Staff | Mary Lee's School of Dance

Brooke LeMaster

Business owner, Director, Dance Instructor, and Team Company Director

Brooke LeMaster was a Rockette for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 2012. She then traveled the world, performing with Stilletto Entertainment on the Holland America Cruise Lines. She taught dance for the Pre-Professional program at Oklahoma City University’s Community Dance Center and performed locally with RACE Dance Company. She also joined Champagne Creative Group, based out of Las Vegas, where she performed different dance gigs nationally.

She grew up dancing in North Carolina at the Academy of Dance and Fine Arts. Through training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, gymnastics, and musical theatre, she was chosen to perform at the Charlotte Philharmonic Christmas Spectacular at the Blumenthal Theatre in NC in high school. She continued her training in Oklahoma City, where she graduated with her Bachelor in Performing Arts at Oklahoma City University. She was a dancer and line captain for every Christmas and spring production with the Oklahoma City University American Spirit Dance Company and has toured with them, as well. She was part of the Spirit of Grace Liturgical Company and Pep dancers at basketball games. She performed at the Oklahoma City Centennial next to stars such as Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Sandra Day O’Connor. Right after graduation, she danced in a film, directed by Nick Cassavetes, and was in several local Oklahoma commercials. Lastly, she has judged for numerous dance competitions nationwide. Throughout her experiences she has continued to teach students, and loves sharing her passion of dance!

Brooke now resides in Rockford, IL with her wonderful, loving, and supportive husband, Justin, and amazing family. She was born in Hinsdale, IL but moved at the age of two. She has lived in several different states, but made a full circle back to her home state. When she is not teaching or dancing, she loves to spend time with her family, be outside, try new food, and stay in touch with her long-distance friends. She is thrilled to have taken over Mary Lee’s School of Dance and continuing to do what she loves every single day!

Tracey Smith

Dance Instructor and Team Company Co-Director and Choreographer

Tracey Smith has danced all of her life. She grew up dancing at Mary Lee’s School of Dance, and she began student teaching at the age of 16. She has studied all over the United States including Chicago, New York City, Oklahoma City, Tampa, Orlando, L.A., Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, and Kansas City. She owned a successful studio for 15 years. After closing her studio, she taught at Kids Spot and Edwards Dance Center before returning back to Mary Lee’s School of Dance. Now she has been with Mary Lee’s School of Dance for 13 wonderful years. Her passion is little ones, and they absolutely adore her! She strives to give her students a strong starting base with a very positive attitude to help build their confidence and self-esteem. Tracey’s goal is that every student she teaches would love dance as much as she does!

Alex Spain

Dance Instructor and Team Company Co-Director and Choreographer

We are so excited to officially welcome Alex! She has been a huge help this year with the competition team and our biggest supporter! Alex has been involved with dance since she was 3 years old. She started dancing with Kathy Nelson’s when she was only 3 and continued until their closure in 2006. In high school, Alex returned back to studio dance at Evolve Dance Co. until her graduation in 2010. During her college years, Alex took different dance classes including tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, and musical theater at RVC, Forest Hills Dance Company, and Rockford University and even a few studios in Iowa. Alex also taught for a local studio in Davenport, IA until she returned back to her homeland in 2012. Alex’s favorite styles to teach are tap, jazz, and contemporary/lyrical. Alex would say her absolute favorite to perform is tap, which she fell in love with at a young age. Alex is the assistant coach for Boylan Dance Team. She is “so excited to be joining this awesome studio with such great families and students!”

When Alex is not dancing, she is a full time supervisor at CH&A in the intact family services program. Alex also is a licensed therapist and sees clients for counseling a few nights a week at Family Counseling Services. While working at FCS, Alex also is involved with their annual fundraiser, “Dancing with the Rockford Stars” where she has been training to be the new dance manager for the event!

Krista Anders

Front office Associate

Krista is one of our amazing front office staff. She also grew up dancing at Mary Lee’s School of Dance. Both her daughters, Kiara and Lindsey, take multiple dance classes during the week, and they both assistant teach. Krista is super friendly, organized, and always willing to help out the studio in any way she can. She is multi-talented as she is an architectural designer, substitute teacher, Mother, Girl Scout leader, and office administrator! We are grateful to have her!

Sue Nagy

Front office Associate

Bio coming soon!

Larissa DuMelle

Front office Associate

Bio Coming Soon!