Absolutely Love this studio! Very professional from the Instructors to Owner. The love of dance is…read morefelt throughout the dance family! Top Instructors are brought in to teach not just dance, but how to do it correctly & safely while using correct dance language & etiquette! If your dancer is looking to expand their training intensity, there is plenty to choose from! Between a Competitive Youth Dance Team, 2 PreProfessional Companies, Hip Hop Squads your dancer will definitely find their niche!! The Summer Intensives are packed with Highly Sought after Instructors to enrich a dancers training and expose them to new styles! As soon as my daughter switched to Talent Forum she knew this was where she belonged!

My daughter did a Hip Hop class here and also did the show at the end of term…read more They made her feel so welcome and she had a blast. It was really nice to have a local business that cares about the children they teach. The performance was awesome and my daughter looked forward to going to class and learning new choreo. The confidence gained here was simply the best!

My daughter has been dancing here since she was 5, she is now 12. We plan to stay with LAD all the…read moreway through high school. At LAD , the instructors stand out as true masters of ballet, blending rigorous classical technique with personalized feedback that elevates every student's progress. Their deep expertise, drawn from prestigious academies worldwide, ensures classes are both challenging and inspiring, fostering a supportive environment where dancers of all levels thrive. The quality of ballet instruction is exceptional, with meticulously structured curricula that emphasize precision, artistry, and musicality in every barre and center combination. I can't recommend LAD enough--it's the gold standard for anyone serious about ballet. Miss Kate is our personal favorite!

Lincolnshire Academy of Dance (LAD) is the best studio ever. The instructors teach excellent…read moretechnique in all styles of dance, are extremely experienced, and many of them still perform, choreograph, or direct in the industry. LAD's environment is positive and loving, and all of the instructors are personally interested in the physical and emotional well-being of all dancers, as if they are their own kids. My daughter took dance lessons for 15 years. When it came time to switch studios halfway through her career, she considered four other studios. Some taught good technique but the environment was toxic, or there was not enough focus on technique and too much focus on competitions, or they made you choose between the studio or high school activities rather than allowing both, or the dress code was not professional in the studio and on stage. Only LAD was highly recommended by one of my daughter's directors at the time. We read all of the LAD instructor bios to learn about the depth and breadth of their experience, attended a recital, and my daughter took a summer class. She was sold, switched to LAD year round, and traveled an hour roundtrip to get to/from the studio for many years. LAD was life-changing for my daughter. She found her passion and the joy of dance, thrived in a positive environment, and also made amazing memories and friendships that she'll cherish forever.

This is the finest dance studio in Lake County. Kind and talented owners, skilled staff and many…read moreclasses for your busy schedule.

This year was my daughter's first year in dance (pre-ballet). She had such a great time. She is…read morethree years old and managed to learn her routine for her recital!!! Ms. Bridget and her staff are so wonderful. My daughter looks forward to her dance day. Talking to some of the parents, not only do they have children who have started dancing with the studio since the age of three, but they themselves were once students with the studio.

I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate and thank you all for another beautiful performance…read moreyesterday. My daughter isn't a dancer, but we've been coming to your performances as one of our favorite holiday traditions since she was 5 and she's now 11. Your production values get better every year and it's so special to have this incredible, intimate and affordable option to see the Nutcracker. The skill and passion throughout every aspect of this production are apparent, your ticketing is user-friendly and everything is very well organized. While I never have a dancer in your shows, I always tear up a few times thinking of all the hard work and training that goes into each performance. There is something so powerful about the way you tell this lovely story through music and dance. Thank you for all you do for promoting fine arts in the Northshore; it is much appreciated!!

YAYAY!!! For Adult Ballet classes! For beginners! I haven't taken ballet classes elsewhere, so I…read morehave nothing to compare this to. This place does seem to be one of the few in the area that offer ballet for adults.

Had the best Easter ever going to line dance classes with Michelle today. Highly recommend and will…read moreabsolutely be back. Learned all the dances I really wanted to because she did requests, was easy to follow and fun to dance with.

