MEET OUR STAFF
Kari Larsen  Avnun Yakubov Jory Bowling Sarah Hueneke
Patricia Kassanits Michelle Persenico
Kari Larsen
 Kari Larsen is the co-owner of Goldens School of Dance and director of Golden’s Work of ART Dance Company. She began dancing with Goldens at the age of 3, studying with the finest dance instructors in the Chicagoland area. Kari competed in dance for 10 years, attended yearly workshops, was a member of her high school’s Pom Squad (captain her senior year), performed in and choreographed for her high school variety shows and musicals for 4 years. She furthered her education at Jacksonville University in Florida, receiving her BFA in dance. She had an extensive program of ballet, modern, jazz, and tap technique, instruction, choreography and performance. Larsen was a member of the Dean’s list and awarded for excellence in Jazz Dance Technique. Her professional career began as a member of the Chicago Honeybear Dancers. She traveled locally and nationally, performing for festivals, live industrial, and corporate events, modeling for promotional brochures and videos, and teaching company technique classes. She performed for several years at Comiskey Park with a variety of vocalists. She choreographed and danced with Elvis stylist, Trent Carlini, traveling throughout the US and Canada. Kari has been teaching dance to all ages for 15 years. She continues her education by attending dance workshops. For the past 11 years, she has led her competition team to overall and title awards. She has won choreography, entertainment, top teacher and top studio achievements. Larsen loves working with children of all ages and believes that every student deserves to have a chance to be their best!
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Avnun Yakubov
 Avnun Yakubov was born in Russia and received a Masters Degree in Choreography and Arts Management from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in Leningrad.
Mr. Yakubov was the Artistic Director and Head Choreographer Alumnus of the Moscow Ballet Theater in Russia from 1973-1993. From 1974-1988, he staged numerous works in Italy, Austria, Turkey, and Greece. By invitation of the Italian government in 1992, he choreographed and produced "An Evening with Strauss." He also choreographed different ballets for the Kirov Theater in Leningrad and the Vaganova Choreography College.
From 1993-1997, Mr. Yakubov appeared in the Chicago Festival Ballet’s "Nutcracker" as Herr Drosselmeyer and served as Ballet Master and Choreographer for the Chicago Festival Ballet School. He served as a choreography instructor for the Looking Glass Theater Company’s production of Bulgakov’s "Master and "Margarita" and taught at the Lou Conte Studio.
Mr. Yakubov was the Ballet Master and Head Choreographer for the Faubourg Ballet Theater from 1995-2001. In 1997-1998 he staged and choreographed Ravel’s "Bolero" and "Paquita" with Alexander Lunev (principal dancer with the Kirov Ballet). In 1999-2000, he served as Ballet Master and choreographer at the Academy of Dance Arts. There he staged and choreographed "New Ballet Divertissement" and "Paquita" with Roger Van Fleteren (principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre) and Yumelia Garcia (principal dancer with Milwaukee Ballet).
From June 2001 till August 2007 Mr. Yakubov was a Founder and Artistic Director of " Ballet Cultural Arts Center" and "Youth Ballet Theatre of Chicago - NFP"
In 2002 – Evening of Ballet was preformed at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts. Featured guest artists included Elena Martinson & Andrei Ustinov formerly principal dancers from the Kirov Ballet Theater and Mr. Yakubov’s Youth Ballet Theatre pre-professional division students.
In the summer of 2004 Mr. Yakubov proudly presented his US Ballet Premier of “BAMBI”. This full length ballet in 2 acts featuring original libretto stage version with staging and choreography by Mr. Yakubov. Performances by Milwaukee Ballet Theater members Jennifer Provins and Christopher Fellows - 1 st Principal Soloists and Kirk Henning of Daytona Ballet Company – Principal Soloist. Performing from the Youth Ballet Theater (YBT) NFP were Principal Soloists Renee Briglio, Lindsay Cregier and Kira Stiers and the pre-professional division students of the YBT. This wonderful event was held at Hemmens Cultural Arts Center.
