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Winner of the 2021 Wauconda Mayor's Community Service Award!
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The ONE, the ONLY, the ORIGINAL!
Fall Registration is OPEN!
Come join our 17th Season of fun!
We are proud to be the Premier Poms Program of Lake and McHenry County!
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What is Bulldogs Spirit Poms and Dance?
Bulldogs Spirit Poms and Dance offers a unique opportunity to the community. We are a boutique dance program, in that we combine dance instruction with a competition team, as well as special events and opportunities to give back to the community. We are a mobile dance program! We blend ALL of that together, plus many more fun events throughout the Seasons to make each year unique. We rely on the community to help keep our costs low with fundraisers, special camps, and just spreading the word so we can keep giving back and keep costs affordable!
Since 2018, Bulldogs Spirit Poms and Dance have won nearly 200 Regional, National Championship Wins, Bids and Awards! We will work hard for the Community for more of those wins this Fall and Spring for YOUR dancers!
The one, the only, the original!
ALWAYS imitated, but NEVER duplicated!
If you have Spirit then we would love to have your dancer join!
Mission Statement
Open to all girls and boys in public, private and homeschools in all communities, Bulldogs Spirit Poms and Dance is a non-profit organization promoting the importance of sportsmanship, commitment, determination, teamwork, self-confidence, enthusiasm and team spirit, a passion for the art of dance, and the value of community service in our area youth.
"Dance Big, Dream Big, Care Big!"
Bulldogs In Action!
Welcome to Bulldogs In Action!
According to Wikipedia, what our Organization is classified as, is a "Community-serving nonprofit organization(s) focus(ed) on providing services to the community either globally or locally. Community-serving nonprofits include organizations that deliver aid and development programs, medical research, education, and health services."
Your staff has been blessed to be able to teach the gift of dance to your community since 2005. Your staff has also worked with and for youth since 1984. Your volunteer staff consists of medical professionals, first responders, business professionals, school employees, educators and more. We have been able to serve the communities around us with Bulldogs Spirit since 2018 and we've felt for quite some time now (see our post 7/25/23'), it’s time to take it up a notch and we’re finally able to announce it! We love reaching youth with dance camps and our dance program, but this is such a fun way to reach out in a totally different and unique way!
There are wonderful charities and organizations in the area, and what we do is just one of the MANY ways people give back to those around them, near and far. You will find out what's near and dear to OUR hearts. B.I.A. activities and events will help the community and beyond, and is separate from poms fundraising. We make nothing off this, except doing charitable deeds throughout the community and beyond, showing our Bulldogs Spirit. Other organizations see what Bulldogs Spirit does and try to imitate it; they see the Spirit we are spreading and try to do it in their own ways too!
It was a privilege to receive the wonderful Wauconda Mayor’s Award in 2021 for recognition in our “steadfast service and dedication to the community and for mentoring the youth of Wauconda and surrounding communities” (as well as receiving the Presidential Award for several years now!), and we will have, and will always live up to that standard! We've enjoyed doing fun things like giving back at the Turkey Trot in Wauconda, helping at the Port Barrington Garden Party, bringing gifts to Wauconda Care, and goodies to local Fire Stations on 9/11, but now it's great to have it under an official "name" of its own!
We are, and have ALWAYS been, Bulldogs In Action. Bulldogs In Action is our newest initiative under the banner of Bulldogs Spirit Poms and Dance, but we have always been SO much more than just poms. Not only will you see us serve you in even MORE ways, but there will be opportunities open to the community to come JOIN us as we look for special ways to give back. There have been many causes near and dear to our hearts for 40+ years (both near, in the city of Chicago, and much farther to other Countries), and it's a privilege to serve side by side with our Bulldogs Spirit families and now, the community as well. And not just reaching out to our community, but much farther and beyond that. Our time, our talents and our service. This is going to be so much more and such a larger scope of who we’ve ALWAYS been. There will be many ways YOU will be able to help and reach out alongside us and be a part of B.I.A. in some unique, beautiful and fantastic ways very soon! What a true way to "Dance with HEART"!
