I've both been in and seen a few plays at the Elgin Art Showcase, put on by various local…read morecompanies, so I can speak to the experience this place provides from multiple perspectives. The space - which in its past served as a dining room to the professionals working below - is open and flexible, capable of being adapted to whatever a performance demands, be it seats on risers, seats on the floor, and any combination thereof, facing any direction. The building itself is a historic gem, and a sight to see in its own right, with beautiful architectural and design elements that just aren't embraced these days. One detriment to the building's age, however, is the sole, slow elevator that everyone will be forced to use, unless you fancy taking the stairs from eight floors up. Toss in the intermittent interruptions of trains passing through town, and that's enough to knock a star off. As an actor, it's not bad. You'll probably only have one way of entering the stage, unless your director gives you an aisle through the audience. But having that big limestone fireplace makes any set feel that much more real, a real treat. Plenty of space to stretch out in the green room is also an appreciated feature. You just may have to sneak to the bathrooms you'll share with the audience. Ample parking is just down the hill, and if you're hitting up a Sunday matinee, by all means, stop by Arabica Cafe beforehand, basically just across the street.

I'd recommend Emergence to dance students who want lots of personal attention, small classes, and…read morethe expertise of a masterful teacher-dancer. Sandy is patient, kind, and professional with students of all ages and levels, including those with special needs like myself. Dancing at Emergence has been a life changing experience.

DancEncounter was my home of dance from age 8-18. My training here propelled me to earn a college…read moredegree in dance. Several years after college, I am currently a full time professional dance artist and instructor based in Minneapolis. I always make sure to stop by the studio when I am home. The training/technique is great and the memories and friendships are what make DE special!

If I could, I would assign 10 stars to my experience here. Ms. Tracy and my girls' teacher, Ms…read more Jeni are two of the most dedicated and passionate professionals and are so good at what they do! We found DancEncounter this year after my 2.5 year old twins wanted to try ballet. From day one both Ms. Tracy and Ms. Jeni were extremely patient as they transitioned into the class -despite tears and a learning curve when it came to class time without mom. The girls always arrived excited to see them and left class with a smile. We recently participated in the end-of-year show and beyond my personal experience with the school, I saw firsthand the ripple affect of this wonderful school on dozens of girls and boys of all ages and capabilities. Not only are the instructors talented, but it was obvious by watching this entertaining show that they not only foster and nurture the talents and passions of these kids, but provide a positive environment of encouragement, camaraderie and mentoring that is hard to find. I cannot say enough about DancEncounter! I hope my girls decide to keep dancing and continue to be a part of this wonderful community of dancers.

My daughter has been to 4 studios in her 11 1/2 years and this is the last one for us! She has…read morenever been happier! The staff is very well educated on proper dance technique. My daughter has been given a well rounded dance education, covering topics related to dance but also how to conduct herself at conventions, social media, healthy diet for an athlete and more. We couldn't be happier to have joined this fantastic studio where we feel like part of the team!

My daughter has been dancing here since she was 4; she's 11 now. Not only have they taught her how…read moreto be a lovely dancer they have tied in so many valuable life skills she will take with her the rest of her life. We picked this studio because we lived close at the time but it turned out to be the best decision ever.

This evening was my fiancé and I's first dance lesson with Cinnamon. We decided to take some dance…read morelessons for our upcoming wedding as both of us have two left feet. I was nervous going into the first lesson because neither of us have any experience, but Cinnamon made both of us SO comfortable. Not only did we learn some good moves (and easily learned them too due to Cinnamon's amazing teaching style), but Cinnamon also helped us choose our first dance song (something that I have actively been trying to choose for the last 2 years (not exaggerating here)). He asked us a couple questions, read our energy, and played a song...right then and there, I knew it was the one we had to go with! But most importantly, Cinnamon made it FUN. My fiancé and I left our first lesson feeling more connected than ever and so excited for our wedding. I can't wait for our next lesson!

VERY technical and a storehouse of knowledge like any great teacher should be like. It might be a…read morelittle too much, too fast of a learning curve, and too technical of a class for beginners, but I bet if you stay with it you get really good really fast. Great teacher.

Lovely, intimate theatre with very good shows. Parking is a bit tight, though. I wish they had…read moreperformances more often!

It's obvious that favoritism is a big problem here. It's always the same kids getting the lead…read moreroles and spotlight even events like Geneva's Got Talent, over and over again. There are so many other kids who deserve a chance, but they never even seem to be considered. Disappointing and unfair. TERRIBLE experience overall.

Nice big place - great staff working the IESA Wrestling tournament. Very well laid out - there was…read morea female manager lady that worked for NIU she was very nice and accommodating . Well laid out area great concession items

Built in 2003 (hilarious description and NIU norm - totally over-sell self). Big space but needs…read moreupdate. The acoustics for sport event is terrible. It would be great to see more community events here since you claim this center is about community.

While I usually have to beg and plead my husband to visit STC, he was a good sport and accompanied…read moreme with to the Holiday Electric Parade. He grew up around the area, and isn't the biggest fan of parades, but was a good sport. I love visitng St. Charles and think it's a quaint little community. A lot of people showed up and the residents and visitors were out in droves claiming their piece of the concrete with their fold up chairs and blankets. J & I found a pretty good place to stand and watch the parade by Harris Bank. Harris Bank was giving out complimentary cocoa, coffee (big cups too) and cookies and the bathrooms were open. Very nice touch on their part! Parade pretty much started on time and moved along like a parade should. I can't stand big long gaps in between. It was fun seeing all the lights and all the whimsical christmas- floats trotting down Main Street. Nice that they had an announcer pointing out which float/ group people were from. Dragon Float was impressive with steam coming out. Didn't stay for the entire thing, had to beat the traffic out, but glad we went. Parking was free and treats were a bonus. It was a tad cold, but a fun thing to do and something new that we haven't tried. Great for kids. I appreciate the fact that St. Charles makes a point to engage the residents.