ABOUT US
At S&S School of Dance, we aim to "Unleash the Passion" by providing opportunities for life enrichment through the art of dance to everyone, from absolute beginners to advanced dancers. We are committed to fostering a positive, supportive, and professional environment, grounded in our core values of:
INCLUSIVITY
INTEGRITY
COMMUNITY
POSITIVITY
PROFESSIONALISM
RESPECT
OUR FACILITY
S&S School of Dance, proudly serving our community since 1974, leaped into an exciting new era with a move to our brand-new 5,000-square-foot facility in 2023! Every inch of our vibrant space is thoughtfully designed to elevate the dance experience and inspire movers of all ages.
Merchandise Area
Dancewear and studio apparel available for purchase
Shoe fittings offered
Gently used shoes available for browsing
Lobby
Comfortable seating area for parents
Monitor to observe classes
Space for students to do homework after school or between classes
Bathrooms
Convenient access for students and families
Studio 21
Spacious and versatile
Operable wall allows studios to combine into one large room
Floating floors topped with marley
Studio 74
Spacious and versatile
Operable wall allows studios to combine into one large room
Floating floors topped with marley
Studio 405
Designed specifically for acrobatics and tumbling classes
Floating floors topped with marley
OUR STAFF
We cannot wait to dance with you!
Darci Heavner
Owner & Director
Darci Heavner grew up dancing in Pittsfield, Illinois, at S&S School of Dance under the direction of Stacy Roseberry. While there, she studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop, and acrobatics, as well as assisted in the classroom, where she developed her love for teaching. This passion led her to Oklahoma City University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy. While studying dance at OCU, Darci performed with the American Spirit Dance Company and in many student choreography shows. Along with many dance technique classes, she took courses in ballet, tap, and jazz pedagogy, choreography for dance studios and stage, dance studio management and technology, and dance history, to name a few. Darci graduated Summa Cum Laude from OCU in 2017 and earned many awards, including the Most Promising American Dance Teacher Major award for two years and the Outstanding Graduating American Dance Teacher Award. While in central Oklahoma, she had the pleasure of teaching at local dance studios, including the Community Dance Academy, Dance Unlimited, and Sweet Yield Studio. During her time in Oklahoma City, Darci also fell in love with fitness and became a certified barre3 instructor. Darci served as the Director of Dance at Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City for three years. In February 2021, Darci purchased S&S School of Dance from Stacy Roseberry and is ecstatic to lead S&S in a fresh new direction, continuing to offer quality dance education and experiences to the Pike County community. Darci has been married to her husband Dalton since December 2020 and is a mother to Stockton, born in October 2022. She loves learning, having attended Dance Teacher Web in Las Vegas, and is a proud member of the Julie Kay Studio Owner Mastermind and Team Julie Kay, where she participates in active professional development three times per week to help grow S&S and best serve our dancers and their families. She is also an ambassador for The Streamlined Studio.
Katelin Shoemaker
Tumbling Director & Instructor
Katelin started dancing at S&S at 2 ½ and continued to do so for 15 years. In addition to taking lessons in Jazz, Tap, Ballet/Pointe, and Tumbling, she also served as a Student Assistant for 3 years. She danced with the PCS Pom squad and PHS Saukettes, where she helped lead the team to a state title in the Pom A Division. She continued to perform in college for the Culver Stockton Classy Cats. Katelin then took on a coaching position for the PCS Poms in 2010. She graduated from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO with a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science and is currently employed by Dot Foods. Katelin has recently honed her skills through Hip Hop classes at Lou Conte Dance Studio (an affiliate of Hubbard Street Dance) in Chicago, IL. In 2024, Katelin became an Acrobatic Arts Certified Instructor, bringing a new level of knowledge and safety to our tumbling program.
