Meet The I.staff
Crystal Dixon
co-owner/finance director
Crystal has an extensive background in business and a love for dance. From the time she was 4, she was putting on her tap shoes every chance she could get. She trained for 7 years as a competitive dancer in jazz and tap. Her tap training includes classical, rhythmic and Irish. She also won a national championship with her competitive team. Since then, Crystal has periodically taught dance over the past 8 years and is ecstatic to share this passion with her three beautiful daughters and the talented I.family. Crystal currently holds degrees in chemistry and biology. She pursued a career in spectroscopy and engineering for 8 years before making the switch to full time entrepreneurship which allowed the flexibility to help her daughter pursue her dreams as a performer.
Crystal is now a co-owner of 6 businesses in varying fields with her husband Brian.
Nicole Webb
co-owner/artistic director & coach
Nicole is an Indiana girl and began dancing at the age of 5, training in all genres of dance. She performed in Florence Czech's Nutcracker for 4 years in her hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. As she transitioned to middle school she trained under Rossi Mills and was asked to join his company to train in jazz and hip hop. Starting at the age of 13, Nicole began assisting with choreography for her competitive cheer team and became lead choreographer by the time she was a sophomore. As a 3-time All-American cheerleader she won the title of "Ms. Shake" 1993. Nicole opened her own cheer and dance studio while she was in college and 20+ years later she has now rekindled her love of dance through her daughter Hannah and the rest of her I.dancers. She currently holds her master's degree in Educational Administration and is an instructional coach for Cahokia school district.
Shannon Evans
technique instructor & coach
Shannon is a St. Louis born dance educator and choreographer who received her B.S. in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Saint Louis University. Shannon grew up dancing at Renee Johnsons Dance Studio in Ellisville, MO where she was trained in, tap, ballet, jazz, and lyrical. During that time she was able to work with choreographers such as Ray Leeper, Alan Sherfield, John Crutchman, Tina D'Amato-Sidoni, Dana Lewis, and many more. In her 19 years of teaching she has received numerous regional and national awards for her choreography, costuming, and technical excellence. Many of her students are currently signed with top agencies in Los Angeles and New York City and can be seen in major ads for SKECHERS, Build a Bear, Dream Duffle, Balera, Weissmans, Dancewear Solutions, and also performing on DISNEY. Her students have also appeared in theater productions such as ‘Oklahoma’, ‘A Chorus Line’, ‘100 Dresses’, and the most recent ‘Dancing Divas Nutcracker’ in both New York City and St. Louis. Shannon travels year round choreographing and teaching Masterclasses, Techinique Intensives, and her BEASTMODE Strength & Conditioning Bootcamps.
Caitlin Murphy
I.photographer
Caitlin is a free-spirit that comes with a plethora of unique photography experiences. She started dance photography with her daughter Scarlet and quickly gained a lot of attention with the local dance community. Caitlin has a beautiful personality that opens doors for people to become themselves in front of the camera. She is down-to-earth and makes everyone feel comfortable. When asked to tell me about herself, Caitlin replied, "feed me tacos and tell me I'm pretty".
Typical Caitilin ;)
Randi Reinert
ballet 3, 4, 5 instructor
Randi is a recent graduate of Wichita State University with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Dance with a Modern Emphasis. Through Wichita State University, she has had many opportunities to work with choreographers Cheyla Chandler, Denise Celestin, Nicholas Johnson, Sabrina Vasquez and Regina Klenjoski, and guest artists including Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Jammie Walker and performed a featured role in a multiple pieces choreographed by Darrell Grand Moultrie. Along with working with guest artists, Randi has also had the opportunity to travel and perform with Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre to Veracruz, Mexico, and American College Dance Association in Springfield, Missouri. Since Graduating, Randi has had the opportunity teach and choreograph at Dance Studios in the Wichita area, and has recently moved to the St. Louis area to train with The Big Muddy Dance Company as a Trainee. Randi is very excited to be teaching at Imperium House of Dance this season!
Nealey Ritzel
tap and hip hop instructor
Nealey trained in the Belleville area where her passion for dance began at the early age of 3. Although she trained in all genres growing up, tap always held a special place in her heart. For 13 years, Nealey traveled the U.S. competing and attending conventions where she won several national titles with her solos, trios, and group routines, along with many scholarship invitations enabling her to train with renowned choreographers in cities such as New York, LA, Las Vegas, Branson, and Little Rock. Nealey also toured as an assistant for the Dance Directives National Convention and assisted backstage for Talent on Parade’s regional circuit. Nealey continued dancing in college as a member of the Code Red Dance Team at Ball State University where she was chosen as the Code Red Member of the Year and went on to be named captain for her senior season. Nealey is known for her energetic stage presence and star performance quality!
Maggie Carty
Pom instructor,
beginner ballet, tap, hip hop
Maggie is an Imperium alum and a graduate of Arkansas State University where she helped lead the Red Wolf dancers in a D1A pom record finish at nationals! She brings a well-rounded dance background and experience to her classes as she has trained and competed in all genres. We couldn't be more happy to have Maggie back in our dance house as an instructor!