Dance

Ballet

Ages 3-9

Students study the beautiful art of ballet in a fun, yet professional environment. Through movement and terminology, students learn grace, improve coordination and flexibility and develop confidence. Ballet 1 is for children new to dance through beginners. Leotard, tights, hair in a pony tail or bun, and leather ballet shoes with ties cut off are required.

Beginner Ballet

Ages 5-8

Beginner ballet will give your dancer the foundation of ballet. This class will include basic foot/arm positions, barre, floor work, and beginning combinations. Ballet shoes are required.

Beginning Jazz/Hip Hop

Ages 5-6

This is an exciting class that explores jazz and hip hop styles of dance. Dancers will learn technique and terminology on a beginning to intermediate level. Dance attire, hair in a ponytail or bun, and jazz shoes required. Street clothes are not permitted.

Advanced Jazz

Ages 8+

Jazz dance introduces participants to new rhythms, steps, and movements in a fun and exciting atmosphere that will increase flexibility and strength. Advanced Jazz builds on the steps and terms in Jazz 1 and introduces more jazz terms and movements. Prerequisite is a minimum of 3 years dance experience along with instructor approval.

Pom/Hip Hop

Ages 7-9

This class will focus on sharp arm movements, fundamentals of pom positions, and performance skills. Please wear comfortable clothing and gym shoes.

Beginner Tap

Ages 5-6

Let us introduce your child to the beginning instruction for tap. We will explore some of the basics movements as well as terminology to familiarize them with this fun style of dance. Tap shoes are required.

Dance Class Helpful Tips

Tutu Tote: Dance shoes can be expensive, especially with growing feet! Please consider donating your "Tutu Tight" dance shoes to the "Tutu Tight Tote." This container will remain in the dance room. When your dance shoes become "Tutu" tight, place them in the tote and hopefully a pair inside will fit your dancer. There is no exchange of money. Simply donate "tight" and hopefully find "just right."

Dance Attire: Please wear clothing that allows for a full range of motion. No denim is allowed. Most dancers are comfortable in leotards/tights or leggings.

Dance Shoes: Dance shoe requirements are noted for each class. You may wait until the week after class begins (Week No. 2) to purchase shoes in the event that a class is canceled. Although we never want to cancel a class, low enrollment may cause class cancellations.

Visitors: Thank you for respecting our NO VISITORS policy. We love our fan club, but visitors pull a dancer's focus from the instructor. In addition, students feel uncomfortable to learn with other parents (strangers) in the room. Thank you for your cooperation!

Jaime Sjogren

Jaime is a seasoned instructor of 20+ years and has been the dance coordinator for the past 12 years. She has choreographed for theatre productions, performed in the Florida Citrus and Capital One Bowl halftime shows, and performed with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Jaime's favorite part of teaching dance is when dancers work really hard on a move and jump for joy when they get it!

Malcolm Toure

Malcolm has been dancing since 2007 and began foot working in Chicago. During college, he began hip-hop choreography with Envy Dance Troupe at Northern Illinois University and joined Delta Phi Delta Dance Fraternity, Inc. During that time, Malcolm served as the team's president for three years and as chapter president for one year. He moved to Atlanta, where Malcolm joined House Arrest II Championship Dance Team. Through his tenure dancing, Malcolm has taught both children and adults within the communities in which he lived by offering footwork and hip hop beginner and advanced classes. "Footwork, I must say, saved my life as a teenager," Malcolm said. "Looking forward to dance with my friends every week was a major factor that kept me motivated and out of trouble growing up."

Deena Vargocko

Deena began dancing at the age of 5 and continued throughout high school, performing at multiple events such as halftime of a Chicago Bears game and the Chicago Thanksgiving Day parade. After college, she coached the Varsity Dance Team at Glenbard North High School for six seasons, where her team won multiple state titles in the hip-hop and pom category. She also received the opportunity to teach dance for six months while living abroad in Birmingham, England. This will be Deena's 8th year teaching with the Park District. She currently resides in Batavia with her husband and two sons.

Registration for the spring dance recital begins in late November. Classes are listed in the Winter Fun Guide.