Programs we offer!
"Bulldogs Poms", our NEW, NON-competitive class for Fall 2026! Part of our "Bulldogs Poms" program!
Would your dancer like to dance with poms, have no competition commitment, and perform at our annual Showcase? Then we have the BEST class for you!
Learn Pom/Jazz and Hip Hop technique, make friends and enjoy a low-commitment class that is the BEST deal in Lake and McHenry County!
What is included -
1-hour Beginners Dance/Poms class
Costume
Would your dancer like to dance with poms, have no competition commitment, and perform at our annual Showcase? Then we have the BEST class for you!
Learn Pom/Jazz and Hip Hop technique, make friends and enjoy a low-commitment class that is the BEST deal in Lake and McHenry County!
What is included -
1-hour Beginners Dance/Poms class
Costume for your dancer and poms
1 local performance opportunity per Season
A choreographed routine performed at our Annual Showcase
Year-end, professional class photos!
No tryouts required!
Grades K-5th, and 6th-12th, $200 for the Season!
Practice at local facilities in the community!
Baby Bulldogs Ballet - est. 2022! Part of our "Bulldogs Poms" program!
Baby Bulldogs!
Many know that our Princess Poms Team is like a Super-Combo Class for Kindergarteners, where our dancers learn 4 styles throughout an entire year and compete, but for those with 2, 3 and 4-year olds who are just starting out and enjoy the excitement of an end-of-the-year Showcase while learning the fundamentals of dance, now
Baby Bulldogs!
Many know that our Princess Poms Team is like a Super-Combo Class for Kindergarteners, where our dancers learn 4 styles throughout an entire year and compete, but for those with 2, 3 and 4-year olds who are just starting out and enjoy the excitement of an end-of-the-year Showcase while learning the fundamentals of dance, now’s the time to sign up!
Your little ones will get to enjoy a fun, encouraging environment while learning the fundamentals of dance (Royal Academy of Dance syllabus is implemented), exploring space and rhythm, and performing for their families at the end of the Season (plus additional performance opportunities if parents would like!)! An entire Season of fun that you don’t want to miss out on! A new routine to perform each Season! All your dancer needs are ballet slippers, tights for their costume and we provide the rest! Spaces are very limited and we have a minimum/maximum for class so sign up ASAP!
Princess Poms - Fall Registration/Tryout Only - Bulldogs Dance Company
Princess Poms is like a "Super" combo class all in 1! This Team is for the Kindergarten age group in our community. In the Fall we learn Jazz, Poms and Ballet, and learn a Poms competition dance on top of a Ballet dance for our Showcase. In the Spring we learn Jazz, Poms and Tap, and work on our Poms dance along with a Tap dance for ou
Princess Poms is like a "Super" combo class all in 1! This Team is for the Kindergarten age group in our community. In the Fall we learn Jazz, Poms and Ballet, and learn a Poms competition dance on top of a Ballet dance for our Showcase. In the Spring we learn Jazz, Poms and Tap, and work on our Poms dance along with a Tap dance for our Showcase! The best deal in the area for those who want to try it ALL!
Purple Team - Fall Registration/Tryout Only - Bulldogs Dance Company
Purple Team is for grades 1st-3rd! They work on Jazz and Poms through the Season. Lots of our girls have started on our Princess Poms Team, moved up and learned even harder skills much quicker to show off in their routines!
We also offer opportunities throughout the Season for fun performances!
Silver Team - Fall Registration/Tryout Only - Bulldogs Dance Company
Platinum Team - Fall Registration/Tryout Only- Bulldogs Dance Company
Silver Team is for grades 4th-5th! They work on Jazz and Poms through the Season. Lots of our older girls have gymnastic and acro training that they like to show off, and we give them the dance skills they need to nail their competition dances! Experience is NOT required for our teams!
We also offer opportunities throughout the Season for fun performances!
