Coach Sammie, Coach Sheila, Coach Amanda and Coach Lisa are excited to get ready for the new season! All teams will have the opportunity to work with each coach. Each season we try to have different coaches choreograph different routines so it stays fresh and fun for everyone! All Premier staff choreograph and coach all 3 styles of dance: Pom, kick routines and hip hop!
Premier coaches are not only talented, they are the kind of women any parent would want coaching their child. They strive to encourage and inspire each girl. They want to challenge the teams to be the best they can be. They add skills as they are developed and alter routines to keep the routines challenging throughout the season. They are professional, fun and love to share their passion!
Coach Lisa
Lisa Losito began dancing at the age of 4 with the Judith Svalander School of Ballet. She danced there for 14 years studying ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, character and tap. During her high school years she participated in 3 summer intensives. She danced 2 summers with American Ballet Theatre in Austin, Texas and one summer with Milwaukee Ballet.
Lisa began her pom career in middle school on her 6th grade spirit squad and then two years on the pom squad. Lisa went to Crystal Lake South High School where she was on the pom squad all four years. They participated in Memorial Day Parades, Homecoming Parades, performed at football and basketball games, pep rallys and competed in the Pom and Kick categories through IDTA and TDI.
Her senior year they placed 2nd in State in AAA Pom and AAA Kick.
After high school, Lisa spent two years as a dance major at Florida State University. She is currently studying at DePaul University to pursue a degree in Public Relations and Advertising. This is Lisa’s 3rd year as a Premier coach. She enjoys coaching and inspiring the girls at Premier Poms Experience to be the best that they can be!
Coach Amanda
Amanda graduated from Iowa State University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Psychology. Following her college graduation, Amanda gained employment as an Advisor for the Chamberlain College of Nursing. She has worked as an advisor for 3 years, and continues to enjoy her position at Chamberlain. She is also working on her Master's in Public Administration with a focus on non-profit organizations.
Amanda’s pom career started in 6th grade, as a member of the Ballet Box’s first pom squad. She was also on her middle school pom squad, and moved on to her “dream” of being a Crystal Lake South Pommy for 4 years. Amanda was on the Varsity squad starting her sophomore year of high school, where the team took home the AA Kick State Championship.
Amanda was selected to serve as one of Crystal Lake South’s captains during her senior year of high school. She served on the TDI student advisory board, and communicated ideas between the coaches and her teammates. She choreographed routines for both Varsity and JV to perform at football games, basketball games, and pep rally. She helped the girls pinpoint areas of opportunity to grow both individually and as a team. Amanda choreographed and taught the AAA Varsity Pom routine, and the team took home 2nd place in both AAA Pom and AAA Kick at the State competition.
Amanda is excited to begin her 2nd year with Premier and can’t wait to see all of the returning girls and meet new team members to make this the best year yet!
Coach Sheila
Sheila graduated from Crystal Lake South High School in 2013. She has been dancing since the age of 3. The styles of dance she takes part in are ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, lyrical and Irish step dancing.
Rebecca McCarthy School of Dance is where Sheila learned her love of dance growing up. She was an assistant dance teacher in the past and continues to teach classes on her own at the studio.
Sheila has always enjoyed poms and dance. She first fell in love with poms in 6th grade and has been a part of it ever since. Sheila made the JV team at Crystal Lake South her freshman year and was a member of the Varsity team the next three years. Sheila was a captain of her team. She participated in choreographing routines for the basketball and football games and also the squads pep rally routine and competition pom routine. She truly enjoys working on technique and is willing to help anyone that wishes to improve on theirs!
She is very excited to continue her journey with Premier Poms and is looking forward to the new season!
Coach Sammie
Samantha Allen began dancing at three years old and still continues to dance today. She danced with the Crystal Lake Park District Crystal Attitudes pom squad and studied tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop at the Algonquin Academy of Dance.
Sammie continued her love of poms at Lundahl Middle School for three years and Crystal Lake South High School for four years. She was the Captain of the JV team and co-captain her senior year for the varsity team. The Crystal Lake South Gatorettes competed in Pom and Kick and won the state title in kick through TDI in 2009.
After high school Sammie attended The University of Iowa where she participated in classes through the University of Iowa Dance Club and the UI college dance program. She also was a member of the RiderGirl dance team for the semi-professional Cedar Rapids Hockey team her senior year.
Sammie is so excited to begin her 2nd year as a Premier Poms coach and loves helping the dancers create their own memories through dance that will last a lifetime!