My 16 year old son visited from NY for their summer jazz intensive, and it was the most incredible experience for him! He was challenged with working with the best choreographers, and can't stop talking about it. He really felt like he was part of a family after the first day! He's already looking forward to next summer!! read more

Gus Giordano Dance School - Dance Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My girls (now 8 and 4) absolutely LOVE dancing at Gus! They both started a little over a year ago and have learned so much and have so much fun in class. They like to have their own dance classes at home where they put on their shoes and practice what they learned in class with each other. My older daughter is now a company dancer and is there twice a week. The teachers are wonderful with the little kids and keeping their attention, which I just got to see first hand during parent observation week. I also like that Gus gives back to the community and puts on so many free performances for families and other members of the community throughout the year. They are family owned which you can truly feel in all aspects of their interactions and communication with the children and parents. Highly recommend! read more

Gus Giordano Dance School - My girls at the annual show! - Dance Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gus Giordano Dance School teaches all of the the ideals and qualities I want for my kids. They work to treat all people the same and treat them well, they are positive and happy, community involved, fun and they make kids pay attention and listen all while being nice. Our 5 year old started nearly 2.5 years ago and we have been very happy with the program and what she has learned. She is not a dance pro but has basics down and still wants to go to class. She is super excited about her big show each year and is confident on a HUGE stage and being in front of people. She feels important and feels proud. I went to college with many ex dancers and have heard how awful balet can be and Gus has ballerina looking kids, smaller kids, bigger kids, boys who can dance, boys who can't dance and all kinds of kids all having fun. Her teachers Nicole Weingarten, Lauren and Amy have all been so sweet and amazing. I just cannot say enough about how thankful I am that they are in Andersonville and part of our community. I am not a person who intrinsically trusts people's intentions and I have made the mistake in the past of thinking nice people cannot really be that nice but these people really are. I have been late to pick up and they are amazingly nice. I am on the board for our school and they support our local school. These people are good even when they don't have to be. I appreciate them as a place that teaches children, as a local business and as a community member. read more

Gus Giordano Dance School - Our Daughter is Very Proud of her Dance Achievements. - Dance Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I signed my daughter up for the tiny tots camp. It was only 2 hrs a day for 3 days. During the 2 hrs, the kids had snack AND a marshmallow break, which I thought was ridiculous considering how short it was. The absolute worst part of this school was their suggestion that children wear blush and mascara for their final performance. Children 3-5 should not wear adult make up. read more

Cara helped my husband and me prepare for the first dance at our wedding, and it turned out perfectly. With just a few lessons, she kept it simple enough to learn (for two people with zero dance experience), took all of our preferences into consideration, and gave us way more confidence for it than we otherwise would have had. Thank you, Cara! read more

My eldest daughter has always been gifted physically (she started walking at 9 months) so I decided that she should start dance lessons soon. I was worried that I couldn't enroll her last year because of her birthday being in November but the staff at Gus Giordano was very accommodating. She enrolled with the 2-3 year old ballet class on Saturday mornings last year at 21 months old. She cried at drop off for the first month but she became more comfortable with the teachers as time went by. My child is physically gifted yet she does have a speech delay (you can't have it all) so it was difficult for her to express herself to her teachers but they were very patient with her. The school has a recital in May and we really weren't expecting much from our 2 year old but we were amazed on how much choreography she knew. Even to this day, whenever we play Beatles "Here Comes The Sun," she would do the choreography. We just enrolled our now 2.5 year old for her second year at Gus and we are so excited. Also, a few years back I started taking their adult jazz and ballet class and they were so much fun. However, soon after I started the classes, I found out I was pregnant and then life took over but so cool that my 2.5 year old daughter is picking up where I left off :) read more

My daughter has a nice teacher, no complains there. At her very young age however, I'm not expecting to see any kind of progress in dancing; none of her group mates have, which is normal I guess. Besides, I've had the deal of $199 for the classes. But, I still think the school does not tailor to an overage budget. The parents have been charged $80 for a tiny dress and a hair bow ( flimsy stitches, about $10 value at most). To attend the final performance, we had to pay $30 for each adult, and $15 for a child, which brought us to a solid chunk of extra expenses for me, my husband, younger daughter and the family friend . I wish we had known all the extra charges in advance, so it wouldn't have brought to a whooping $220 in surprise charges. read more

