My two girls have been dancing here since they were two (in Mommy & Me class). I was careful about choosing 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. read more

Wow this is an AMAZING dance school! My child started taking classes at a very young age and loves it 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! read more

HDA is an amazing dance studio. The instructors are caring and professional. My daughter has grown so much over the last few years. They do great productions and compete at the highest level. read more

Wow! I took my 15 year old daughter to Hinsdale Dance Academy for their summer intensive, and I have been blown away with the level of training and professionalism provided. I've been a fan of professional dance for years, and I love that the faculty have all had professional careers and can share their experiences with the students. My daughter comes out of the studio inspired, driven, and anxious for the next lesson. I also scheduled three private lessons for my daughter with one of their Master Teachers and she feels that she is improving faster then she ever has before. I can't wait to see my daughter blossom into the best dancer she can be, I recommend HDA to any parent with an aspiring dancer! read more

Finding the right ballet school for your child can be a difficult task. We knew we had found the perfect fit for our daughters when we found the Hinsdale Dance Academy. Our daughters have grown tremendously in their technique and artistry in their time at HDA. Jennifer is an amazing instructor! As a former principle dancer, Jennifer brings a level of knowledge, experience, and professionalism that is incomparable! She strives for quality and expects great things from her students, and because she instills this confidence and virtuosity in her students, they thrive under her tutelage! The entire faculty at HDA is par excellence! Even though most instructors carry impressive resumes from the professional level, they remain kind, nurturing, and approachable. They have a passion for dance and they openly share their passion with their young dancers. I am also impressed by the professional-level performance produced by the youth ballet company (HBT)! All I can say about Giselle is "WOW!" I can't wait to see The Little Mermaid/Swan Lake & Nutcracker! My children LOVED being in HBT's performance! They loved the rehearsals and performances! Their excitement was infectious! The entire company beamed! The joy the company dancers felt was evident on stage. One last comment... The students and families that have made HDA their dance home are remarkable! The students are friendly and supportive of one another, and the parents are generous and thoughtful. There is a camaraderie among the students, parents, and faculty that creates a caring and nurturing ethos. I can't imagine having my children dance anywhere else! read more

HDA is a caring, nurturing, highly professional studio. We drive our girls quite far to attend this studio, because we have looked at the training at many other studios and Hinsdale Dance Academy is truly outstanding. Both of our girls feel are well trained, cared for, and are able to express themselves as artists due to Jennifer's high standards and warm approach. She is highly qualified, as is her entire staff. read more

Thank goodness there is finally an alternative for providing the local community with the highest quality dance instruction while at the same time bringing a warmth and humanity to the learning process! My 6 year old daughter came to try out a class, and refused to leave until she had stayed through a second one! I'm also looking forward to taking a class myself, since ballet was an important part of my own childhood and I've missed it! read more

Jennifer's instruction is as good as it gets! My daughter has been dancing for several years, but since joining HDA, she's really blossomed. And she loves being there. read more

Listen this is a place and business that the Hinsdale community and surrounding areas want to support! Jennifer is an extraordinary person that will bring out the hidden talents in young people. Whether your son or daughter is seeking to dance professionally or as fitness the benefits and growth will be enormous! Adults with two left feet can become Dancing with Stars extras as well! Seriously The Academy is well run, and managed and the facility is quaint and personal but large enough to accommodate larger groups. Don't miss out on this gem of a studio and the VERY GOOD people that run it! read more

Hinsdale Dance Academy is a very good ballet school that offers great opportunities for their dancers including the chance to compete in the prestigious YAGP ballet competition and perform in beautiful, professional ballet productions such as The nutcracker, however although the instruction iis pretty good there is not as much emphasis on solid, strong ballet technique. There's far more emphasis on pointe work and here girls are put on pointe when they are too young and definitely not ready or strong enough. Some girls are put as young as 10 years old. Also, while the instructors are great I wish Jennifer would actually start teaching classes . I'm not sure why she never does. She only teaches rehearsals. Overall a pretty good school. Give it a chance read more

Jennifer Grapes is a very dedicated and knowledgeable instructor. She's had a very impressive professional career and I cannot wait to see the HinsDANSE company's first performance. read more

Our 17 daughter looked at me with such confidence saying, "This is where I want to stay and dance!" "This is where I want to be!" So many Ballet instructors teach with an iron fist. Jennifer Grapes is tough but never harsh. She is generous of her talents, contacts, patience, and time to her students. She meets them where they are, then brings them to where she knows they can be. Top instruction with top professionals including Jennifer, have already made a huge difference in our Ballerinas life! I also want to add that EVERYONE works very hard because Jennifer sets the bar high. There is room for all her dancers not just the best ones. All the students know what the expection is because Jennfier & her staff make it clear, but nurturing. Very organized place! No guessing when rehearsals are too. read more

My daughter had a bad experience with another dance school called impact dance, she felt so unhappy there and right when I was about to give up on dance I found hinsdale dance academy, my daughter switched in time to be part of the recital and the staff and teachers are very kind and welcoming. Her class would often change teachers sometimes Julia or Sarah, both very talented and friendly my daughter loved them but Jennifer (the owner)I would say is the best teacher by far. She was very patient with my daughter and encouraging (as my 3year old is pretty wild) and every time I asked my daughter what she learned in class she would show me something new. my daughter loved being with her and felt happy to go to dance. We will defiantly be returning in the fall and hope to stay with hinsdale dance academy long term. read more

Hinsdale Dance Academy is as good as it gets. My daughter was in the Young Childrens Program this past year and we already can't wait to get started with the Angelia Ballerina program next year. The faculty is so full of energy every single class, making the class fun for the little ones and never with a dull moment! I found that with our previous studio that I will not name, the classes were very mundane and my daughter was often bored and wanting to leave. At HDA, I have to pry her out of the studio after her class is over! The desk staff is wonderful and alway eager to help. My daughter also made great friends in her class because closeness amongst the girls was promoted from day 1 from her teacher . I don't know how this studio could get bad reviews. I wish there was more class options, but I am excited to see that the fall is offering many new classes at their new studio location when it opens. We all can't WAIT for the new studio!!! Go HDA!!! read more