About
Dancenter North offers a wide range of dance classes, including Early Childhood Dance, Mommy & Me, Pre-Ballet 1 and 2, Kinder Ballet, Bitty Bop Hip-Hop, Happy Tappy Feet, Elementary Hip-Hop, Ballet, Pointe, Character, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater, Strength & Flexibility, Broadway, Broadway Dance, Contemporary Lyrical, Leaps & Turns, and Improv. The program also offers Professional Track programs, complimentary placement classes for students with previous experience, and a complimentary trial class.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring session from January 5 to May 23, with office hours Monday–Thursday and Saturday
Dancenter North was founded by Cheri Lindell in 1974 and, after 45 years in Libertyville, relocated in 2019 to its current home in Gurnee. The mission statement emphasizes classical training, strong technique, and performance artistry, and describes the studio as carrying on a rich tradition that includes the annual production of “The Magic of the Nutcracker.” The mission statement also describes Dancenter North as a nurturing, body-positive, and healthy environment, and as the premier studio in the north Chicago suburbs for the serious dancer. Early Childhood Dance classes are described as being for children ages 2–5 who are learning how to move in their bodies, with a focus on confidence, having fun, and engaging in a positive learning environment. Entry-level classes are described as introducing the foundation of dance to beginning students with no experience needed, and Adult Classes are described as available for all fitness and experience levels with registration, punch card, and drop-in options. Dancenter North is also described as a home away from home for countless students in the northern suburbs.
The leadership and staff team includes Founder Cheri Lindell; Owners/Directors Stacy Joy Keller and Geno Kett; Operations Manager and company director Samantha Robison; school administration staff member Tara Schobert; Avenue Dancewear and reception staff member Edmar De La Cruz; Technical Director Tony Braskich; Costume Mistresses Catherine Mergen and Jesse Quinn; Assistant Costume Mistress Sarah Weiler; and reception staff Stacie Bracewell, Kelly Farmer, and Rachel Pellegrino. Teaching staff and directors include Stacy Keller; Edmar De La Cruz (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, and Hip-Hop); Phyllis Warrender (Ballet, Tap); Charles “Buzzy” Brown (Director DCN Hip-Hop Crew, Hip-Hop); Julie Cartier (Director Soul-2-Soles Jr. & Sr. Tap Companies, Director NY Broadway Company, Co-Director Upstairs Sr. Jazz Company, Tap, Jazz, Broadway, Lyrical); Tara Schobert (Early Education classes including Mommy & Me, Pre-Ballet 1 & 2, Kinder Ballet, Bitty Bop Hip-Hop, Happy Tappy Feet, plus Ballet and Tap); Jillian Glassman (Early Education Bitty Bop & Elementary Hip-Hop, Broadway, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap); Olga Chudaikina (Ballet/Pointe, Character); Tiffany Soler (Musical Theater); Melissa Reh (Strength & Flexibility); Emily Sokoloski (Director PP1A Ballet Company, Co-Director The Magic of the Nutcracker, Jazz, Lyrical); Christina Bushala (Director Pro-Track Jazz, Co-Director Upstairs Sr. Jazz Company, Co-Director The Magic of the Nutcracker, Jazz, Contemporary Lyrical); Rosario Guillen (Director Verge Sr. Modern Company, Director Upstairs Jr. Jazz Company, Jazz, Modern, Leaps & Turns, Lyrical); Franny Komperda (Director Verge Jr. Modern Company, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Improv); and Sarah Mateer (Ballet, Pointe, Improv).
Last updated January 12, 2026.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring session from January 5 to May 23, with office hours Monday–Thursday and Saturday
Dancenter North was founded by Cheri Lindell in 1974 and, after 45 years in Libertyville, relocated in 2019 to its current home in Gurnee. The mission statement emphasizes classical training, strong technique, and performance artistry, and describes the studio as carrying on a rich tradition that includes the annual production of “The Magic of the Nutcracker.” The mission statement also describes Dancenter North as a nurturing, body-positive, and healthy environment, and as the premier studio in the north Chicago suburbs for the serious dancer. Early Childhood Dance classes are described as being for children ages 2–5 who are learning how to move in their bodies, with a focus on confidence, having fun, and engaging in a positive learning environment. Entry-level classes are described as introducing the foundation of dance to beginning students with no experience needed, and Adult Classes are described as available for all fitness and experience levels with registration, punch card, and drop-in options. Dancenter North is also described as a home away from home for countless students in the northern suburbs.
The leadership and staff team includes Founder Cheri Lindell; Owners/Directors Stacy Joy Keller and Geno Kett; Operations Manager and company director Samantha Robison; school administration staff member Tara Schobert; Avenue Dancewear and reception staff member Edmar De La Cruz; Technical Director Tony Braskich; Costume Mistresses Catherine Mergen and Jesse Quinn; Assistant Costume Mistress Sarah Weiler; and reception staff Stacie Bracewell, Kelly Farmer, and Rachel Pellegrino. Teaching staff and directors include Stacy Keller; Edmar De La Cruz (Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, and Hip-Hop); Phyllis Warrender (Ballet, Tap); Charles “Buzzy” Brown (Director DCN Hip-Hop Crew, Hip-Hop); Julie Cartier (Director Soul-2-Soles Jr. & Sr. Tap Companies, Director NY Broadway Company, Co-Director Upstairs Sr. Jazz Company, Tap, Jazz, Broadway, Lyrical); Tara Schobert (Early Education classes including Mommy & Me, Pre-Ballet 1 & 2, Kinder Ballet, Bitty Bop Hip-Hop, Happy Tappy Feet, plus Ballet and Tap); Jillian Glassman (Early Education Bitty Bop & Elementary Hip-Hop, Broadway, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap); Olga Chudaikina (Ballet/Pointe, Character); Tiffany Soler (Musical Theater); Melissa Reh (Strength & Flexibility); Emily Sokoloski (Director PP1A Ballet Company, Co-Director The Magic of the Nutcracker, Jazz, Lyrical); Christina Bushala (Director Pro-Track Jazz, Co-Director Upstairs Sr. Jazz Company, Co-Director The Magic of the Nutcracker, Jazz, Contemporary Lyrical); Rosario Guillen (Director Verge Sr. Modern Company, Director Upstairs Jr. Jazz Company, Jazz, Modern, Leaps & Turns, Lyrical); Franny Komperda (Director Verge Jr. Modern Company, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Improv); and Sarah Mateer (Ballet, Pointe, Improv).
Last updated January 12, 2026.
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