Cliques and so expensive. Checked out the comp team (coming from a different area team) and the…read moreprice is crazy compared to other studios and teams. If you're not in the "in" group forget about being seen. They do push their dancers however it is to the point of injury and then allow them to continue to dance with it. Hard pass on this team. Much better and more ethical studios in the area.

This place is toxic. I realized this multiple times throughout my experience here. From being…read moreignored by the owners mother who works the front desk when I asked to speak to the owner as we were a new family - this was a big time and financial commitment for me as a parent, to being disrespected by the owners sister and yelled at by one of their ballet teachers when I volunteered my time to help with dancing with santa and the nutcracker... YIKES. Multiple times throughout the season the owner talked negatively about families that have left the studio. This is a pretty small world we live in. I know the side of the story they won't tell with some of those families. That's when it clicked that they will stop at nothing to make people who don't put up with their crap look like the crazy/unstable one. The last straw was them blaming my daughter for something someone else did... the week before nationals. It was horrible. Her trust was completely broken with one of her teammates because of it and no one cared how much they hurt her... The pictures of my daughter on stage from nationals, she looked SO SAD. It was heartbreaking. That being said, even though I detest the people that run this place. My daughter is still super kind and supportive of every single kid she danced with here, even the one who lied and got her in trouble. The problem is the people who run it and the group of moms that act like spies and gossip about children. It's weird. Do not recommend this place. There are way better options in the area.

My daughter LOVES her ballet and tap classes... she looks forward to her classes all week. Ms…read more Mariah, her teacher, is hands down THE BEST! She's always smiling, patient, sweet, put together and welcoming... she's Just amazing!! The owner is easy to talk to, caring, dedicated and involved w/the dancers, as well as w/their family's. All in all, very happy we found this studio, NO complaints whatsoever. Highly recommend!

From the owner: The Plainfield Dance Academy's mission is to provide dancers with a comprehensive artistic…read moreeducation that fosters excellence in all forms of dance and enhances passion for the arts; to instil in dancers a desire to care for the environment and an enthusiasm for having a positive influence within their community.

We LOVE The Dance Loft! Great environment, Professional atmosphere & family owned business! My…read moredaughter has been taking there for over 7 years and LOVES IT! Focus is on technique & personal growth of each student.

I could not recommend this studio more! My daughter has been dancing at TDL for years now, and I am…read morethankful to send her to a studio with amazing instructors who emphasize technique and integrity.

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!

After moving from the city a friend recommended this dance studio. My daughter had tried another…read moreplace in Chicago when she was two and she seemed much more comfortable at the Dance Center of La Grange. She began pre-ballet classes when she was three and now she is four and in the tap and ballet class. There is always more than one teacher and in the afternoon classes we had three teachers (which was great). The recital did not require overpriced costumes and it was broken into different age groups (3 recitals rather than one super long recital). We have had a very positive experience at this dance studio. Honestly any sport or activity before the age of four can be challenging for everyone and Miss Robin works hard to help the children and parents.

This is not the place for little ones!…read more My 2 1/2 year old was in the pre-ballet summer session and on the first day she started to cry when I left the room and was trying to leave. So, I brought her back to the circle and sat down with her. Ms. Robin yelled across the studio that I couldn't sit there and this is not a mommy and me class. She said I should let her cry and leave the room. However, every time I tried my daughter followed me and was able to open the door to come out. The teachers made zero effort to engage her or keep her in the studio. At that point Ms. Robin said I could sit in the corner with her and observe quietly. We sat and watched and still the teachers made no effort to include her in the class. They acted as if we were not there. After class Ms. Robin said not to worry and that some times it can take a whole session for them to get used to the class. The 2nd week it was more of the same. My daughter didn't want to participate and didn't want me to leave so we again watched from the side and were completely ignored by the teachers. Later that night Ms. Robin sent me an email saying that we can come to one more class but if my daughter cannot separate and stay in the class on her own we can't come to class and she will give me a partial refund. Never in my life have a heard of a 2 year old being kicked out of any recreational activity b/c of separation anxiety!

Elite Dance Academy has been such a wonderful experience for my daughter. The atmosphere is…read moreincredibly positive, encouraging dancers not only to grow in their skills but also in confidence and teamwork. One of the best parts has been the friendships my daughter has made. The dancers support and cheer each other on, creating a space where everyone feels valued. The teachers are absolutely fantastic--passionate, patient, and dedicated to helping each dancer reach their potential while having fun along the way. I'm so grateful for the experience we've had at Elite Dance Academy. It's more than just a dance studio--it's a place where kids can thrive, build lifelong friendships, and feel inspired every day. Highly recommend! Laura Vistine

My twin girls LOVE coming to Elite. There is such a variety of classes to offer the dancers and the…read moreclasses are fun! Couldn't be happier with Elite and my girls' progress.