Platinum Team - Fall Registration/Tryout Only- Bulldogs Dance Company
Platinum Team - Fall Registration/Tryout Only- Bulldogs Dance Company
Platinum Team is our Jr. High Team, grades 6th-8th. They work on Jazz, Poms, Strengthening/ Conditioning and when time permits, Ballet/Lyrical. Our Coaches have taught all-level classes so your dancer can get the personalized teaching they deserve!
We also offer opportunities throughout the Season for fun performances!
Premier Team - Fall Registration/Tryout Only - Bulldogs Dance Company
Premier Team is our High School Team, grades 9th-20yrs. They work on Jazz, Poms, Strengthening/Conditioning, and Ballet/Lyrical if time permits during the busy competition Seasons! Our Jr. High and High School Teams have more opportunities for extra competitions!
Solos, Duets and Trios! - Bulldogs Dance Company
Solos, Duets and Trios are available to our current Team Members at an additional cost, by Coach approval, and schedule availability!
Adult Basic/Beginner Tap
Adult Basic/Beginner Tap
Working on your counts in your dances? Need to get in some cardio? Curious about tap dance in general? Maybe you took lessons as a child and would like to get back into the groove?
We are excited to offer tap lessons this Season, and spaces are very limited, everyone is welcome to join while they can! We have a minimum/maximum for our gr
Working on your counts in your dances? Need to get in some cardio? Curious about tap dance in general? Maybe you took lessons as a child and would like to get back into the groove?
We are excited to offer tap lessons this Season, and spaces are very limited, everyone is welcome to join while they can! We have a minimum/maximum for our group numbers so sign up for this 12-week session ASAP!
Miss Catherine has been teaching tap with various programs in the area for nearly 20 years. Her bio is available on our website! We have always incorporated tap and ballet into our Princess Poms program, but now in response to repeated requests from our Poms families, we will offer tap as a stand-alone lesson!
In using metal taps on the heels and toes of a dancer’s shoes, this is one of the ways this can transform the dancer into a percussive musician. Of course, there’s more to tap than just fancy tricks like wings and toe stands, there are rubrics created over 70 years ago that help tap dancers with the basics and give them a good, solid foundation to build on.
All lessons will be basic/beginner level with a relaxed atmosphere, if you’d like to sign up, let us know and we’ll get tapping! Our goal is to have our tap group be a Showcase Group that performs in our Spring Showcase!
Anyone Jr. High through adult, come sign up and join in on the fun! Everyone is considered a dancer in our Bulldogs Spirit family!
Special nights we have coming up for our Rec class and Company Teams!
Our Partners/Sponsors/Support Current and Past
Ways to support us!
Support us through our Amazon Wishlist!
Help keep our costs low by helping us with supplies, "Treasure Chest" goodies, and more!
T-shirts, Swag and Spiritwear!
These designs will be offered year-round and created as ordered, $20/each, with our Organization's name on the back! We also make special t-shirts year-round that are offered for a short amount of time!
We have special Bulldogs bags, shirts and sweatshirts available too!
Sponsorships and Donations
Contact us for paperwork if you would like to help our programs run by becoming a sponsor or donating! You are advertised on our Facebook page, website, a banner displayed at parades, and more! Ask us how your dancer can dance for free if you are a sponsor!
National Champs Sweatshirts!
$50/each - dancers, show off those WINS!
Come to our Dance Camps!
Come to our Dance Camps!
We love our food/goodies fundraisers but we also love to give back with our time and talents to create dance camps year-round, since 2022! This helps us with rising costs that effect our program!
What makes your teaching unique?
On top of our decades and decades of experience working with children, teaching dance, and working/volunteering/giving back to the community, we love to personally support many other additional teaching programs and resources to complement our teaching and keep ideas fresh and new. Many studios and programs use additional curriculums, but using a variety of 20+ programs to sprinkle in new fun with our teaching is STANDARD for us, NOT an option. Just some of the programs we support are above, and some that we pay for we do not advertise and keep that strictly for our dancers. You will find our Teachers spend year-round, as volunteers, to make your child's experience the best possible!
Your 2025 Staff and Volunteers!
