I put my daughter in the tiny tots class b/c it's the only class I could find that took 2 year olds (and wasn't Old Town School). Anyhow, this place has seen way better days. It's tiny & dumpy. There are 2 studios and only 1 has a viewing window. The tiny tots class is 1 hour long...for 2 year olds, really? And too structured. All I hear coming out of the room is "you guys aren't listening"! No sh**, they are 2, it's suppose to be fun quit stressing about the plan you made and just play dance in front of the giant mirror. Anyhow, as soon as my kid is 3 we are out of there. I keep her in b/c it's still activity I cannot provide. The place is REALLY busy and I cannot imagine why. Maybe it's inexpensive. read more

Ew... I took Hip Hop. It was horrible dancing and they thought me how to do the "Ice Cream Cone" or to turn around. hm...... Me thinks not ;D I'm going to try the one on Belmont. read more

We have been going to the dance academy for 7 years. My daughter Really enjoys dancing there. The teachers are friendly and the office staff is so nice. My daughter started out in a combination class and now takes 3-4 classes a week including jazz and hip-hop. Tuition is reasonably priced for family's. I love it here! read more

I wasn't going to post a review until someone suggested I should on Yelp. I voiced my concerns on Facebook when someone asked for an opinion about The Dance Academy. Here's what I have to say: My daughter went to Dance Academy last year. I was going to sign her up for another session until I overhead the owner, Jeanne, telling someone her business was in the GHETTO district and that's why she lives in the suburbs. I felt if she was disrespecting the community and she thinks she's above the hard working people who are paying her to teach their kids and she wouldn't want to touch my ghetto tainted money, so I decided not to enroll again. Why would I want my child in a place where the owner thinks so little of the people keeping her in business and I did tell one of her staff that. It's sad that she would look down on people who keep her in business but worse that she has no problem telling it to someone inside her business where others can hear. That shows me she's very arrogant. Someone else commented about the 2 year old children in a class....they were adorable but you can hear the instructor always yelling "you're not listening" or "do you hear me?" How about you, as an adult instructor, not take this so seriously, get a clue and realize these are children with no attention span and are distracted with anything around them especially with other kids. It's what they do. No parent is expecting their child to go into professional dance when they leave your studio. read more

I am a dancer from the Dance Academy and honestly can say I can call this place a second home. I've been dancing here for a little over 10 years now and has been nothing but a pleasure to go to class. The studio has many classes to offer from tiny tot classes to adult classes, because no one is ever too old to dance! Other classes include: jazz, hip hop, lyrical, ballet, tap, combination (tap and ballet), and junior and senior competition teams. The teachers are so nice and caring, I believe for this Dance season there are 7 teachers, they are all a delight to have as my teachers. There are two studios, a dressing room to get ready before class, and the office space for the receptionist and parents. Wifi is not available to the parents and younger or older siblings. And for the past week and a half they have been remodeling the whole studio, floors have been redone and polished, and the studios and office space has been painted. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to enroll their child in dance! read more

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My three year old daughter loves this school. She looks forward to coming every week. She has fun and her teacher is friendly and sweet!

I have been dancing at The Dance Academy since 2010 and I have loved it since the day I walked in! Everybody at the studio welcomed me with huge smiles. The teachers challenged me as soon as I started dancing, and they continue to challenge me today. They push you to be the best dancer you can be, and the improvements I have made in such a short span of time have been incredible. A large variety of classes are available for all ages. These classes work hard to put on an amazing recital at the end of each year! The studio also has a performance group and two competition teams for the more serious dancers. There is a place for everybody here! I would not be happier anywhere else. I am thankful everyday for the amazing people and classes at The Dance Academy! read more

