Sandra “Sandy” Vaughan
Founder
(b. 1940 – d. 2017)
Sandy Vaughan founded VDA in 1972 to offer quality dance instruction to Plainfield and the surrounding areas. Prior to opening the studio, She attended the Julliard School Dance Division, in NYC, taking from prestigious instructors, such as Jose Limon, Betty Jones, Margaret Craske and Alfredo Corvino.
In the local community, Sandy participated in Kiwanis shows and choreographed musicals for Joliet West High School, Plainfield (Central) High School, St. Procopius (Illinois Benedictine), and the Footlight Theater (Joliet Bicentennial Theater Group).
As a child, Sandy started dancing for Virginia Kelly in Joliet at the age of 9. By the time she was 14, she began teaching for Mrs. Kelly. Sandy attended Joliet Central High School and belonged to dance clubs in modern, ballet, tap and tumbling. She was the president of the modern dance club during her senior year of high school. When Sandy was 16, she toured with Barnes & Carruthers, a dance troupe that performed at state fairs throughout the country.
Read Sandra’s philosophy on hiring a qualified dance faculty in Dance Teacher Magazine.
Plainfield Patch: Obituary: Sandra Vaughan, Legendary Plainfield Dance Teacher
Friedrich-Jones: Obituary: Sandra J. Vaughan
Vikki Vaughan Vigna
Artistic Director
(2004- ret. 2021)
Vikki Vigna has been teaching for Vaughan Dance Academy since 1983. In 1995, Vikki and a fellow teacher formed what is now the INNOVATION Dance Company for students who wanted to take their dance to the next level. The first year 12 girls competed. INNOVATION now boasts large competition and continues to grow.
Vikki began her dance training at the age of 3 with Virginia Kelly. In 1972, when mom opened her own studio, Vikki went with her. She has also studied with Claudette Soltis (Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo), of the Joliet Ballet Society, which allowed her the opportunity to perform with the Indianapolis and Butler Ballets, under the direction of George Verdak and Dace Dindonis. Vikki has also been lucky enough to study with Joel Hall, Lois Aquino, Christine Duboulay, Mimi Rozak, Pascual Olivera and Angela Del Moral, Richard Arve, Claire Bataille and many others.
Vikki is honored to be able to say that not only was she instrumental in the education of most of Vaughan Dance Academy’s instructors, she was also responsible for the education of many of the area’s studio owners, as well as many of their faculty. Vikki retired in June of 2021.