What a fantastic place to take my daughter! Visually the studio is beautiful. Sleek and modern. Black and whites of Gus himself hang on the walls. The staff and faculty are wonderful. The woman who answered the phone (Caitlin I think?) was delightful. She was professional, knowledgeable and extremely helpful - even when I asked a million questions. Amy Giordano is one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. She oozes passion for dance! It's awesome to see someone doing something they obviously love so much!! If you have a son or daughter that wants to dance Gus Giordano Dance School is the place to go! read more

Is it cheap? No, but you get what you pay for. Too many times the focus in on the cost, but the end result is far more important. I have seen and heard parents complain about almost everything related to their children's activities in the past 4 years, and I can tell you that any minor complaint I have heard while here picking up my daughter or that I have read online does not outweigh the genuine love my daughter has for this place, her classmates, and her teachers. There is a reason they have been in business for so long, they do it right. The staff is not only talented, but they are patient and considerate of each child that walks in that door.....you can't buy that , well in theory you can but I have dropped money on activities before and the money was wasted in comparison. Very grateful. read more

We cannot put in words how much we love Gus! My twin daughters have been in the Gus company program for 4 years. They cannot wait to attend classes on Tuesday and Thursday. They love all of their teachers - especially Ms Nicole and Ms Lauren who have taught them throughout their time there. They revere the high school dancers and have been fortunate enough to form real relationships with them through the Gus buddy program - each young dancer is paired with an older mentor who looks after them and gives them treats on certain performance days. This year, my ten year old son has even joined the Gus company program! We cannot wait until the May recital, which is a professional quality performance, to see all three of them show us how much they have grown as dancers over the year. read more

This studio is absolutely amazing. They actually teach HOW TO DANCE -- it's not just "dancing for kids" for an hour and a waste of everyone's time and your money. Even the young ages are learning SKILLS -- dance is taught as the art and discipline that it is. If you've been elsewhere, you may be startled at how "strict" they seem -- for example, dancers must wear very specific color and brand of tights, even for rehearsal, and for the recital there's a specific shade of lip color, and they actually removed my 6-year old's nail polish for the recital when I didn't bother doing it, thinking, "Does anyone really care? Will anyone notice?" But this should not deter you. Even while kids are learning discipline and structure in a highly professional setting, they are benefitting from the warm, mutually supportive, friendly atmosphere engendered by other students, every single teacher, and Amy Giordano (the owner and daughter of Gus Giordano) herself. And I say this as someone who would ordinarily groan and roll her eyes at the requirement of a 6 year old to wear mascara and a super-specific bun in her hair for a recital. There's a rhyme and reason for it. Nothing is more convincing than the recital of the absolute magic happening at this studio. This is my daughter's second year, and both recitals have absolutely floored me. The older students are absolutely incredible -- eighth graders that you would bet your life will end up successful professional dancers -- and the show itself is run SO smoothly, with great music, thoughtful lighting, and impressively quick transitions. For 15 years I have I run a company that puts on a college and high school cappella tournament that produces 90 events nationwide and in the UK -- and as such, I am not easily impressed by amateur performances and events. But this was nothing short of professional all around. Even when the kids were little, or there were some older kids who are barely holding on to the moves -- the choreography alone is enough to keep you visually engaged. I would pay money to go to this show even if I didn't have a child in it. THAT'S the high-level kind of stuff happening at Gus Giordano. It's rare to come across a place that is so focused on teaching skills and discipline in a structured way that also offers such warmth and friendly support. It honestly brings tears to my eyes to think of how lucky my daughter is to be able to dance here. The city is a big place, but it's places like Gus Giordano that help you find a community. Thank you Amy and everyone at Gus for everything you are doing for my girl and all of your other students! read more

My daughter enrolled in their virtual hip hop intensive due to the pandemic. We are out of state and so glad we found them! The intensive was incredible, very well organized and the faculty was amazing. Thank you Gus Giordano for a wonderful experience!! read more

Both of my daughters have studied dance here. The teachers are all amazing! The studio space is beautiful! The location is great. Miss Nicole, who has taught both my daughters, is so patient and kind with the kids. The end of the year recital is so much fun to watch. We will be back for more dancing in the fall. read more

Thank you so much for the organized, enthusiastic and caring handling of our kids during the pandemic shut down. This is a huge job and we appreciate you doing this and giving our girls the opportunity to dance under the circumstances! Thank you for keeping us all connected with an amazing end of year show on zoom! The individualized costume bags were so special. You all should feel so proud! Look forward to an amazing show! read more

