About Us
Embedded Files
Las Damas: The Best Friends, Alannis & Stephanie.
We are first-generation Latina Americans and proud college graduates, we are deeply passionate about performance and creative expression. Leadership comes naturally to us, having each held multiple roles that reflect our dedication and drive. United by a shared mission, we strive to serve our community and inspire others through both our work and our presence.
Our Mission
Our Mission
We are dedicated to delivering an exceptional choreography experience that creates lasting memories for both dancers and audiences while celebrating individuality and telling meaningful stories through movement.
The Making of 'Las Damas'
The Making of 'Las Damas'
Las Damas began by chance. In March 2024, we choreographed quinceañera dances for a close family friend whose celebration took place that July. On the day of the event, we naturally stepped into the role of coordinators when we saw that the court and family needed additional support. What started as choreography quickly became something more.
Following the celebration, several guests encouraged us to turn our efforts into a business; something we hadn’t yet realized there was such a strong need for.
In February 2025, another family was referred to us by that very first quinceañera and reached out for choreography services. Their trust and encouragement inspired us to take the leap. By April 2025, Alannis and Stephanie officially launched Las Damas.
What began as an unexpected opportunity has grown into something deeply meaningful. Las Damas allows us to celebrate our Latina heritage, serve our community, and continue sharing our love of dance, performance, and storytelling through movement.
The Meaning Behind Las Damas
The Meaning Behind Las Damas
When we were given the opportunity to turn our passion into a reality and serve our community through dance and meaningful connection, we knew we wanted our business to honor our Latino heritage and the sacrifices our families made to create opportunities for us here in the United States.
The name of our business came to us more naturally than we expected. We didn't spend much time deliberating. One day, Alannis had an idea that felt like it had been right in front of us all along.
"What about Las Damas?"
The moment she said it, we both knew it was perfect.
Not only was the name catchy, memorable, represented us as a dynamic duo, but it also represented the community and clientele we hoped to serve. Las Damas is the Spanish translation of "The Ladies," a name that holds special meaning within many of the celebrations we are honored to be a part of.
In a quinceañera, damas are an important part of the court. They are often the young women who stand alongside the quinceañera during one of the most meaningful milestones of her life. The often represent friendship, support, and the people who have been part of different stages of her journey.
Similarly, damas is also the Spanish term commonly used for bridesmaids. Just as bridesmaids stand beside a bride as she enters a new chapter in her life, damas play an important role in celebrating and supporting the people closest to them.
To us, the name Las Damas represents much more than dance. It represents connection, celebration, friendship, culture, and the importance of standing alongside one another during life's most meaningful moments.
The Origin of Our Friendship
The Origin of Our Friendship
Our friendship began in 2006 when our mothers brought us together through cheerleading. They quickly became friends themselves and encouraged us to do the same. At first, we didn’t exactly hit it off... we often found ways to annoy each other.
Everything changed in fourth grade when our moms began carpooling us to practices. Between long car rides, playdates, sleepovers, and our shared love of performing, we slowly grew closer. By fifth grade, we were inseparable best friends, and that bond has only continued to grow stronger over the years.
We have been best friends ever since, and we always will be.
En español
Nuestra amistad comenzó en 2006, cuando nuestras madres nos unieron a través de nuestro equipo de porristas; en aquel entonces, éramos apenas unas niñas pequeñas. Ellas mismas se hicieron amigas rápidamente y nos animaron a hacer lo mismo. Al principio, no es que precisamente congeniáramos de inmediato... a menudo encontrábamos la manera de sacarnos de quicio la una a la otra.
Todo cambió en cuarto grado, cuando nuestras madres comenzaron a llevarnos juntas a los ensayos. Entre los largos viajes en coche, las tardes de juego, las fiestas de pijamas y nuestra pasión compartida por la actuación, poco a poco nos fuimos uniendo más. Para quinto grado ya éramos mejores amigas inseparables, y ese vínculo no ha hecho más que fortalecerse con el paso de los años.