Marilyn Allen
Instructor & Administrative Assistant
Marilyn started taking dance lessons at age 2 in her hometown of Clarksville, MO. She began her competitive dance career there while in the first grade. Later, she continued dancing competitively for Aim High Elite in Troy, MO until graduating from high school in 2014. Throughout the years, Marilyn has competed and taken classes in jazz, lyrical, hip hop, tap, and ballet. She was also involved in club dance at the University of Missouri. Marilyn graduated from Lindenwood University in 2017 with her
Bachelor of Arts in Education, focusing on early childhood education. Additionally, Marilyn’s experience includes participating in cheerleading throughout middle/high school at Clopton and college at Lindenwood, and she previously served as a high school cheerleading coach at Louisiana while also teaching first grade. Now she has moved to Pittsfield with her husband, Colton, and is excited to begin her 3rd year with S&S.
She most recently attended GLOW Chicago, a conference for pre-school and recreational dance teachers, where she learned from Julie Kay Stallcup, Becca Retter, and Andrea Trench.
Ali Curless
Instructor
Ali began dancing at S&S School of Dance when she was 3 years old and continued for 15 years under the direction of Stacy Roseberry. She took lessons in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop and tumbling. Additionally, she was a student assistant dance teacher for seven years, assisting with a variety of classes ranging from pre-dance to intermediate tap, jazz and tumbling. In 2018, Ali graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance in Agribusiness from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and spent nearly five years working in corporate internal audit/finance. She is currently staying at home with her daughter who shares her passion for dance. Ali loves teaching a variety of age groups at the studio and watching dancers develop their skill sets. She most recently attended GLOW Chicago, a conference for pre-school and recreational dance teachers, where she learned from Julie Kay Stallcup, Becca Retter, and Andrea Trench.
Libby Boren
Instructor
Libby started dancing at age 6 through a YWCA ballet program in St. Joseph, MI. She continued in ballet, tap, pointe, and tumbling at Fremont Ballet School in Fremont, OH and Dance Arts in Stevensville, MI. As a student at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, she volunteered with an after-school music & motion program and performed with the college’s Dance Guild. Libby is married to Zack and they have 3 boys. She is a school counselor at Pittsfield High School, and she also teaches adult education at John Wood Community College. She most recently attended GLOW Chicago, a conference for pre-school and recreational dance teachers, where she learned from Julie Kay Stallcup, Becca Retter, and Andrea Trench.
Libby loves teaching beginner-level classes at S&S School of Dance and she is excited to be back for her 11th year!
Gracie McCartney
Instructor
Gracie is a Pittsfield native who grew up dancing at S&S School of Dance while also honing her competitive tumbling skills at Stevens. In high school, she was active in sports and cheerleading, where she continued to improve her tumbling. During her senior year, she moved to Florida and graduated from Saint John Neumann Catholic High School.
After moving home, Gracie began working at Dot Foods in early 2024, and spends her evenings with us at S&S teaching tumbling!
Lisa Warner
Instructor
Lisa’s journey in dance started a little later than most with joining the Jersey Community High School Dance team. Here she discovered her love of dance and contributed to leading her team to a State Championship all four years. In 2006, she joined the Calhoun Entertainment Company. During this time she has been the Director of Choreography for the majority of their spring musicals. Lisa moved to Pittsfield in 2007 where she was introduced to Stacy Roseberry’s Adult Tap class. That introduction led to her love of tap as well as joining as an Assistant Instructor in various classes including Tap/Ballet/Jazz/Tumbling and Dance Explo in all levels over the years. She has advanced her dance skills by attending Dupree Dance conventions as well as the Chicago Human Rhythm Project tap intensive. Lisa is employed by West Virginia University Medicine as a Senior Accountant. Working remotely has allowed her to spend more time with her husband Rob and their 3 canine kids. This has also allowed her to enthusiastically come back as a teacher at S&S School of Dance! She most recently attended GLOW Chicago, a conference for pre-school and recreational dance teachers, where she learned from Julie Kay Stallcup, Becca Retter, and Andrea Trench.
