Steps on Main, Inc. was founded by Denise Saponara in 2004. Denise has studied dance for most of her life, beginning at the Illinois Academy of Ballet.  She has since gone on to study at Moves, Dance Space, Jo’s Footwork Studio, and Lou Conte Dance Studio (home of Hubbard Street Dance Company.)  She has been teaching for over 21 years and has performed and/or choreographed several Chicago productions, including Annie Get Your Gun, Fame, South Pacific, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, 1940’s Radio Hour, Cabaret, Oklahoma, The Secret Garden and The Nutcracker.  Her work as choreographer on Fiddler on the Roof received critical acclaim in On Cue magazine and she has held several small roles in television and film productions in Chicago.  This professional experience as teacher, director, choreographer, and actress has been inspirational to the students in her courses.  Denise also coached an award winning pom-pon squad, which performed in the 1998 Citrus Bowl in Orlando Florida.

Her teaching is energetic and the energy and enthusiasm she brings to the art of dance is contagious.  Denise continues her pursuit of dance education currently with dance masters Kirby Reed, Jay Fagan, and Lane Alexander.  As well as actively participating in the Annual Chicago Human Rhythm Project.