I initially wanted to sign up for an aerial yoga class, but was prompted to take a "beginner" pole…read moreclass instead because it started sooner. It turned out the class was a Beginner II rather than an intro, and the instructor was more of a demonstrator than a teacher. Despite struggling, I still enjoyed the class enough to sign up for a second session. That session was oversold, as the only pole available had a huge floor flaw that was TAPED over. Over the course of the class, the tape and adhesive became tackier and eventually ruined the shoes I was wearing for the first time. This resulted in my shoes literally sticking to the floor, so I couldn't complete a move and ended up painfully smashing my knees against the edge of the pole base, resulting in bruises on both. Despite being oversold and unsafe, the studio refuses to refund my session fee. I had two credits from signing up for the first session, and I asked for a refund after the 2nd class of the 2nd session. I should have my entire fee refunded, but they took two weeks to write me back and let me know that because the semi-present instructor didn't know I was in pain, they are going to KEEP MY MONEY?!?! The instructor saw me trying to remove the tape and goo from my shoes, but they are literally going to try to weasel out of being accountable with this. They should refund me for my session, replace my shoes, and acknowledge that their studio is UNSAFE, their classes are oversold, and their practices are shady. Really disgusted by the entire experience, it's a shameful way to run a business, and the lack of concern and support is negligent and irresponsible.

Elite Dance Academy has been such a wonderful experience for my daughter. The atmosphere is…read moreincredibly positive, encouraging dancers not only to grow in their skills but also in confidence and teamwork. One of the best parts has been the friendships my daughter has made. The dancers support and cheer each other on, creating a space where everyone feels valued. The teachers are absolutely fantastic--passionate, patient, and dedicated to helping each dancer reach their potential while having fun along the way. I'm so grateful for the experience we've had at Elite Dance Academy. It's more than just a dance studio--it's a place where kids can thrive, build lifelong friendships, and feel inspired every day. Highly recommend! Laura Vistine

My twin girls LOVE coming to Elite. There is such a variety of classes to offer the dancers and the…read moreclasses are fun! Couldn't be happier with Elite and my girls' progress.

We are so glad to have discovered this studio! We have just started taking classes at this studio…read moreand I could not be happier. In my search for a dance school for my daughter I came across other schools that were just plain snobby or that had did not offer ballet due to extremely low enrollment. At Irina Makkai, the instructor is fantastic as well as enthusiastic, the studio owners, Irina & her daughter Lilla are so nice and the patrons are also friendly & polite! I have been looking for a studio that is well run & professional - but also has a nice atmosphere/ vibe (aka, low drama & unpretentious) and this studio is exactly what I have been looking for! Located in Downtown Highland Park very convenient location. The studio is much larger than it appears with multiple studios that are beautiful. They also have a secondary business Kiddie Corner that offers wonderful cultural & enrichment programs. The owners also have thought about scheduling multiple age group classes so I am able to have my 2 1/2 & 6 year old in class at the same time or 2 classes back to back- which is beyond AWESOME. My kids love the classes we are officially fans!

The Adult Ballet class taught by Rita Ockrim is absolutely wonderful!…read more The class is essentially all about you, about really warming up and strengthening all of your muscles, and you will leave having worked your entire body! Since Rita generally does the class with you, she can tell which muscles have been properly warmed up for subsequent combinations, ensuring that you feel safe and comfortable as you progress through the class. Rita has an immense knowledge and passion for ballet that she would like to share with you. She will take time to explain and to help you feel how to properly execute different movements - which muscles to engage, how to position your head, where to apply pressure to the floor, etc. - all of the details that are generally left out of adult ballet classes, but that make the class much more interesting and valuable whether this information is just a refresher, or if you are hearing these insights for the first time. It shows that Rita genuinely cares about her students and strives to provide whatever it is you are looking to get out of the class. She makes the class as fun and enjoyable as possible, and definitely puts a lot of thought into her music selection. Anyone that has taken ballet knows that there is quite a plethora of cut and dry ballet music out there, or that it can become that way when it's played repeatedly. Rita makes sure to play new music essentially every class, and only recycles the best pieces that you probably wouldn't mind hearing again. If nothing else, you could come to class just for the beautiful and varied music selection! If you haven't danced in a while, don't be intimidated that the class is taught at an intermediate level. Rita will go over and do the combinations with you, so there is no stress in memorizing combinations, instead, you can really focus on what your body is doing. If need be, you can always simplify the combinations, but it is nice to have the option of a more advanced alternative, and to see how it looks when executed properly. This may seem like a lot of praise, but all of it is well deserved. I have been quite frustrated with many of the adult ballet classes I have taken, and I have finally stumbled on a gem that I believe deserves more attention!

Wonderful place with high quality instructors. Large space, with many studios, lounge area for…read morestudents who have a break between classes. Lots of space with couches to relax on. My daughter has been dancing here for a few years and we are very happy with everything she's learned.

From the owner: Dancenter North is housed in a beautiful old vaudeville theatre in downtown Libertyville, comprised…read moreof 5 individual studios with marley floors. In our 42nd year, we continue to provide comprehensive dance training and a nurturing environment to encourage young dreamers. Whether your student is interested in dance recreationally or has her sights set on a professional career in the dance world, our school has just the right program for your child.