My daughter is a student at Gus Giordano. I have always appreciated how kind the teaching staff is to the kids, but I have a new found appreciation during the COVID 19 outbreak. The studio has been excellent at communicating evolving plans to parents; made thoughtful adjustments to the schedule; sent positive video messages to the dancers; crafted a thorough e-learning curriculum. They have created a calm tone and worked to keep routines regular for dancers. Thank you GUS! read more

Our daughter just started in the 5 year old program here, and we couldn't be happier. We were at another studio before this, where they were listening to different music every week and running around pretending to be butterflies. I'm sure it was fun, but I signed her up for dancing, so she could learn how to dance. Gus Giordanos has delivered! After only a few lessons, she is doing all sorts tap, jazz and ballet moves. She knows the names of them, and enjoys practicing her "homework" at home during the week (to the detriment of our downstairs neighbors:). Everyone at the studio is nice as can be, and she loves her teacher, Miss Nicole. I think the price ($70/month) is pretty good, and would recommend the studio to anyone looking to start lessons. read more

GUS exemplifies everything we seek to teach our kids - community, inclusivity, healthy self-esteem, discipline, and love of the arts. We are so blessed to have them right in the heart of Andersonville! read more

Can't say enough about this place. I highly recommend. Both our daughters tried summer camp here and loved it so much that we signed up for the year. I have been nothing but overwhelmed. This dance school is really special. It's a wonderful mixed group with many different levels, very nice girls (haven't seen any attitude), the teachers are outstanding but most of all I really like the community feel. Amy Giordano, the Director has truly created together with her amazing talented team and environment that is stimulating, nurturing exciting, challenging and a positive influence on both my daughters. I am very grateful for all that they are teaching them read more

I take classes here and like it alot. Only issue I have is the school charges a processing fee every few months. Not good. I'm perfectly aware of the cost to run a studio, but I hardly think an extra $5.00 which pops up every so often helps significantly. It just mainly makes the people paying for classes mad. read more

My daughter took the 4-year-old class last year with Miss Nicole. We were lucky to get an incredible deal from LivingSocial last fall and were so impressed with the school that we have signed up for another year. My daughter picked dance at Gus Giordano over all the other activities we have tried. We love Miss Nicole, and the owner Miss Amy is warm and friendly and works extremely hard. I'm not sure why another reviewer was surprised about the costume fee for the final performance - it was specified on the LivingSocial deal description. The recital, held at the beautiful North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, showcases all their dancers, and even the adorable 2-year-olds can really hold their own! They do mini-performances for the parents throughout the year, and their progress is truly amazing. We highly recommend Gus Giordano! read more

I registered my oldest son for a hip hop class at Gus when he was 6 years old. He has been dancing there now for 5 years. It is hard to put into words what a wonderful dance school GUS is. They are so welcoming to students of all ages and all skill levels from beginners to advanced dancers. They LOVE teaching dance and they teach children that they can succeed in anything if they work hard and try. GUS has become a second home to our oldest son and our younger son (the football player) is also taking classes now and loving it. The Show at the end of each season amazes me every year. Amy Giordano, the director, along with all of the incredibly talented teachers and staff have created one of the best environments I have experienced to give a child not only the best dance training but also confidence and an amazing sense of pride in themselves. I highly recommend GUS! read more

My daughter has been with Gus Giordano for several years and I cannot rave about the school more. I've seen not only her dance skills grow, but more importantly her confidence and self esteem. The kids there look out for one another and it is truly a family. Amy and her team lead by example and the dancers look up to them as leaders. At Gus, it is more than just teaching dance. It is about helping young people be more authentically themselves. read more

Saw the March 1 performance of Gus Giordano Dance at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg. Captivating! Phenomenal! I don't know much about dance, but I do know that every dancer was 100% focused on every movement in every dance. Each of the 10 dancers was often moving quickly through a great variety of position changes and movements -- I can't imagine how long it took to learn them. And many of the quick, complicated movements were done while interacting closely with another dancer. WOW! These dancers are not just skillful -- they are most highly accomplished -- consummate professionals. The dances themselves are ingenious and creative and often quite touching to watch. The movement of as many as ten people on stage constantly draws your attention, but the nature and quality of the movement enchants. The bottom line for me is this: I had no idea that human beings could physically do what I witnessed tonight. I had no idea that dance choreography has reached such sophisticated levels. I didn't know that so many human emotions could be evoked by a myriad of different movements. This new phenomenon that I experienced tonight was a joy. It was my partner's birthday tonight, and I took a chance on dance. The quality of the show was highly rewarding, and we both are recalculating the potential of humankind. read more