I ve done a hunt for dance classes for my kid, here is the good and bad. I'll go from O hare area to the city. Good luck with your search! Remember, its ok to attend more than 1 place, the more exposure to teaching styles the better! Suburbs: Lombard (past Ohare, but worth looking at if you are in the vicinity): Aspirations Dance Company, they are phenomenal, youtube them, outstanding with getting character out of the kids, and I have always heard rave reviews, but saw at a local performance, I couldnt believe them, AWESOME! (takes them at 2 yrs!) Maywood: Stairway Of The Stars and Flip Flop and Fly, the founders of these schools are part of the Maywood Fine Arts Assoc. They are good hearted people want the best for their students. Majority of students come from poverty and not a lot in the area to do for the kids, so this is why its located here, but by no means any less of an education here. Franklin Park Park District: Offers tap, ballet, tumbling, cheer, hip hop...Lots to offer the kids, instructors great and have a solid backround. They have decent buildings and classrooms for classes, a bit on the pricey side in my opinion for a park district, but not as many fees as a studio. Schiller Park District: Teacher is good and this is more of an intro place for the first few years until you decide to stick to this and eventually fork out more money for a studio. The con is no mirrors,but the fee is $45 every 8 weeks,so no room to complain. Have attended a recital to see a friend, and this was a lot better than many studios I see. (takes them at 2 1/2yrs!) Northwest Turners: Mostly Gymnastics, HUGE facility, beam, vault, unevens, everything. Waiting room is a shoe box, but worth the classes for the kids. They also offer dance and competitive cheer. Mount Prospect: Their community program seems to have a huge dance department in itself that does extensive shows, nots as pricey as a studio, but more than your surrounding community programs. Their training also seems to do a lot of classical ballet. Park Ridge: Dancers R Us...Dont know a things about it, looks small, but you never know. For me, I never attempted to go in this place just because of the name...CMON, you have to be more creative than that or youre not teaching my kid! Lynettes, average, classes are average size, the childrens instructor seemed nice, but it doesnt seem they have a max for students in class, anything over 20 little ones just seems like chaos. Karens School of Dance and Acro: Does extensive acrobatics, and that is a good addition to any dancer! Also has tons of dance classes, a good all around place. Elmwood Park: Turning Point Dance Studio, they have a small, older building and room. I have a family member that goes here so I hear a lot from her. The owner seems to have good intentions from a show I saw years ago, but is very blunt when I called and asked if they took 2 years olds and got yelled at NO , ONLY 3 YEAR OLDS! and then was hung up on. Forevermore, Great studio, the only down fall is parking can be very hard, they have 3 dance rooms, and they are on a main street corner of Chicago. (THEY TAKE 2 Yr olds!) River Forest: Legere Dance Centre- I was a little put off at the requirement of a dance leotard from their studio when I wasnt sure if my kid would even like it there. The older students are very disciplined and shows through their dancing. Oak Park: DeMaira Dance Studios,.this owner is from the Dance Academy. That being said, she probably left for a reason. She offers a ton of classes, brings in a different variety for all ages and styles. Keeps things current, Ive seen them perform as well, the teachers danced on stage with the kids and it was odd to see them outshine the students. I thought the role of a dance teacher was to showcase the students. Chicago: Christine Belpedios, I have not had a direct experience, but I have heard wonderful things about this studio, and it has been around forever. Others in the area: Jans Studio of Dance, Picture us Different, Dance Fever Academy (tried to send my daughter for ballroom,it was all Polish, and we do not speak that), ABC dance Dance Academy. The place is dirty, cheap compared to the majority of other city studios, but again, the waiting area of a shoe box. If you have seen their shows (I love attending recitals because you get a good idea of the end result, can see the staff in action and every level of dance), they seem to have a ton of students, so I can not understand why they dont expand) Collective Dance- Gorgeous studio, big rooms, nice waiting area, personable owner. HUGE parking lot in shopping center. We took a summer dance camp there and my kid loved it, couldnt go in the fall because of my work issues, but am going back in Feb! (THEY TAKE 2 YR OLDS!) Starbright Dance- Looks cute online, havent been there. I attend 3 of the places listed above, but to remain anonymous, mums the word. read more