Miss Catherine, Founder, Coach, Private Lessons, Outreach/Marketing/ Communications
Miss Catherine, Founder, Coach, Private Lessons, Outreach/Marketing/ Communications
Miss Catherine, Founder, Coach, Private Lessons, Outreach/Marketing/ Communications
Miss Catherine was born and raised in Chicago and has over 3 decades of dance training from the heart of the City and the surrounding suburbs, and starting teaching in Island Lake in 2005. The eldest of 6 siblings and a mother herself, since the age of 3 she has been studying dance, performing all over the Chicagoland suburbs, competing
Miss Catherine was born and raised in Chicago and has over 3 decades of dance training from the heart of the City and the surrounding suburbs, and starting teaching in Island Lake in 2005. The eldest of 6 siblings and a mother herself, since the age of 3 she has been studying dance, performing all over the Chicagoland suburbs, competing for several years and sharing her love of dance with her community for nearly 2 decades. She has taught at park districts, dance studios in the Chicagoland suburbs, taught dance numbers for her church's musical theater programs and created a worship dance program in Lake Zurich. She has spent 20 years working with inner city youth in the Kilbourn Park/Humboldt Park area, while also working with children in the suburbs (Preschool-Middle School), and for several years as a Director for an after-school youth program for children 3rd-6th grade in the Inner City serving children in the Kilbourn Park/Humboldt Park area. Just some of the responsibilities as Director includes lesson planning, games/activities, outings, and sports events/training. She has been working in the field of Accounting for 19 years and works at a school where she assists the CFO as they give 2 million in tuition assistance to those in need. She has a passion for dedication and commitment. “Ingenuity” is her motto!
She was accepted at the age of 3 to study under Mary Lou Troumanhouser (a student of Tommy Sutton), the former owner of (the former) The Dance Academy in Chicago. Since then she has performed all over Chicagoland, some of those places including The Copernicus Center, Navy Pier, The Daley Center, The Children’s Museum, the opening of the Norwood Park Historical Society, and The Portage Theater. She won top in dance routines for Waucondafest has Talent in 2011, and was given the opportunity to perform at the Pritzker Theater in 2011 and Carnegie Hall. She has performed at festivals and shows all over the Chicagoland suburbs and competed with high honors in dance competitions with companies such as Starlight, Rainbow Connection, Footlites, Starpower and StarQuest. She has studied Tap extensively as well as Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Lyrical and Hip Hop. After studying for over a decade at The Dance Academy in Chicago she moved to the Barrington/Wauconda area, and immediately got involved in the communities around her. She taught all forms of dance for several years at the Island Lake Park District starting in 2005 and studied as well as taught at the former Dancer’s Pointe in Island Lake. She started offering Tap, Jazz/Hip Hop, Ballet, Tumbling and Poms starting at the Village of Island Lake in 2005 and on and off until 2013. At the same time, she traveled extensively to Chicago to study under teachers at The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Lou Conte Dance Studio, and several others. She has enjoyed performing fun ballet pieces such as "Dance of the Little Swans" from Swan Lake and "Theme Slave Varie'" from Coppelia. She took time off teaching until 2017 to focus on private lessons and classes, got married, and has 2 little dancers of her own. She has taken innumerable classes and workshops with the best for Tap. Her favorite teachers to study tap from have been Tre Dumas III, Lane Alexander, Phil Brooks and JaBowen Dixon. She has studied all forms of dance under teachers such as Mary Lou Troumanhouser, Jeanne Sok, Kathy DeMaira, Inaside Chicago Dance’s Nell Heflin, Dionna PridGeon, Chicago Dance Crash’s Chris Courtney, Step Africa!’s Jakari Sherman, Chicago Movement Collective’s Melinda Wilson, private lessons with JaBowen Dixon and many more. She enjoys contributing to the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Lydia Home and Dance Accepts Everyone, studies Music Theory in her free time, and loves to add to her extensive dance curriculum. She has carefully crafted the syllabus she and all of the coaches use from her 35 years of dance experience and knowledge, and has taught ALL of our staff in the last two decades, starting at the Village of Island Lake.