My two daughters are in their second year at Gus Giordano and absolutely love it. The director, Laura, has created a space that is warm, welcoming, professional and fun. The lead instructors connected with each of my girls right from the start, easing their transition (as 2 and 4 year olds last year) into dance class. I was skeptical about the end-of-year recital, as it seemed like a big production for little ones, but my girls were so confident and proud of their performance that I now appreciate the value so much. If you're wondering if this is the right place, I recommend giving it a try - I think you will be very pleased. read more

Gus Giordano Dance School has completely risen to the occasion in the time of COVID. The annual Spring show, which is the premier event that the entire school works toward each year with hundreds of dancers showing off their hard work and training for family, friends and the public, could not be held at the Skokie Performing Arts Center this year due to social distancing rules. The School could have easily canceled the show, similar to what has happened with so many other public events. However, instead of just saying "oh well", the School got creative and doubled down on their resolve, holding the first ever dance concert the Zoom platform has ever hosted. The amount of effort on the part of the Gus staff and teams behind the scenes was incredible to watch. It's the first time I've worked with a Zoom producer as well (didn't even know they existed). The dancers all still held their normal classes and training virtually leading up to the show, which kept a sense of routine and normalcy during these stressful times. They stepped up and rallied with the new format (and many parents, including myself, fast-tracked our technical savvy). The event day was a blast, with each performer dancing in their own space, but being put together with their company on screen for their specific dances. And an added bonus: so many more people could watch the show due to the virtual format (the live show sells out every year). I had relatives who never would have seen this show, be captivated by all of the dancers. I am still getting compliments on the School overall. We have been at Gus for five years and have always had a positive experience there, but the way they handled this event was extraordinary! read more

I absolutely love Gus Giordano! My 12 year old daughter did summer classes there, and enjoyed them very much! All of her teachers were VERY friendly, and so so nice. She really loved all the classes, but the jazz and modern were her favorites. She can't wait to back next summer, and maybe even do their summer intensive as well. The studios are beautiful and look very professional. All 4 studios are equipped with marley floors, ballet barres, and full length mirrors. The only negative thing I would have to say is that some of their company dancers, or "GG's" need an attitude check. read more

Amazing!! I took a class just to see if I was completely out of my element or not....the teacher was so patient and friendly! I walked in and was greeted by the owner, Amy. She gave me a tour of their beautiful space and we chatted a little about the classes. I was excited that they had so many options. After being an avid DWTS viewer, I wanted a different exercise option then just the health club. Needless to say, I had a great workout that was so fun!!! I will definitely be returning... read more

It's an amazing place to bring your kids to learn dance. My daughter loves going to Gus.

I like that I live so close, and that there are a ton of drop in classes available to adults year-round. Usually the teachers are pretty great, but they don't always cater to every level of dancer in the room (There are plenty of classes where I saw girls falling behind. Discouraging when the info says that those particular classes require no previous experience). Also, every time I go in, I remind them that I am a professional. I am not a part of a specific ensemble, no, nor am I equity. MOST ACTORS IN THE CITY ARE NOT. It's like pulling teeth to get them to give me the industry price. I realize that there would be a risk of having people walk in and say "I'm a professional actor/dancer, gimme a discount," but I bring my professional headshot and resume with me. Every single time... why would someone who isn't a performer go get a professional headshot done just for $5 off of a drop in class?!? Just because I'm not equity doesn't mean I'm not a professional. Pull the ballet barre out of your ass. read more

I loved it!!! I am not a dancer but decided that I wanted to try dancing as a new form of exercise. When I arrived the desk staff was more than welcoming and very informative. The space was clean and well equipped. In class the teacher was very fun and enthusiastic while willing to breakdown and explain the technique behind the moves we were learning. I felt very comfortable and will now be attending classes on a regular basis. I would recommend this school to anyone who wants to learn how to dance. read more

This place is AMAZING! The facility is so beautiful and the staff was very welcoming. I will definitely be returning to take more adult classes. I was challenged, received individual attention, and left feeling like I not only got a good workout, but that I LEARNED something! I'm so excited that this new dance school is here in Andersonville, and I cannot wait to go back! read more