Coach Lemon comes to UIC with over 20 years of dance training, 10 years of coaching experience, and 6 years in her current role as a High School Dance Educator. Born and raised on the west side of Chicago, she received her formative training from Demaira Dance Studios alongside a number of Chicago Park District dance initiatives. Her formative training includes but is not limited to Ballet, Jazz, Horton based Modern, West African dance and Hip hop.
As a Lane Tech Dance Team leader and alumni, she went on to continue an established dance and performance career at Southern Illinois University, where she received a B.A in Political Science with a minor in Dance. She was a member and leader of the competitive dance team competing in the National Dance Association's contests for jazz, hop-hop and pom dance. Simultaneously, she served as a member and choreographer for the Southern Illinois Dance Company under the direction and training of Donna Wilson. Post undergrad, she became a performing artist for a number of Orlando, FL based dance companies throughout a career for Disney's Resorts. Her professional experience includes Disney, Fantashique Dance Company and a number of commercial dance projects.
As a current Dance Educator, she serves as an IB Dance instructor, enriching Chicago's youth with a rigorous and robust dance curriculum. She is also a Program Manager for the Diamond MVMT Foundation under the artistic direction of Jasper C. Reed.
Competitive dance coupled with a true comprehension and analysis of movement drives her work. She is excited to begin her journey at UIC and looks forward to an amazing season