Continued study is the mark of a true artist. Performing is fun but the hard work behind the scenes is what she truly enjoys. Miss Catherine loves to bring the latest styles to her students, so she brings in amazing teachers to give the newest and best ideas, continues to study from her favorite teachers, taking workshops, networking with successful teachers and directors, and continuing her growth as a teacher and director, but also as a dancer. She works with over 20 successful programs and is a member of Progressive Ballet Technique, Just for Kix and many more! She truly enjoys volunteering and serving the community and has been blessed to move into the 17th successful Season of our program. Ingenuity is her most important motto. Whether it's tap dancing on planks at local fests, dancing on the grass, carpet with tap masters or sand, "We can always make it work!" Not only is she excited to pass her love of dance to the 3rd generation of dancers in her family, she is excited to continue giving back to the community she's been involved with for decades and has a passion to work with children and adults alike, training them in dance and expression and having them carry that with them through whatever adventures they have in life! She loves seeing her dancers hit milestones like making their school dance teams, growing up and having little dancers of their own, being a part of the community and giving that love of dance back!
Miss Christine, Head Coach, Graphics and Design/Marketing
Miss Catherine, Founder, Coach, Private Lessons, Outreach/Marketing/ Communications
Miss Catherine, Founder, Coach, Private Lessons, Outreach/Marketing/ Communications
We are proud to have Miss Christine as our Head Coach since our founding in 2018. She has been dancing since she was 5 years old, starting her training in the heart of Chicago at (the former) The Dance Academy by learning from teachers such as Sharon Girten, Jeanne Sok and Kathy DeMaira. After moving to the Barrington/Wauconda area she st
We are proud to have Miss Christine as our Head Coach since our founding in 2018. She has been dancing since she was 5 years old, starting her training in the heart of Chicago at (the former) The Dance Academy by learning from teachers such as Sharon Girten, Jeanne Sok and Kathy DeMaira. After moving to the Barrington/Wauconda area she studied at the Village of Island Lake’s Dance program and the former Dancer’s Pointe in Island Lake. She has studied Poms, Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop. She was a cheerleader in the Wauconda Bulldogs Cheer program and an All-Star Cheerleader at Cheer Fusion. She has danced and competed with the former Premier Poms in Barrington, and has coached Rec Cheer and Poms. She has experience performing in and out of State competing in Poms, Hip-Hop and Kickline. She has performed Poms, Hip-Hop and Kickline for halftime many times at Chicago Bulls Games as well! She helped found the Wauconda Bulldogs Men of Cheer and their choreography (2012-2017), and in addition to doing choreography for our Bulldogs Spirit Teams she jumped right in and choreographed our first Bulldogs Spirit Poms and Dance Parent/Family Routine for our Windy City Bulls Game performances in 2018 and 2019! She has brought our Teams nearly 200 (Regional and National) Championship wins, and a State Championship win in the short time we have been in the community! She was a Pre-K/K Teacher for 4 years at a local private school, and created curriculums for this program as well to help enrich their learning experience. She currently has her B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications. She lives in Wauconda, and loves the lake life and volunteering in the community! We are so excited for our 16th Season with Miss Christine, she loves meeting all our new dancers, making our girls laugh, and bringing her passion for teaching children and love of dance to everyone!
Miss Ally, Assistant Coach
Miss Catherine, Founder, Coach, Private Lessons, Outreach/Marketing/ Communications
Miss Ally, Assistant Coach
Miss Ally started dance at the age of 3 (with Miss Catherine!), cheer at the age of 5, and has training in Cheer, Poms (and competitive Poms before Bulldogs Spirit), Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical and Contemporary! She has just recently been crowned Miss Intermediate Dancer First Runner Up, won Top First Place, and was award
Miss Ally started dance at the age of 3 (with Miss Catherine!), cheer at the age of 5, and has training in Cheer, Poms (and competitive Poms before Bulldogs Spirit), Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical and Contemporary! She has just recently been crowned Miss Intermediate Dancer First Runner Up, won Top First Place, and was awarded the "NYC All Stars" invitation to an All-Star Dancers experience in New York!
Congratulations to our very own Dancer and Coach Ally on her recent graduation from the Fire Academy! Ally has chosen to follow her passion and the footsteps of her older brother as a Firefighter. Ally has been a Wauconda Fire Cadet for over 3 years, she had perfect attendance in Academy, was voted Class Leader of her Fire Academy class at the beginning of the Academy, graduated with her FF certificate and additional certificates from the Academy and was named Valedictorian of her class. She has also been a member of CERT in Wauconda for 2 years now, and was awarded the 2023 Wauconda Mayor's Community Service Award! We are proud of her and her dedication, hard work and accomplishments. We wish her well in her future career, her continued studies, and in this next chapter of her life. She has a servants heart and we couldn't be more proud of her!
Miss Lily, Jr. Coach
Miss Jamey - Team Mom Coordinator
Miss Ally, Assistant Coach
Miss Lily has been with Bulldogs Spirit since 2020, and has experience in Cheer, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Poms! She is in 7th grade at Matthew's Middle School, and plays the flute, is involved in art club, student council and the musical. She is an honors student and wants to be a teacher. She loves to be creative! She like things lik
Miss Lily has been with Bulldogs Spirit since 2020, and has experience in Cheer, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Poms! She is in 7th grade at Matthew's Middle School, and plays the flute, is involved in art club, student council and the musical. She is an honors student and wants to be a teacher. She loves to be creative! She like things like drawing, crocheting, and writing stories. She loves sushi, matcha and lattes! She has a cat and dog, and is very family-oriented and protective of her friends. When she puts her mind to something she wants to be the best and always works hard at all things important to her! We are so lucky to have Miss Lily with us, and our little ones just adore her!
Miss Jamey - Team Mom Coordinator
Miss Jamey - Team Mom Coordinator
Miss Jamey - Team Mom Coordinator
Miss Jamey started ballet and tap when she was 4, and cheered for the first time in Kindergarten! She cheered all the way up to high school, on her school team, local youth football sideline cheer, as well as a competitive team! She played played volleyball in middle school as well. She has lived in the area for 30 years, and actively
Miss Jamey started ballet and tap when she was 4, and cheered for the first time in Kindergarten! She cheered all the way up to high school, on her school team, local youth football sideline cheer, as well as a competitive team! She played played volleyball in middle school as well. She has lived in the area for 30 years, and actively volunteering at her daughter's schools in the area! She is a part of the PTO at her daughter's school, enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with family playing games!
Miss Kelly, Assistant Coach
Miss Jamey - Team Mom Coordinator
Miss Jamey - Team Mom Coordinator
Miss Kelly has been studying and performing dance for 16 years. She has also done cheer but soon found that dance was her passion. She started when she was in 6th grade, all the way through High School competing and beyond. She has studied Open Dance, Poms, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary. Her favorite go-to dance style is Lyrical/C
Miss Kelly has been studying and performing dance for 16 years. She has also done cheer but soon found that dance was her passion. She started when she was in 6th grade, all the way through High School competing and beyond. She has studied Open Dance, Poms, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary. Her favorite go-to dance style is Lyrical/Contemporary. When she is not dancing, she is a school nurse who celebrated getting her Masters in Nursing Education in August 2023! She has been with Bulldogs Spirit since the very beginning and each time she comes to practice and sees her dancers hit those milestones (like landing double pirouettes!) with excitement it makes her remember why she loves doing what she does!
Team Moms!
Team Moms!
Team Moms!
We have AMAZING Team Moms who have stepped up to help us make the magic happen!
We ask that Team Moms have had dancers in our program for at least a year, so they know how our program runs and can help answer questions that other parents have throughout the Season. They are the backstage hands that know how hectic things get, and lend t
We have AMAZING Team Moms who have stepped up to help us make the magic happen!
We ask that Team Moms have had dancers in our program for at least a year, so they know how our program runs and can help answer questions that other parents have throughout the Season. They are the backstage hands that know how hectic things get, and lend their talents and amazing hearts to help us get things done! We CANNOT thank them enough!