Emma Moss
Instructor
Emma started dancing at S&S at five and continued to do so for 13 years. In addition to taking lessons in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, and Tumbling, she also served as a Student Assistant for 5 years. She danced with the PHS Saukettes in 2023 and cheered in 2024 for the football seasons. Emma graduated from Pittsfield High School in 2025! She is attending The Ag Center at John Wood Community College to get her associate's degree and transfer to a larger college to earn her bachelor’s in Natural Resource Management and Conservation! Emma has recently become YPAD Safety & Wellness Certified and a certified AcroDance Pre School teacher, bringing new classes and safety to our program!
Jordyn Apps
Instructor
Bio coming soon!
Mariah Dunham
Assistant Instructor
Mariah began dancing at S&S in 2010 at age three. Over the course of fifteen years, she has trained in a variety of styles including tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, theatre jazz, contemporary, and tumbling. She has also attended other dancing opportunities outside of class during the season like dance conventions and summer intensives at S&S. Mariah has formed a passion for each style and has learned the importance of technique. Mariah started in the D.I.V.A. Program when she was 11 years old then, transitioned into the S.T.A.R. Program and is now an Assistant Instructor. Mariah is a 2025 Pittsfield High School graduate where she was involved in FFA, NHS, and Chorus, and was a class officer her freshman year. Currently, Mariah is attending John Wood Community College to study animal science at the Ag Center and is a member of the Student Government Association. Since day one of assisting, she has gained love for helping young dancers achieve their goals and learn new skills in class. Mariah is always excited to enter the building of S&S School of Dance to continue what she loves doing most.
Dalton Heavner
Studio Husband & Maintenance
Dalton Heavner grew up on his family farm, which sparked his involvement in a variety of youth agriculture groups. He was highly active in 4-H, FFA, and the Illinois and American Junior Simmental Associations. Through these organizations, Dalton had the opportunity to travel across the 48 states and even to Argentina, gaining a broader perspective on the diversity of the world. In college, Dalton was a member of a competitive Livestock Judging team, which eventually brought him to Oklahoma—just down the road from his future wife, Darci. This time allowed him to learn more about her passion for dance and the studio world. Today, as the husband of the studio owner, Dalton’s role is ever-changing. Currently, he serves as the studio’s go-to IT and maintenance man, while also moonlighting as a delivery driver and the “muscle” for moving boxes from their home to the studio. Looking ahead, Dalton plans to take on more administrative and business responsibilities to further support the studio’s growth.
OUR POLICIES
Studio Policies
Attendance Policy
Regular attendance is important in order for students to learn and improve as performers. We do realize that children get sick or emergencies come up beyond our control. If your child will be absent from class, please contact us at 285-4914 so that we can notify your child’s instructor.
Punctuality Policy
Being on time for class is crucial for classroom learning and management. Students that do not arrive on time for class may not be allowed to participate in all class activities.
Class Conduct Policy
S&S has a zero tolerance policy for disrespect in the classroom. Students choosing to be disrespectful to other dancers or faculty members will be forced to sit in time-out (Pre-Dance and Beginner students) or will be ask to leave the class (Intermediate and Advanced students). Lesson money will not be refunded in the event that a student is dismissed from class.
Drugs & Alcohol Policy
S&S reserves the right to refuse admission to class if a student is suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or mind altering substances and lesson money will not be refunded.
Safety Policy
S&S School of Dance prides itself in providing a safe environment for dance education. Classes may include, without limitation, dancing with props, stretching, barre work, across the floor combinations, dance routines in the center, tumbling, and other related activities. All of the activities of the dance class involve some degree of risk and strain of the body.
S&S School of Dance is not responsible for accidents or personal injury.
Personal Property Policy
S&S is not responsible for the loss or damage of personal property.
Waiting Room Conduct Policy
To ensure that students receive a quality dance education without distraction, parents and children in the waiting room should sit quietly.
No dancing, tumbling, climbing on benches or chairs is allowed in the waiting room.
Please clean up after yourself and your families by disposing of any and all trash.
