Decatur Community Dance
Decatur Community Dance, 3163 North Woodford Street, Decatur, IL 62521
About
Decatur Community Dance offers dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, liturgical dance, hip hop, ballroom dancing, and Latin dancing. Students take classes during Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions and may participate in a Nutcracker performance and a Spring Dance Recital.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Courses run Monday through Sunday, with Fall Session from August to December, Spring Session from January to May, and Summer Session from June to July.
The Decatur Community Dance program is committed to providing dance training in a professional but personal and friendly environment for children starting at age two through adult. Its non-competitive approach to dance education focuses on strong dance technique in all classes throughout each stage of growth and development. The program states that its approach develops discipline, self-confidence, improved learning skills, self-esteem, creativity, self-expression, imagination, and an increased appreciation for dance and other art forms, and that its goal is to instill a love for dancing and a sense of pride in students’ achievements.
The Artistic Director is Nancy McReynolds, a Decatur native and graduate of Millikin University in Speech, Theatre, English, and Dance, who also received a Master in Theatre Arts from Denver University in Colorado. She has training certification with the Royal Academy of Dance in all grade levels from Pre-Primary through Grade 8 and received the Decatur Herald’s Choreographer Award for the production Metropolis. Additional teachers include Amy Ziettlow, Chelsea White, Jan Taylor, Melissa Girardi, Yulia Dichenko, Matthew Heinemann, Jennifer Power, Corissa Metcalf, and Maya Roberts. Amy Ziettlow was a ballet performance major at the University of Oklahoma, received a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Chicago, and is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Chelsea White graduated Magna Cum Laude from Taylor University with a B.S. in Spanish Education and is a certified personal trainer. Jan Taylor earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Rockford College with an emphasis in Dance. Melissa Girardi started dancing with what is now Decatur Community Dance in 1998 and started teaching in 2014. Yulia Dichenko has been ballroom dancing since 2001, has been a competitive and professional dancer since 2009, and has taught Latin dance since 2018. Matt Heinemann started Latin dancing in 2013 and has taught Latin dancing since 2016. Jennifer Power is a Middle School ELA teacher at Montessori Academy for Peace.
Both students and community members are welcome to audition to perform a role in the Nutcracker. All students enrolled in Decatur Community Dance classes are encouraged to participate in the Spring Dance Recital. The program offers a course catalog and class registration system that are completely available online and has a partnership with Petals Gift Shop to offer Decatur Community Dance merchandise.
Last updated May 24, 2026.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Courses run Monday through Sunday, with Fall Session from August to December, Spring Session from January to May, and Summer Session from June to July.
The Decatur Community Dance program is committed to providing dance training in a professional but personal and friendly environment for children starting at age two through adult. Its non-competitive approach to dance education focuses on strong dance technique in all classes throughout each stage of growth and development. The program states that its approach develops discipline, self-confidence, improved learning skills, self-esteem, creativity, self-expression, imagination, and an increased appreciation for dance and other art forms, and that its goal is to instill a love for dancing and a sense of pride in students’ achievements.
The Artistic Director is Nancy McReynolds, a Decatur native and graduate of Millikin University in Speech, Theatre, English, and Dance, who also received a Master in Theatre Arts from Denver University in Colorado. She has training certification with the Royal Academy of Dance in all grade levels from Pre-Primary through Grade 8 and received the Decatur Herald’s Choreographer Award for the production Metropolis. Additional teachers include Amy Ziettlow, Chelsea White, Jan Taylor, Melissa Girardi, Yulia Dichenko, Matthew Heinemann, Jennifer Power, Corissa Metcalf, and Maya Roberts. Amy Ziettlow was a ballet performance major at the University of Oklahoma, received a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Chicago, and is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Chelsea White graduated Magna Cum Laude from Taylor University with a B.S. in Spanish Education and is a certified personal trainer. Jan Taylor earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Rockford College with an emphasis in Dance. Melissa Girardi started dancing with what is now Decatur Community Dance in 1998 and started teaching in 2014. Yulia Dichenko has been ballroom dancing since 2001, has been a competitive and professional dancer since 2009, and has taught Latin dance since 2018. Matt Heinemann started Latin dancing in 2013 and has taught Latin dancing since 2016. Jennifer Power is a Middle School ELA teacher at Montessori Academy for Peace.
Both students and community members are welcome to audition to perform a role in the Nutcracker. All students enrolled in Decatur Community Dance classes are encouraged to participate in the Spring Dance Recital. The program offers a course catalog and class registration system that are completely available online and has a partnership with Petals Gift Shop to offer Decatur Community Dance merchandise.
Last updated May 24, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.