My two girls have been dancing here since they were two (in Mommy & Me class). I was careful about…read morechoosing a studio, as I come from a performance background and I know how cutthroat the dance world can be. I was looking for a few things in particular and have been extremely pleased with HDA. Specifically, I was looking for: 1) Choreography and costumes that are age-appropriate. I have a huge problem with the sexualization of young children and I'm happy to say that I have never seen a child at HDA in anything that made me uncomfortable. (So, no five-year-olds twerking in bikinis.) 2) Promoting healthy body image. The dance world (ballet in particular) notoriously pushes dancers to be unhealthily thin. I have never heard of a dancer at HDA being told that they needed to look a certain way in order to dance and I've been happy to see dancers of all sizes and shapes in lead roles over the past several years. 3) Camaraderie among dancers. I have no patience for petty, backstabbing meanness. Dance does have a competitive element to it when it comes to coveted roles and I know how ugly behavior can stem from jealousy. I'm not quite sure how she's done it, but Jennifer has managed to create an environment where the students all genuinely cheer for each other, the older students nurture the younger students, and the younger students admire their leaders. 4) Performance opportunities. I think that publicly putting yourself out there -- in any way, on stage or in a business presentation -- is one of the most terrifyingly vulnerable things someone can do, which is why it's a skill that is good to develop at a young age. HDA finds a way to include even their youngest dancers in their productions (e.g., Reindeer in "The Nutcracker," mice in "Cinderella," guppies in "The Little Mermaid," etc.), which is not true of some other studios in the area. 5) Excellent training. Finding a studio that emphasizes good technique is extremely important, as ballet is the foundation for so many other kinds of dance. My oldest daughter (11) started en pointe this year and I will say that the evaluation to see if she was physically ready was excellent. The studio also encouraged us to see a doctor if we were hesitant, who also gave the green light. And quick note: starting en pointe doesn't mean immediately doing pirouettes in the center. The class moves slowly to properly develop the technique. On the other side of this, both of my girls have repeated dance levels in the past because the instructors didn't feel that they were physically ready to move up. I appreciated that they were looking out for their development and, while my daughters were disappointed, it gave them extra incentive to work toward improving in certain areas so that they would be ready to move up the following year. 6) Nurturing teachers. The fastest way to burn out is to hate going to class. That's never been the case for my daughters at HDA. Starting in the Young Children's Program, the classes are so much fun and so joyful. It really did instill a love of dance early on. Moving into the upper level classes, I see the instructors correcting and challenging the dancers, but never with a hardened rigidity that I've observed elsewhere. Each instructor has their own style, but the constant is the care that they show each dancer as a human being -- and how much they love to teach. I found one studio that had everything on my list: Hinsdale Dance Academy. I haven't been disappointed. Dance at HDA has given my girls confidence, a strong work ethic, opportunities for leadership, and a spirit of sisterhood. They have learned to overcome obstacles, to deal with disappointment gracefully, and the exhilaration that comes with obtaining a long-term goal. I highly recommend it.

Wow this is an AMAZING dance school! My child started taking classes at a very young age and loves…read moreit so much. My daughter comes home from dance and always has a joyful smile on her face. The studio is VERY clean and sanitized. Faculty is great, understanding, and kind. Everyone treats each other with respect and no judgment is made. I have taken my daughter to previous dance studios and she did not love it as much. Hinsdale Dance Academy is amazing. 1000% recommend taking your kid here. Also, I saw a couple of boys taking the class as well and they were treated the same way. Love HDA!

Great studio!! The others I looked into were to advanced and to large for my girls. This place is…read moreperfect! Their Christmas recital was perfect just their studio and the dance had a story to it. I have been to my other granddaughter's recitals and I sit there for hours watching a bunch more dancers no story to it and my granddaughter for 3 minutes..

Impact is a pretty good studio, but isn't my favorite. The company is great and their dances are…read moreamazing. Although, my daughter recently took classes that are open to anyone and was not a fan. She also was on show stars for a little while but then left the year later. My daughter would come home with a pout face because teachers would yell or talk to her with dis respect. She also said that some teachers would comment on her technique constantly, even though my daughter was 6. I understand technique is a huge part in competitive dance, but this was not ok. My daughter would try to fix it, which I am unsure if she did correctly, but the teachers would not help with her mistakes and would instead embarrass her in front of the group of other girls and boys. Overall , not taking my child back. - Christy J.

My daughter has been going here for two years and all the teachers are amazing and most…read moreimportantly, kind and thoughtful. We're so happy to be a part of the pure vibe family!

Excellent dance studio. My daughter has been attending Pure Vibe for several years and continues to…read morelearn a lot. The studio is very clean and the instructors are extremely talented and patient. My daughter feels at home here.