Social Media Policy Policy
All pictures or videos taken at the studio or at S&S School of Dance events are not allowed to be uploaded onto the Internet without studio permission. This includes social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Specifically, please refrain from sharing images or videos that include other students unless you have explicit permission from those students or their parents/guardians.
Public Relations Policy
S&S School of Dance respects all other dance schools, teachers, and students in our community. We ask that all our students and parents do the same.
Vacation Policy
S&S is closed for three weeks of vacation during the dance year. Those dates are handed out at registration and can be found on the website.
Please note that we still hold class on all other days, even when school is not in session.
Severe Weather Policy
If Unit 10 cancels school or releases early for severe weather, the studio will be closed. Weather closings will be announced on the S&S website, Facebook page, email, and text message broadcast. Out of the safety of our students, S&S may cancel classes due to extreme weather conditions which cause our studios to be too cold.
Performance Policies
Dress Rehearsal
All students planning to participate in the spring show must be at the dress rehearsal. Students not attending dress rehearsal will not be allowed to participate in the show except in extreme circumstances and with prior permission of the instructor.
Performance Fees
All students participating in the spring recital will be charged a non-refundable performance fee in September that is due with the first month's tuition. The performance fee includes two parent passes for the recital, a professional recording of the recital, a pair of performance tights, and helps cover venue and staffing costs.
Performance fee for 2024-2025: $40 for first dancer
(additional $5/dancer in family up to $60)
Cost & what is included in the performance fee is subject to change from year to year.
Costumes
Each child participating in the spring show is guaranteed a custom- fitted garment and reusable costume bag. Students who have a bag from previous years are asked to return that bag to S&S so their new costume can be put in it. Costumes are passed out in costumes bags at the last dance lesson before the show. Costumes are only distributed to customers if all tuition, late fees, and retail charges have been paid in full.
Costume Fees
Costume prices will vary based on the class/level.
These fees include the costume, props, and costume alterations.
Tuition Policies
Tuition Policy
Class tuition can be made annually at the beginning of September or in nine monthly installments. Annual tuition payments are due at the first lesson of September and are non-refundable. Payments are due by the 7th of each month beginning in September and ending in May. Tuition is calculated by student, not by family.
Late Fee Policy
Tuition payments not received by their due date each month are subject to a $10 late fee. Lesson payments are due even if classes are not attended regularly.
Termination Policy
If a student chooses to discontinue lessons, a notice of termination must be submitted to S&S in written form by the 20th of the month. If written notice of termination is received by the 20th of the month, that payment for the next month will not be charged.
Session Policy
Sessions are offered for a set number of weeks during the dance year. In the case of inclement weather, a make-up lesson will be scheduled.
Session tuition is due in full the first lesson of the session and is non-refundable. Session prices vary according to session length.
Choreography Fee Policy
Choreography fees are charged on a case-by-case basis for students requesting original choreography to perform outside of the studio. All students requesting choreography must be registered for a 60-minute private session. Choreography fees must be paid prior to the first lesson.
Private Lesson Policy
S&S School of Dance offers private lessons for all students during available studio time. Students and parents wishing to schedule private lessons must contact Ms. Darci. Private lessons must be scheduled out in advance and tuition must be paid in full at the first lesson.
Private lessons are not rescheduled due to student cancellation within 24 hours of the lesson. Lessons can be rescheduled if notification is made 24 hours or more before the lesson. If a private lesson is cancelled by the instructor, then a make-up lesson will be scheduled.
OUR MISSION
At S&S School of Dance, we aim to "Unleash the Passion" by providing opportunities for life enrichment through the art of dance to everyone, from absolute beginners to advanced dancers. We are committed to fostering a positive, supportive, and professional environment, grounded in our core values of
inclusivity, integrity, community, positivity, professionalism, and respect
OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Thursday:
9:00am-11:00am
4:00pm-7:30pm
Friday-Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: Closed
CONTACT INFO
Studio Address:
1241 W Washington St
Pittsfield, Illinois 62363
Phone:
Email: