Wonderful dance studio and teachers. As a super bonus- the kids get to have their dance recital at…read moreThe Skokie Performing Arts Center. Also, Miss Kate is the best!

My almost 4 year old has been taking ballet (& recently hip hop) for a few years now at Starland*,…read moreBaby Take a Bow**, etc. However, this year I wanted her to find a "real" dance studio where she could continue to dance her heart out for many years to come (if she happens to love dance as much as I did/do). There's not many local studios that offer tap for 3-4 year olds so that was one of my deciding factors for DancED. When researching I also stayed up way too late one night watching video clips of their performances (like I said...I LOVE dance) and was hooked. It reminded me so much of my dance studio from South Florida. My daughter has been in Miss Erin's Creative Dance class since September now and DancED has proven to be everything (and more) I was looking for in a dance studio. At first I worried that one teacher couldn't handle a rowdy group of 10ish pre-schoolers, but after attending this week's parent watch week was in awe with the way Erin has them all under control. I really like that Erin (and it appears most of the other teachers) have a lot of experience teaching little ones. At Baby Take a Bow my daughter mostly had really young ballerinas teaching her who had absolutely no experience dealing with 2 & 3 year olds. And it's a lot more difficult to control a group of pre-schoolers than it is to do a pirouette. The class consists of 20 minutes of tap followed by 20 minutes of ballet. They are working on all the basic tap (shuffles) and ballet (first, second position) moves. My daughter seems to really enjoy it, especially the tap portion of the class. Anything really noisy makes her happy. There are typically 3 consecutive classes going on at the same time and I think she loves checking out the "big girl classes" even more than taking class herself. We're just about to order their costumes for the June recital, which I have to admit I"m excited for. I was a bit bummed to hear that the little ones have their own 45 minute version of the recital, although my husband and I'm sure other parents were thrilled to hear that news. I may just have to go on my own to watch those big kids dance. DancED also have a very busy calendar of events going on all year long. Everything from father/daughter fun nights to princess camps to circus weeks. The owner does a great job showing off pics of their fabulous dancers throughout the studio and on facebook. Speaking of which I'm a bit surprised that the owner (I believe Nancy?) hasn't come by the class to introduce herself to her newest group of dancers, but I'm sure we'll meet her in due time since I hope my daughter will be dancing her way thru DancED for many years to come. * http://www.yelp.com/biz/starland-deerfield **http://www.yelp.com/biz/baby-take-a-bow-winnetka

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!

Salsa, Cha Cha, and Foxtrot...Oh My!…read more You...yes you, sitting there reading this review wondering if you should take dance lessons at Arthur Murray Glenview. Well, you've taken the first step in the right direction by doing your research and learning more about the studio. Why dance? Why not! Wedding... Looking confident on the dance floor... Exercise...Next Mirror Ball Champion on Dancing with the Stars (well, that's my reason)... The fun, friendly, and talented staff at Arthur Murray Glenview will help you accomplish all your dancing needs. When you come to the studio, you will be asked what you expect to accomplish from dancing. Based on that information, you will be paired with an instructor who will make sure you achieve everything and more. In addition to one-on-one private lessons with your instructor, there are group lessons and practice parties. Arthur Murray Glenview provides an amazing learning environment for the beginning student to the advanced. And this is a direct result of the staff. While you will have most of your lessons with one instructor, you will have the opportunity to work with other instructors during group lessons. Additionally, the more seasoned students will be more than happy to show you a new move at a practice party. Who am I? I began taking lessons at Arthur Murray Glenview in January 2010--thanks to a gift certificate from my (I think she finally got tired of me talking about taking lessons ad nauseam). While I have 17+ years of tap and jazz, I had absolutely no ballroom experience. Lead and follow? Ha! Not this girl! However, my very skilled and very patient instructor Steve somehow got me to learn this very important aspect of the dance in no time. In May 2010, I did a Tango routine at the Medal Ball...and yes, I let Steve lead! I will be upfront and tell you that what you get from dance lessons is what you put into it. But, once you step in the studio, you won't want to leave. If I could, I'd be at the studio every single day. Take advantage of the group lessons and practice parties--the fun in these classes is infectious! So, if you are still saying the following: I have two left feet... I don't have a partner... I have no rhythm... There's no way I can learn to dance... Enough with the excuses! Go to Arthur Murray Glenview!

Arthur Murray Dance Studio is completely IMPRESSIVE!! Definitely take on their first dance for $30…read moredollar offer. You will want to sign a contract on a stop. Yes, they are a bit pricey but you will know how to move and groove by the end of your experience with them. I'm a fan of Charles (Charlie) he has a great personality and the moves to make you want to dance all day long! The studio is open and big. There is a big room in the front with wall to wall windows to see on anyone driving on waukegan. Great feature because any time of day or night you can see people dancing and they pretty much entice you to walk in and just DANCE! The room in the back is a bit more private but both are turly great spaces that make you move across a wooden floor like dancing angels! I would definitely reccomend this to a friend, family member and anyone on the street!! :)

Tapping was my absolute favorite thing to do as a child and I even continued taking classes thru my…read moreearly adulthood. Then my children and work got in the way and my tap shoes spent a decade collecting dust in my closet. Months ago one of my Pilates instructor was raving about her adult tap class at SNAP and a fellow tap lover and I decided to check it out. They have 2 classes during the week - Fridays at 1230pm and Tuesdays at 715pm. Both aren't ideal with my work and carpool schedule, but I was able to make it to the class twice. We had 2 different instructors and both were great. There were a handful of other adults in the class who were clearly regulars, but very welcoming to use newbies. We warmed up and learned a routine (even broke out the jazz hands). While I can't quite move my feet like i used to, I did my best to keep up. To be honest the hard part was remembering all the steps. My memory isn't quite what it used to be! They do always do the same routine 2 weeks in a row so if you can swing 2 weeks in a row you should have no issues nailing a routine. Drop in classes are only $18 possibly making this the most affordable workout in the north shore. And based on my Apple health app I certainly got my steps in that day. I keep meaning to go back and even bought brand new tap shoes. The scheduling times are tough, especially during the school year, but I hope to make it back soon!

My daughter has danced at SNAP since she was 2 years old. At 9, she still calls it her "happy…read moreplace." They create a great community for the children. The teachers are wonderful, and Mr Mike at the front desk is beyond delightful!

The first week we all were quarantined for Covid-19 my kids were bummed to miss their favorite…read moreclasses. Then the realization hit that we would be stuck at home for weeks (maybe even months...fingers crossed not the case) local businesses got creative. Since then I've been a bit overwhelmed with my kids virtual schedules and would do anything to drop off one of my kids somewhere...and even drive a carpool. Some virtual classes have been better than others. Yesterday we had a music teacher (not at Rootz) send out the wrong zoom passcode and teach the entire class without realizing any kids were on there. But today we had my one of son's favorite classes, Super Hero Boot Camp, here at Rootz take place on zoom and it was the best virtual class I saw yet. Mr. David was well prepared by sending us parents some worksheets (scavenger hunt and coloring page) ahead of time. He had a fun superhero background on zoom and engaged the kids for 40 minutes with super hero activities. Since they are so young it did require a parent to be present and think my husband had so much fun that I may have to sign him up for the class in the future. Are 43 year olds allowed? My son did get distracted a few times, which probably also happens in class, but overall he had so much fun. While he wishes he could see all his fellow superheroes in person, this is a great plan b.

So fortunate to find Ninja class for my two sons. Maidson leads their class and she is simply life…read morechanging and cares deeply about the kids in the class. My oldest son is Autistic and Madison is wonderfully focused on inclusion which leaves us looking forward to every Saturday morning. We are raving fans!

Great studio! Nice open space in the studios, plenty of room! Teachers are very friendly, and give…read moregood corrections. They offer classes in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro, kick, technique, and conditioning. The only thing I would suggest is maybe adding classes in pointe, tap, or hiphop? My daughter has been taking class there for a few years now and is on the Youth Allstars team. I highly suggest checking them out!

My daughter and I recently took dance lessons at the Ballroom Center to prepare for our…read moreFather-Daughter dance at my daughter's wedding. We wanted to do something a little different than the ordinary, that involved a combination of slow and fast dances (e.g., a mashup). We worked with Dasha and she was both brilliant and amazing. She choreographed the whole dance with us, all the while taking into account my very limited dance skills. She made the entire process fun and memorable for my daughter and me. And she helped put together an epic dance that my daughter and I will never forget. The wedding is now 2 weeks past and we (and others) are still talking about it. Thank you Dasha and the entire staff at Ballroom Center for helping us, and for providing such a supportive and encouraging environment. We can't begin to tell you how much we appreciate it. ~Ed

Fantastic instructors! Enjoying learning better dance form. Very positive and welcoming dance…read morecenter.

Hao Lu is a fantastic dance teacher! He is an amazing dancer…read moreand imparts what he knows to his students. His professionalism and coaching in technique, grace and dynamics is top notch. It's been really fun to learn a variety of ethnic folk dances from him. The classes are a supportive environment, with many high caliber students to inspire me to improve, and also welcoming to beginners too. This studio also offers classes in many dance styles, and many of my classmates enjoy more than one class per week (ballet, ballroom, latin, kpop, etc.) Highly recommend

HaoDance is home to many amazing and highly professional instructors. The founder, Hao Lu, is a…read moretalented, hardworking, and deeply experienced teacher. Hao is remarkably patient with every student, whether a beginner or advanced dancer. He emphasizes two key forms of precision. First, precision in teaching--he designs individualized study plans tailored to each student's personality, habits, and communication style. Second, precision in movement--he pays close attention to every action and posture, noticing even the smallest errors or unnecessary movements, almost like his eyes are a ruler. To help students better understand, Hao often uses vivid comparisons and storytelling, encouraging dancers to imagine emotions and scenes in their performance. This approach is especially valuable for beginners. His high standards for the art of dance not only shape students' technique but also inspire their attitude toward life and work. At HaoDance, you don't just learn dance--you gain confidence, discipline, and inspiration. Start your journey with HaoDance, and good fortune will follow.