Hemos sido mejores amigas desde entonces, y siempre lo seremos.
Conoce a Alannis
Alannis is a first-generation Chilean-American and proud graduate of Northern Illinois University (NIU), where she earned a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Latin American Studies. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration. While her academic and professional path is rooted in public service, dance has always remained one of her greatest passions.
Her dance journey began in hip-hop through workshop classes in Chicago and local community studios. She first discovered her love for choreography in high school while creating pieces for the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) annual cultural show. Since then, Alannis has held multiple leadership roles within the dance community, most notably serving as captain and co-director of Tumbao, NIU’s Latin dance team.
After completing her undergraduate degree in 2023, Alannis continued to pursue dance at a semi-professional level, training and performing with teams in Chicago (Salvajes) and Aurora (Atrévete).
Witnessing others build confidence, joy, and self-expression through movement is what continues to inspire her work as a dancer and choreographer.
En español
Alannis es una chilena-estadounidense de primera generación y orgullosa graduada de la Northern Illinois University (NIU), donde obtuvo una Licenciatura en Ciencias Políticas con una especialización secundaria en Estudios Latinoamericanos. Actualmente, se encuentra cursando una Maestría en Administración Pública. Si bien su trayectoria académica y profesional tiene sus raíces en el servicio público, la danza siempre ha sido una de sus mayores pasiones.
Su trayectoria en la danza comenzó en el hip-hop, a través de talleres en Chicago y en estudios comunitarios locales. Descubrió su pasión por la coreografía por primera vez durante la escuela secundaria, mientras creaba piezas para la muestra cultural anual de la Organización de Estudiantes Latinoamericanos (OLAS). Desde entonces, Alannis ha desempeñado múltiples roles de liderazgo dentro de la comunidad de la danza; cabe destacar su labor como capitana y codirectora de Tumbao, el equipo de danza latina de la NIU.
Después de terminar su licenciatura en 2023, Alannis siguió dedicándose a la danza a nivel semiprofesional, presentándose con equipos en Chicago (Salvajes) y Aurora (Atrévete).
Ver cómo otros desarrollan confianza y alegría a través del movimiento es lo que la sigue inspirando como bailarina y coreógrafa.
Conoce a Stephanie, "Steph"
Stephanie is a proud Mexican-American and a graduate of Marquette University, where she earned a B.S. in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Spanish for the Health Professions. During her time at Marquette, she was deeply involved in the Latino community on campus and served two years on the executive board of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), using leadership as a way to stay connected to her culture. A lifelong performer, Stephanie has always enjoyed exploring new dance styles and creative expression. In 2019, she co-choreographed the Latin segment for the Bayanihan Student Organization’s (BSO) cultural show and later spent two years coaching cheerleading with the Bartlett Cheerleading Association (BCA).
Stephanie’s love for dance began at a young age, inspired by the 2001 film "Barbie in the Nutcracker", which introduced her to ballet. She eagerly pursued dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading, beginning ballet classes around the age of four. Throughout her academic journey, she continued performing in cultural shows at South Elgin High School and during her time at Marquette University. She also took on the challenge of participating in Battle of the Bamboo at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), representing Filipino culture and dance alongside BSO.
Stephanie is passionate about inspiring the next generation to build discipline, confidence, and become well-rounded individuals through movement and performance.
En español
Stephanie es una orgullosa mexicano-estadounidense y graduada de la Universidad de Marquette, donde obtuvo una Licenciatura en Fisiología del Ejercicio con una especialización secundaria en Español para las Profesiones de la Salud. Durante su estancia en Marquette, se involucró profundamente en la comunidad latina del campus y formó parte durante dos años de la junta ejecutiva de la Organización de Estudiantes Latinoamericanos (LASO), utilizando el liderazgo como una forma de mantenerse conectada con su cultura. Artista escénica de toda la vida, Stephanie siempre ha disfrutado explorando nuevos estilos de danza y formas de expresión creativa. En 2019, co-coreografió el segmento latino para el espectáculo cultural de la Organización de Estudiantes Bayanihan (BSO) y, posteriormente, dedicó dos años a entrenar equipos de porrismo con la Asociación de Porrismo de Bartlett (BCA).
La pasión de Stephanie por la danza comenzó a una edad temprana, inspirada por la película de 2001 "Barbie en el Cascanueces", la cual la introdujo al ballet. Se dedicó con entusiasmo a la danza, la gimnasia y la animación, comenzando sus clases de ballet alrededor de los cuatro años. A lo largo de su trayectoria académica, continuó presentándose en espectáculos culturales, tanto en la South Elgin High School como durante su estancia en la Universidad de Marquette. También asumió el desafío de participar en la "Batalla del Bambú" en la Universidad de Illinois en Chicago (UIC), representando la cultura y la danza filipinas junto con la BSO.
A Stephanie le apasiona inspirar a la próxima generación para que desarrollen disciplina y confianza, y se conviertan en personas íntegras a través del movimiento y la interpretación.
Our Roots
Our Roots
Greetings from South America: Chile
Greetings from South America: Chile
Alannis’ story begins in the 1980s, when her parents, Patricio and Lorena, met at just 15 years old in Talca, Chile. Living under the hardships and uncertainty of the Pinochet regime, her family longed for safety, stability, and the opportunity to build a better future. When the opportunity arose, they made the difficult decision to leave behind the life they had always known and relocate to Mexico City in search of new possibilities.
Eventually, Patricio and Lorena faced another life-changing decision. With only two suitcases and their young children, they left Mexico and immigrated to the United States in the 1990s, carrying with them hope, courage, and determination for what the future could hold.
Starting over in a new country meant navigating unfamiliar surroundings, building a life from the ground up, and making sacrifices for the generations that would come after them. Like so many immigrant families, they carried their culture, traditions, and memories with them while working tirelessly to create opportunities they had only dreamed of for their children.
Their resilience and perseverance have been a constant source of inspiration for Alannis. The lessons they passed down: hard work, determination, courage, and hope; continue to guide her today. Their journey is a reminder that meaningful things are often built through sacrifice, persistence, and the willingness to take a chance on something greater.
That same spirit lives within our business. At Las Damas, we are building something meaningful from humble beginnings; something rooted in family, culture, community, and a shared love for the traditions that have shaped us. The sacrifices made by the generations before us have given us the opportunity to pursue our passions and create a business of our own.
Greetings from our Neighbors: México
Greetings from our Neighbors: México
Stephanie’s story begins in the 1960s and 70s, when her grandfathers, Aureliano of Ayutla, Jalisco, Reymundo of Chamacuaro, Guanajuato, and Leonardo II of San Luis Potosí, each made the courageous decision to leave Mexico. Ultimately, they all immigrated to Chicago, Illinois to build a new life in the land of opportunity.
Aureliano, arranged for his children, which included Stephanie's paternal grandmother, Catalina, to leave their small town after the passing of her mother, Mercedes. At just 11 years old, Catalina and her five siblings came to north side of Chicago quickly having to learn the ways of the United States.
Reymundo risked everything when leaving Mexico. Eventually his work paid off was was able to bring his family which included Stephanie’s maternal grandmother, Delia, their daughter Sandra, Stephanie’s mother, and eventually his siblings to join him on the South Side of Chicago.
Similarly, Leonardo worked tirelessly in on the North Side of Chicago to support his family back in Mexico, sending money to fund his sister’s education and ensure a brighter future for those he loved.
Both sides laid down roots and grew their families in Chicago, shaping legacies built on sacrifice, resilience, and love.
Decades later, their stories intertwined when Stephanie’s parents, Leo and Sandra, met at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in the 1990s, uniting two families and laying the foundation for the values, traditions, and passion Stephanie carries forward today.
Page updated
Report abuse