Teachers & Staff

Alissa Deutsch

Alissa Deutsch is the founder and owner of Studio18, home to the award-winning FUSION Dance Company. With a dance journey that began in 1997, Alissa has trained at some of Chicagoland’s most respected studios, including Gus Giordano Dance School, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, and Lou Conte Dance Studio. Her training also took her to Los Angeles, where she studied at iconic studios like Millennium Dance Complex and Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio.

As a professional dancer, Alissa performed with acclaimed companies such as Culture Shock, Dance 2XS, and Boom Crack, bringing high-energy performances to stages across North America. While she loved performing, her true passion lies in teaching and mentoring the next generation of dancers.

For more than 20 years, Alissa has taught at private studios across Chicago’s North Shore and has been a sought-after guest artist at area high schools. She’s also traveled throughout the Midwest to set choreography for both studios and school programs. In 2001, she founded FUSION Dance Company, a competitive hip hop program for dancers ages 7–18, which continues to thrive under her leadership and vision.

Outside the studio, Alissa has spent over two decades working with children in summer camp settings, creating environments filled with fun, creativity, and lasting memories. Her ability to connect with dancers of all ages, combined with her deep love for the art form, has made her a beloved teacher, mentor, and choreographer.

Sydney Zusman

Sydney Zusman is a proud former member of FUSION Dance Company who has gone on to combine her love for dance with a passion for understanding how people learn and grow. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from New York University, majoring in Applied Psychology with a minor in Dance, before completing her M.A. in Educational Psychology and her Ed.M. in Applied Developmental and Learning Psychology: School Psychology from Columbia University in New York.

While living on the East Coast, Sydney taught and choreographed for Gen6 Dance, Liberate Artists, Pulse Dance Project, and Vole Ballet Company, bringing her creativity and expertise to dancers of all ages and styles.

Now back in her hometown of Chicago, Sydney is thrilled to return to Studio18; FUSION Dance Company—this time as an instructor. She looks forward to inspiring the next generation of dancers with her technical knowledge, artistic vision, and genuine love for teaching.

Juliana Dragisic

Juliana Dragisic began dancing at the age of four, starting with ballet and jazz before expanding her training to include hip hop, contemporary, pointe, and modern. Her love for movement and versatility across styles quickly became clear, and by age 16, she was accepted into the professional contemporary company Meraki Dance Company—becoming one of its founding members and the youngest dancer on the roster.

Juliana’s passion for performing and growing as an artist led her to the AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, where she was first introduced through a two-week intensive in New York City. There, she trained in a wide range of dance styles and had the opportunity to study with Broadway artist LaQuet Pringle. She later earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from AMDA’s Los Angeles campus, graduating with the Class of 2020.

Throughout her training and professional career, Juliana has worked with a diverse group of choreographers and instructors, including Donyelle Jones, Fresh Redding, Mackenzie Martin, Stephanie Landwehr, Louis Jones, Jason Gorman, Nancy Owen, Tracy Silver, Misha Lee, and Sergio Lopez, among others. She also performed in Fresh Redding’s Carnival choreographers’ showcase in Los Angeles.

Today, Juliana is a dedicated dance instructor and choreographer based in the Chicagoland area. In addition to teaching, she creates kinetic films that blend her passion for choreography with cinematic storytelling and editing. With a strong foundation in both performance and education, Juliana brings energy, creativity, and heart to every class she leads.

Jocelyn Silk

Jocelyn Silk brings a passion for dance and a wealth of championship experience to every class she teaches. A graduate of Alma College with a B.A. in Dance and New Media Studies, Jocelyn spent four years on the Alma College Dance Team, serving as captain for her junior and senior years. During her time on the team, she helped lead Alma to seven NDA National Championships in Jazz, Hip Hop, and Team Performance—culminating in the program’s historic first-ever NDA Hip Hop Grand Championship in 2025.

Beyond her collegiate success, Jocelyn has spent the last three years traveling the state as part of the UDA Staff, inspiring and training dance teams of all levels. She has also worked at top collegiate recruitment events, including the Varsity Spirit College Dance Team Combine in Illinois and the Tribe 99 Michigan Dance Team Combine, helping dancers take their skills to the next level.

Jocelyn’s teaching style blends technical precision with high-energy, positive motivation—encouraging dancers to push themselves, believe in their abilities, and love the process of growth.

Kelly Anderson

Kelly Anderson, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Social Psychology. During her time at WMU, she had the opportunity to perform works by acclaimed choreographers including Aszure Barton, Kyle Abraham, Brian Enos, and Rennie Harris. She was also a member of Western Dance Project, the university’s touring ensemble directed by Whitney Moncrief, through which she performed across the Midwest and engaged in meaningful outreach.

Kelly’s performance credits include works by WMU faculty members Jeremy Blair and Carolyn Pavlik, Monique Haley’s graduate thesis Encounter, and HAUNT by Brendan Duggan, winner of the 2017 National Choreography Competition. She has continued to expand her training through prestigious programs such as ADF’s New York Winter Intensive, DanceWorks Chicago’s DanceForce and ChoreoLab, and Houston METdance’s Professional Summer Intensive.