Starting in September 2009 Mr. Yakubov will continue his carrier with Golden’s School of Dance as Ballet Master Teacher. His classes will be featured every Wednesday evening.
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Jory Bowling
 Jory Bowling grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Having over 25 years of dance experience behind her, she received her training from various studios in the area, including the famous Giordano Dance Center. She trained with such notables as Cindy Engel, Ellen Werksmen, Natalie Rast, Nan & Gus Giordano. Also as a competitor, she was part of the highly recognized Midwest Movement. Jory went on to train in the theater department of Northern Illinois University, where she studied Ballet and Modern extensively. Her professional credits include Asst. Choreographer and Dancer in the Las Vegas Revue, “The Dream King” starring Trent Carlini. For many years, she was lead choreographer and a dancer for Chicago White Sox special events. Jory has taught multiple forms of dance to all ages since High School. For 6 years, she directed her own competitive dance team, Powerhouse Dance Company. In 2007, Dance Teacher Magazine named them as one of the “50 Studios on the Move”. Her students hold the 2008 & 2009 National Teen Mr. Starpower Title, 2010 National Teen Mr. Starquest and the 2008 Starpower Online Viewer's Choice Award. In addition she has consistently led her competition teams to many overall high scores, entertainment, excellence and choreography awards both regionally and nationally. Today Jory continues her dance education with annual trips to Broadway Dance Center in N.Y. She is proud to be a teacher & choreographer of multiple forms of dance as well as judging for Starpower, Revolution, Starquest & Talent On Parade Talent competitions.
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| Sarah Hueneke
 Sarah Hueneke began dancing at the age of three in Kentucky. When she moved to St Charles, Sarah began dancing at Copeland Dance Academy where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, pointe, and hip hop under instructors such as Marie Bolson, Summer Rich, Ashley James, Kelly Ann Vitacca, and Christie Beebe. While at Copeland, she completed five grades of the classical ballet method of cecchetti under the instruction of Marie Bolson. Sarah began competing when she was thirteen winning many high-ranking awards at competitions such as NYCDA, Dance U.S.A., CNADM, and Showstoppers. She attended master classes with Mia Michaels, Eddie Garcia, and Savion Glover. While in high school, Sarah tap danced in MESH: A Las Vegas Revue and Disney’s Magic Light Parade in Chicago with professionals Lane Alexander and Jay Fagan. Sarah was also a member of Hip Hop ConnXion performing in several shows around the Chicagoland area. She began teaching dance five years ago and currently attends Northern Illinois University where she studies public health.
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Patricia Kassanits
 Patricia Kassanits has over twenty-five years of dance training, and has been teaching dance professionally for over fifteen years. Patricia’s focus has been in ballroom dance, including American Style smooth dances, such as Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango, as well as Latin Dances such as Salsa, Meringue, Mambo, Cha-Cha, and Rumba. One of her favorite styles of dance to teach and perform is the East Coast Swing. Patricia specializes in working with wedding couples -- choreographing their first dance and preparing them for their big day. She has organized many dance functions for corporations and organizations, including group instruction and dance performance. Her work with children has included ballet, tap and jazz, as well as group classes in gymnastics and acrobatics.
Patricia and Frank have been married for 11 years. They have two children, 9-year-old Jamie and 7-year-old Gracie. Patricia proudly states that they share her enthusiasm for dancing.
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Michelle Persenico
 Michelle began her dance career at Golden's School of Dance at the age of three. She has been teaching at Golden’s since 1988. Michelle was a National Tap Champion at many dance competitions over her competitive dance career. She has studied both ballet and jazz under the training of Lisa Boehm. She has performed in the Nutcracker Ballet and modeled for Leo’s Dancewear. Michelle loves teaching and has a special gift with our young students.
In 2008, Michelle became a certified Zumba Instructor with Beto Perez (founder and creator of Zumba). Her Latin inspired Zumba Fitness class really keeps you moving! Ditch the workout and join the Zumba Party!
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