A Step Above Dance Academy

A Step Above Dance Academy offers dance and performing arts classes, including options such as Tots & Tip Toes, Juniors, Foundations, Trainees, Artists (Level II), Artists (Level III–IV), Drop-In classes, and a 10 Class Summer Punch Card. The program offers a FREE CLASS for dancers to try any style of dance offered. It also includes the Shooting Stars program for dancers with disabilities and Dream It, Dance It, an annual inclusive summer dance intensive for adults with disabilities.

• Ages: 1–18 years old
• Schedule: Studio hours Monday–Thursday 3:30 pm–8:30 pm, Friday by email or appointment, Saturday 9:00 am–1:00 pm; tuition based on a 40-week season with 11 equal installments from September–June
• Price: Program installment tuition ranges from $44–$95 per installment depending on level; Drop-In $30; 10 Class Summer Punch Card $250; annual registration fee $65 per family and $20 per additional sibling; 5% discount for tuition paid in full for Foundations and above; tuition prorated to a dancer’s start date

A Step Above Dance Academy opened in August of 2010. The academy is home to regional and national award winning choreography and holds numerous regional and national titles. Shannon Clayborn serves as CEO/Artistic Director, and the leadership team includes Annette Lawniczak as Studio Manager and Instructor, Chloe McCoy as Instructor and Director of ASA Shooting Stars, and Alanna Kletcke as Instructor.

Shannon Clayborn began dancing at age three, trained with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School at age 11, earned a BA in Dance, a Minor in Spanish, and a Certificate in Performing Arts Entrepreneurship from the University of Iowa in 2010, and has been teaching for over 15 years. Annette Thomann received her BFA in dance performance from Northern Illinois University, graduating magna cum laude, and has been teaching and choreographing in the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin for over 20 years. Chloe McCoy earned a BFA in Dance Performance with Minors in Special Education Foundations and Psychology from Northern Illinois University and created Dream It, Dance It in 2019, serving as its Artistic Director. Alanna received the Dance Service Award and earned her BFA in theater with a concentration in dance from Northern Illinois University and has performed with multiple Chicago-area dance companies and productions.

The academy states that it focuses on proper technique and safety, develops strong and knowledgeable dancers, and strives to instill respect, self-confidence, and discipline in all students while teaching in a fun and positive environment. It describes itself as the premiere dance studio in Batavia, specializing in “Growing Talent with Technique,” with a focus on technical excellence, a fun-family atmosphere, and fostering a safe space. The program notes that it offers career coaching and mentorship with faculty from several areas of the dance world and convenient onsite and online dance wear sales.

A Step Above Dance Academy is home to regional and national award winning choreography and holds numerous regional and national titles, and Shannon has received numerous choreography awards, including 2015 Choreographer of the Year, National Studio of the Year awards from 2015–2019, the 2017 Top National Studio, and the 2019 Grand Champion Title Winner for her choreography of “Unknown,” as well as multiple 1st place Overall placements and Sportsmanship awards. Families report in testimonials that dancers at the studio participate in community outreach, extracurricular activities, sleepovers, and art performances, and describe the environment, staff, and instruction in detail based on their experiences.

Last updated January 11, 2026.