Fun, but structured, teachers. Wide variety of classes! My girls love it here. The only two…read moredrawbacks for us is having to cross thhe tracks ;) and a tight parking lot, which is annoying when filled with large SUVs in tiny spots.

My daughter had never taken a formal dance class and was very anxious to start. I searched all over…read morefor a beginning dance class that fit our lifestyle (read: had classes at times that weren't mid-day or too late) and fit my daughter's skill level. Often by age 6, most studios have assumed children have been dancing for 3-4 years and my daughter no longer fit into their "beginning" classes. EDS popped up a few times, and the location was fairly convenient, as were the class times and offerings. My daughter was VERY eager to start in Beginning Ballet and learn to dance. From the beginning we were impressed with EDS and their flexibility. My daughter couldn't attend her first class until the 3rd week of the season. They accepted her warmly and without penalty, and reminded me that the first class you take is completely free (so if you hate it, you don't pay for it.) She got a free dance bag (which is a pretty cheap drawstring backpack, BUT she loves it and is very proud of it) and got to paint her hand and put her handprint on the wall in the hallway, and she was so proud to do that. What I was VERY excited about was their willingness to accept her and work with her, regardless of her Austism diagnosis. Many studios said they weren't equipped, or they didn't have the staff to accommodate a special needs dancer. EDS goes above and beyond to accommodate and welcome dancers and families with special needs. They have a Special Olympics team, a unified dance team, special needs classes, and more. We've never felt out of place or unwelcome at EDS (and special needs families know that is an ongoing battle.) Miss Brianne is a wonderful teacher and has met my daughter at her skill level, and my daughter has been thrilled to go to class each week. The staff is warm and welcoming, and I've never heard an angry instructor or crying student. The studios are light and bright and airy and they truly go out of their way to make every student feel welcome and important.

My daughter came to CFD in 2012 after moving from another state and trying a couple other local…read morestudios. I am very proud to say she has now graduated and due to her incredible training at CFD, she is moving on to dance at a very prestigious college dance program. CFD provides the right balance of structured training and team environment that promotes self growth coupled with leadership development. The studio owner and teachers are caring and dedicated to providing a solid foundation of technique and artistic expression.

From the owner: Birthday Parties, Competitive Dance, Dance Instruction and Training For Ages 18 Months to Adults,…read moreDance Parties, Event Space, Filming Space, Kids Party, Rental Space, Tik Tok Filming. Products: Check Out Our Website To See Our Online Store! Services: Every Style of Dance, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, 18 Months to 6 Years, Tumbling, Mommy and Me, Creative Movement, Funky Time, Princess Dance, Lyrical, Birthday Parties, Poms, Bollywood, Musical Theater, Adult Classes.

Love this studio! I go for Barre and Zumba mainly and have enjoyed every class. Deanna is…read moreincredible at crafting a workout that gets to every muscle group and keeps you challenged. I also love how approachable and relaxed this studio is. Some Barre places are very pretentious and Versa5 never is. Highly recommend for a great workout with great people.

My daughter and wife have really enjoyed the dance classes and activity classes. Versa5 has made…read moregreat us of technology allowing you to pay for just the classes you want or allowing you to purchase family unlimited packages by the month. My wife schedules the classes she wants the night before so it is convenient for her schedule. If you are in the Downers Grove area stop in a check out the totally new studio.

My daughter has been taking lessons for a year and a half now. Elizabeth is amazing! They have been…read morevery proactive with COVID-19, and taking the dancers' health and safety seriously. I highly recommend!

Not only is a great place to learn how to dance, sing and act; the owner, Elizabeth Bender, is a…read morenatural born leader and a wonderful person.

Love the philosophy of Intuit ! The many ways they encourage self- expression and feelings through…read moredance!!! Thank you Intuit, for providing this safe place and environment for so many different ways to show self-expression!

This newish dance studio is a nice addition to the artsy atmosphere on Harrison Street. If you…read morewant traditional ballet or jazz, head over to the Academy of Movement and Music, this has a more "alternative" feel to it. My daughter takes a Jazz/Hip-Hop class that she really enjoys. I was a ballet girl, so I feel like her instruction is better preparation for the high school drill team than the concert stage, but that is just me being an old fuddy-duddy. You can drop in and pay for one class, or sign up for a series. A nice variety of classes for children, teens and adults -- In addition to jazz/hip-hop there is also ballet, tap, yoga and even belly dance (try it, it's fun). The space is small, but well-lit and airy. The mirrors are spaced panels and not the wall-to-wall type, so watching yourself and the instructor can be tricky if you aren't properly situated in the room.