 2025, I was deeply honored to be named IHSDTA Coach of the Year - recognition that reflects not just competitive success, but a commitment to mentorship, inclusivity, and the development of the whole dancer.
As a dedicated member of the National Dance Coaches Association (NDCA) and a lifelong student of the craft, I have made it my mission to study with the industry’s top educators and bring elite-level training to dancers in my own community. I founded Dance Lab as a space for exploration, growth, and transformation - where dancers are encouraged to push boundaries, test limits, and unlock their full potential.
Welcome to Dance Lab - where science meets soul, and passion becomes progress.
DANCE LAB STAFF
-
KATIE WIENING Future Scientists Program Director
Katie Wiening is the Assistant Coach of the Munster Varsity Dance Team and a proud alumna of Munster High School, Class of 2016. A lifelong dancer, Katie began her training at the age of three and has remained passionate about the art and discipline of dance ever since.
As a former captain of the Munster Varsity Dance Team, Katie led her team to an IHSDTA State Championship title in AAA Pom and Large Ensemble. She also competed at the UDA National Dance Team Championship in Orlando, Florida (2015 & 2016), as well as The Dance Worlds during her early competitive years. Her training has included work with elite teams and renowned instructors, helping shape her technical foundation and leadership style.
Katie is known for her strengths in team choreography, routine cleaning, and motivating dancers to reach their full potential. As one of the first instructors at Dance Lab, she is proud to bring her experience and passion for high-level training to the next generation of dancers in her community.
-
KARYN WORTHING Ballet
Karyn earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from the University of Akron in 1992 and continued her training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School in New York City. She went on to perform professionally for over a decade with ballet and modern dance companies in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, as well as in the San Francisco Bay Area in California.
With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Karyn has instructed ballet, pointe, and modern dance in professional, pre-professional, and educational settings. She has choreographed works for both student and professional dancers and has contributed to production efforts with several ballet schools and student companies.
In addition to her dance career, Karyn holds a comprehensive National Pilates Certification, Pink Ribbon Pilates Certification, Pilates for Neurological Conditions Certification, and is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and taught history, dance, and music in the public school system for 10 years.
-
SAM BLEZA
Sam Bleza is an elite competitive dancer from Munster, Indiana, with a deep commitment to excellence both on and off the stage. A four-year member and two-year Captain of the nationally recognized Munster Varsity Dance Team, she has led her team with passion, resilience, and a strong work ethic.
Some of her many accolades include being a two-time IHSDTA Senior Solo State Champion (2024 & 2025), a 2022 National Champion in the Teen Elite Soloist category at Platinum National Dance Competition, and a 2022 Discovery Spotlight Scholarship Winner.
Trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, acro, and musical theater, Sam is known for her strong technical foundation, quick ability to apply corrections, and drive to exceed her limits. She thrives in environments that foster teamwork, positivity, and a shared passion for dance.
As one of the first instructors and demonstrators at Dance Lab, Sam is inspired to work alongside her mentor, Elyse Skalka in helping to build something new and fresh in her community, sharing her love for dance and commitment to nurturing talent.
Graduating from Munster High School in 2025, Sam will attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison, majoring in Industrial Engineering and proudly joining the Wisconsin Dance Team to continue her dance journey at the collegiate level.
-
ANNALISE ANDELLO
Annalise Andello is a passionate and experienced dancer with over 13 years of training. Originally from Munster, Indiana, she spent 12 years dancing at Susan’s Dance Company and was a proud member of both the Wilbur Wright Middle School Dance Team and the nationally recognized Munster Varsity Dance Team. Annalise graduated from Munster High School in 2024.
She is currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Dance at Indiana University, where she continues to perform as a dedicated member of InMotion Dance Company. Balancing her academic and artistic pursuits, Annalise aspires to become a detective while also continuing her love for dance as a coach and choreographer.
Through her role at Dance Lab, Annalise hopes to inspire and uplift the next generation of dancers by sharing her contagious energy, positive mindset, and deep-rooted passion for the art form.
-
GABY KAJMAKOSKI
Gaby Kajmakoski is a dedicated and passionate collegiate dancer from Munster, Indiana. She is a second-year division 1 athlete for the worldly-known University of Cincinnati Dance Team in Cincinnati, Ohio. Growing up, she trained and competed with Susans Dance Company for 15 years where she learned her love for dance and gained her dance technique. She was a member of both the Wilbur Wright Middle School Dance Team and nationally-recognized Munster Varsity Dance Team where she took captain roles on both teams and gained connections with top choreographers.
Through competing in studio and high school dance competitions, Gaby has won numerous awards complimenting her attention to technique and commitment to her performances. Gaby was an IHSDTA State Champion in 2020 and IHSDTA State Runner-up in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Gaby’s choreography has earned top placements through state recognition and studio competitions. Gaby is excited to bring her passion towards choreography and mentoring to Dance Lab and to help students become more confident in their dancing.
-
LIV GOUVEIA Student Assistant
Liv Gouveia has been dancing for 10 years and is trained in pom, jazz, ballet, acro, and lyrical. She dances at Dance Lab, where she has developed both her technical skills and love for performing. Liv is passionate about working with younger dancers, helping them grow while sharing her love for dance.
She is a proud two year member of the Munster Varsity Dance Team and is a 2026 State Champion in Small Ensemble, Pom, and Gameday. Liv continues to push herself as both a dancer and a leader, inspiring those around her with her dedication and passion.
Book a private lesson with Liv today!
-
GWYNETH COX Student Assistant
Gwyneth Cox has been dancing since the age of two and began competing at eleven. Gwyneth loves training at Dance Lab. She is well-versed in a variety of styles including jazz, acro, pom, lyrical, and ballet.
She has proudly been a member of the Munster Varsity Dance Team for the past three years and had the honor of serving as captain during her junior year. Some of her recent accomplishments include being named the 2025 Junior Solo State Runner-Up, a 2026 Small Ensemble State Champion, and a 2026 State Champion in both Gameday and Pom.
In addition to her competitive experience, Gwyneth has a true passion for working with young dancers and inspiring the next generation to grow, learn, and love the art of dance. She finds teaching especially meaningful, as she gets to witness the moment when a dancer finally understands and masters a skill they have been working toward. Those moments not only inspire her as an instructor, but also remind her of why she fell in love with dance in the first place—the fun, excitement, and joy it brings. Gwyneth hopes to provide the next generation of dancers with the same incredible experiences and opportunities that shaped her own journey.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe that high quality dance training shouldn't be complicated. With continued education from industry leaders, Dance Lab is like no other studio. You deserve to be inspired, to come into a space that praises experimentation and the willingness to GET BETTER! What you learn here will prepare you for ALL of your dance endeavors, no matter where and no matter when!
-
It’s that simple.
-
Dance demands are always evolving.. so why wouldn’t your dance studio? No two weeks will ever be the same, it’s time to MIX IT UP!
-
This is a two way street. We are inspired by the future of dance and we are here to handle that future with care.
-
Creating lasting relationships, healthy mindset and a refreshed love for yourself and your abilities!
-
Dance Lab believes above all else, that dance should be exciting, energetic and healing for the soul. If you don’t love the space you’re in, how can you thrive? We believe in being inclusive, judgement free, and focused on YOUR GOALS. Chemistry is the base of any good relationship, so let it Grow in the Lab!
INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT
BE YOU!
Everyone is welcome here. We do not discriminate and we invite you to be the truest version of yourself when you walk in our doors. Be bold, be authentically YOU!
Respect is a two way street. Dance Lab promises to encourage who you are at a level that inspires and protects your soul. You are protected here. Our staff expects the same in return.