715 Lakepointe Center Drive
O'fallon, IL 62269
618.628.0402
info@taylorsacademyofdance.com
Our Instructors
Vance Baldwin
Studio Director & Instructor
Vance Baldwin, native of St. Joseph, holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2008) and B.S. in Education (vocal music) from Missouri Western State University (2001). He has a very extensive professional career nationally and internationally and currently directs Taylor’s Academy of Dance in O’Fallon, Illinois.Â
While artistically performing, Vance has worked and choreographed for numerous dance companies, theater companies and organizations. He has also had the opportunity to teach master classes, choreograph and teach primary through collegiate level. He has also worked with students of all ages helping them grow physically, emotionally, and artistically through the love of dance.
Throughout his twenty plus career, Vance has had the opportunity to perform:
- Sing: Carnegie Hall Choral Festival, Innsbruck International Choral Festival 2002
- Musical Theater roles: Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats, Wickersham Brother #1 in Seussical: The Musical, and numerous smaller and among others
- National Dance: Karlovsky & Company Dance, Leverage Dance Company, Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company, MADCO, Spring To Dance Festival, 90×90 project St. Louis, Mo., 940 Dance Company, Reach….a movement collective inc., Robidoux Resident Theater, The Theater in the Park, Eubank Productions (currently Egads Theater)
- International Dance: International tours with Karlovsky & Company Dance in France and Cape Town, South Africa, 940 Dance Company – Performatica Dance Festival 2007- Puebla, Mexico
Also, throughout his 20+ career, he has had the opportunity to teach and has had choreography performed with:
- Theater Companies: Robidoux Resident Theater, Creative Arts Productions, Eagads Productions (formerly Eubank Productions), Thin Air Theatrics, among others
- Dance Companies: Leverage Dance Theater, Karlovsky & Company Dance, Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company, Spring To Dance Festival, Modern American Dance Company, City In Motion, 940 Dance Company, McKendree University, among others
- Dance Studios: Taylor’s Academy of Dance, Dance Arts Center, Midwest Dance Academy, Stars R Us Dance Studio, Beatniks dance studio, among others.
- In 2017, Vance embarked on directing for Creative Arts Productions: Madagascar the Musical, Jr (16) and Shrek the Musical, Jr. (17), Elf the Musical, Jr. (18) and Moana: The Musical, Jr. summer (21).
He has also had the opportunity to work with artists such as Gina Patterson, Jennifer Archibald, Michael Foley, Jennifer Medina, Michael Uthoff, Mikey Thomas, Alcine Wiltz, Dan DeMott, Paul Chambers, among others.
In 2008, Vance received the STAR Award of Excellence from Robidoux Resident Theater, St. Joseph, Missouri and received a Best Dancer Nomination for his role as Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats at The Theater in The Park in 2007. In 2020, he was nominated and awarded the St. Joseph Mayors Award: Arts Educator.
Vance is honored to have had a very lengthy career in the arts and hopes to continue working and or transitioning within it as time moves forward. He loves directing and teaching at Taylor’s Academy of Dance and looks forward to what accomplishments his staff, students, and himself will achieve over the next couple of years.
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Trisha Wilson
Office Administrator
Trisha Wilson has lived in the area for over 20 years and been a member of the TAOD family since 2008 when her daughter, Molly, joined Taylor’s. Trisha is a graduate of McKendree University and was active in dance throughout her childhood at a dance studio and on her high school and college dance teams. She has spent several years volunteering with her church and serving as the vice-coordinator with an area American Heritage Girls troop. Trisha and her husband have recently finished home schooling their children and she continues to be active in their homeschool community. They are looking forward to exploring their new day to day life since their kids have graduated.
Jen Simmons
Dance Instructor
I began dancing at the age of 5. I danced and competed through high school and then became a member of the McKendree Dance Team. During that time, I choreographed and taught various dance camps each year. After college, I continued taking classes to further my dance knowledge and education. I have several years of experience teaching classes at the recreational level as well as competitive level for ages 4-adult. I’m very fortunate and excited to be a part of Taylor’s Academy of Dance and look forward to sharing my love of dance with all of my students!
Molly Wilson
Dance Instructor
Molly has been a member of Taylor’s since 2008 when she joined at the age of three. She recently finished her time as a homeschool student and graduated from high school. Her favorite styles of dance are ballet, pointe, and tap. Molly participated in English Country dancing with her homeschool community during her senior year, and hopes to continue doing so. She is also beginning to learn ballroom/swing dancing. She student taught for two years and taught her own class last year. Molly looks forward to sharing her love of dance with her students.