In addition to her performance career, Kelly has demonstrated leadership and service as President of Orchesis Dance Society and through Movement Exchange, where she shared dance with children both locally and internationally in Panamá at orphanages and underserved schools.

Currently, Kelly is a Main Company Member with South Chicago Dance Theatre, now in her third season, where she also serves as Rehearsal Assistant. She is passionate about the powerful ability of dance to connect people and is dedicated to sharing that joy, artistry, and community with her students.

Baylee Hertel

Baylee Hertel has been dancing since she was just three years old, beginning her training at The Dance Factory in Delavan, Wisconsin, where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, and contemporary—building a strong and versatile foundation.

She went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a certificate in Dance Studio Management from Western Michigan University, one of the top programs in the country. While at WMU, Baylee had the opportunity to perform in works by acclaimed choreographers like Marisa Bianian, Jeremy Blair, Roderick George, and Jackie Nowicki. She also danced in the beautifully reconstructed Lily of the Nile by Loïe Fuller and performed with the university’s touring company, Western Dance Project, under the direction of Kelsey Paschich.

Baylee is also a passionate choreographer. She created original pieces like 3302 and Between Push and Pull, and co-choreographed Existence Is with fellow dancer Olivia Gray. During her time at WMU, she was a leader in the dance community—serving on the Orchesis Dance Society board and organizing events as the Fundraising Coordinator for Movement Exchange.

After graduation, Baylee joined CPR Dance: Inhale Movement, a professional company directed by Carolyn Pampalone Rabbers. She’s had the honor of performing works by a diverse group of artists including Seyong Kim, Sayiga Eugene Peabody, Sara Kausch, Paige Mulick, and many more.

Baylee brings her love of dance, creativity, and experience into every class she teaches. She’s passionate about helping young dancers grow in both skill and confidence—and most importantly, have fun while doing it!

Gabby Estes

Based in Chicago, Gabriella Estes is a freelance dance artist and educator. She earned her BFA from the University of Arizona School of Dance and has further trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Boston Dance Theatre, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet.

Gabriella currently performs with Darvin Dances Chicago, VDK Dance Company, and Michael O’Dea Entertainment. Her performance credits include works by Jana Bennett, Julia Schaffer, Jessica Van de Koot, Jojo Alsberry, Juel D. Lane, Tamara Dyke-Compton, Cat Cogliandro, Mariah Eastman, and Hanna Brictson, among others.

In addition to performing, Gabriella is passionate about dance education and teaches ballet, jazz, hip-hop, jazz funk, modern, and contemporary throughout the Chicagoland suburbs.

She is thrilled to join the Studio18 team and looks forward to sharing her passion for dance, movement, and creativity with the Studio18 community.

Diego Gonzales

Diego Gonzales Jr. is going into his second season with Visceral Dance Chicago. Originally from Denver, Colorado, he graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Arizona in 2025. Diego began his training at Denver School of the Arts, double majoring in Dance and Vocal Music. He’s trained with programs like Perry-Mansfield, Sancta, Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival, and Hubbard Street, and has also assisted and performed at the Bolzano Dance Festival in Italy.

Throughout his career, he’s had the opportunity to perform works by Martha Graham (Diversion of Angels), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (Sombrerísimo), Alvin Ailey (Streams), as well as works by Peter Chu, FLOCK, Juel D. Lane, Kayla Farrish, and Alexander Anderson. His performance experience also includes an appearance at TEDx, where he performed Pitter Patter Pulse by Sam Watson.

Diego is looking forward to continuing his growth and sharing his passion for dance with the dancers at Studio18.

Sylvie Baldwin

Sylvie Baldwin is a dancer, actor, and arts educator based in the Chicago suburbs. Before settling in Chicagoland, Sylvie taught dance at the University of Tampa and Center Stage Youth Theatre in Odessa, Florida. She had the good fortune to train for twelve years under Anne Green Gilbert, founder of Brain-Compatible Dance Education, in Seattle, Washington—an experience that deeply shaped her teaching philosophy, pedagogy, and choreographic practice.

As a performer, Sylvie has danced with Poetica Dance Company (FL), Kaleidoscope Dance Company (WA), and Seattle Theatre Group (WA), performing and touring throughout the United States and Europe. She holds an MFA from Northern Illinois University’s School of Theatre and Dance, where she was awarded the 2022 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award.

Sylvie has a particular love for working with preschool dancers and believes that the earliest experiences a child has in the dance studio should be joyful, imaginative, and full of wonder. With her playful spirit, boundless creativity, and deep understanding of how young children learn and move, she creates classes where little dancers feel encouraged to explore, express themselves, and discover the magic of movement. Sylvie has a special gift for making even the youngest dancers feel confident and celebrated, transforming each class into an imaginative adventure where learning, laughter, and dance come together. For Sylvie, teaching preschool dance is about more than learning steps—it’s about creating magical first memories of what it means to dance.