Jan's Dance Studio

 Jan Regan Burghart (owner)

      Jan grew up in Springfield Illinois, and started her dance training at the age of three at the Mack Professional School of Dance under Betty Jo and Joey Mack. Jan, was on scholarship at the Stone and Cameron School of Ballet in Chicago, before she audition and was chosen to tour the country with the "Lenore Sutton Dance Troupe".

      In 1982, Jan opened the doors to Jan's Dance Studio and found a place to combine her experience as a professional dancer and her passion for dance education. Her business flourished and moved progressively through numerous locations to reside at her current location in Chatham, Illinois.

      Jan has studied at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC and the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood CA.  She also travels with her students and teachers to several Conventions and Competitions every year to ensure that her students are receiving the best and most current dance education.She is also a certified active member of Chicago National Association of Dance Masters and currently holds an elected position on the board of directors for the Southern Association of Dance Masters.  She has been active in the dance community locally, choreographing and performing at the Springfield Muni and Springfield Theater Center, sharing the joy of dance nursing homes and presenting an annual performance at the Hoglan Center for the Arts.

      Her students have received national talent scholarships, choreography awards, and professional contracts in the dance and entertainment fields.  Jan currently has several students majoring in dance at the college level. 

Bridget Armstrong (co-owner)

Bridget is currently a first grade teacher at Auburn Elementary.  Bridget grew up dancing at Jan's Dance studio and was part of the Dazzler Competition team and has been awarded numerous awards for performance and choreography from National dance competitions.  She has also performed at Disney World, Disney Land and aboard several cruise ships.  She has a BFA in English from UIS and a BSA from ISU in education. She is a certified dance educator through SADM.

Gretchen Burghart 

Is a proud JDS Alumni!  She has taught Master classes and performed in shows all over the country.  She has also judged for numerous dance competitions. She has had a successful career as a professional performer and most recently completed a contract as "Enid Hoopes" in the First National Broadway Tour of "Legally Blonde".  Gretchen has studied at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Lou Conte, Gus Girdano, Edge Performing Arts Center, LA Performing Arts Center just to name a few!

Guest Teacher/Denise Bennett

Denise Bennett is a recent graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA with a B.A. in Dance.  While attending she performed works by several world-renowned choreographers with the Playhouse Dance Company.  Upon graduation she completed a contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  She has studied extensively with Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago, IL and on work scholarships at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City.  This summer she will be performing, New Dances in Chicago with Thodos Dance Chicago.

Substitute Teacher/Whitney Ridings

Recently graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Elementary Education.  She now teaches in Springfield #186 school district. Whitney is a JDS alumni and performed at Disney World, Disney Land, aboard Cruise Ships, as well as received numerous awards for performance with the Dazzlers competition team.

Laura Moy (Tumbling)

We are so lucky to have Laura join our faculty!  She is currently coaching for Midstate Gymnastics!  Prior to moving to Chatham, she was the head coach for a large gym in downstate IL.  She is certified in spotting and teaches seminars to other coaches in spotting across the state.  Welcome to JDS!

Erin Quigley

Erin is a JDS alumni as well.  While dancing with the Dazzlers, Erin was awarded a scholarship to study at the Edge Performing Arts Center in LA.  She also performed in Cruise shows, at Disney World and in the Rockette Experience with JDS.  She is the proud recipent of many first place awards at competitions and prestigious scholarships.