Elite Dance Academy Summer Programs
Elite Dance Academy, 12109 W 159th Street, Homer Glen, IL 60491
About
Elite Dance Academy Summer Programs include a summer camp, a summer intensive, and a 6-week class session. Students take classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, acrobatics, pointe, and musical theater. The summer intensive includes five days of master classes taught by expert teachers in the dance field and is open to beginner through advanced dancers.
• Ages: 6 months–18 years old
• Schedule: Summer camp, summer intensive, and a 6-week class session
The programs include summer camps for ages 3–9, a summer intensive for ages 8 and up, and a 6-week class session for walking-age children through age 18. Programming includes Grown-Up and Me for ages 6 months to 3 years with an adult, First Steps for independent 2-year-olds, Tiny for ages 3 and 4, Mini and Petite for kindergarten through third grade, Foundations through Advanced for fourth grade and up, and Elite Dance Company competitive and performance teams. Space is limited for registration, and all class days, times, and teachers are subject to change. The building includes sprung dance floors, quality acrobatic mats, paddle lock doors, and video security surveillance. The studio offers a professional training program that will prepare students for a career in dance.
The leadership team includes Owner Renée Deets; Artistic Director, Instructor, and Choreographer Ashley Deets; Business Manager, EDC Team Leader, Instructor, and Choreographer Paige Deets; EDC Director, Instructor, and Choreographer Gina Matsie; EDC Team Leader, Instructor, and Choreographer Laura Witter; EDC Team Leader, Instructor, and Choreographer Rebecca Dankovich; and Instructor and Choreographer Lezlie Gray. Instructors are professional or former professional dancers who have received dance degrees from universities and continue to train in the dance field, and several instructors are current performers with Chicago-based companies. The team is CPR, First Aid, and AED certified, trained in emergency preparedness, and follows a code of conduct and safety handbook. Ashley Deets is an award-winning dancer, teacher, and choreographer, a certified Acrobatic Arts, Rhythm Works Integrative Dance, and Wingman for Dance educator, and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. Paige Deets is a professional dancer, certified teacher, and award-winning choreographer who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Western Michigan University and received her teaching certification in physical education and dance in 2021. Gina Matsie is a certified M1 Acrobatic Arts Instructor and program developer for DiscoverDance and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology. Rebecca Dankovich graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BFA in Dance and is certified to teach Pure Barre.
The program’s stated mission is to maintain a supportive atmosphere dedicated to fostering professionally trained students with high self-esteem, self-discipline, and self-respect, and to focus on nurturing not only exceptionally talented athletes and artists, but healthy and well-rounded individuals. Renee and her husband have lived in Homer Glen for 32 years, where they raised three children and now have two grandchildren. One parent testimonial describes Elite as a second home for their child and notes that the staff pour their heart and soul into the studio. The same testimonial states that the school is well organized, that the owners and staff are exceptional, and that the family has participated since 2011. The testimonial also states that the staff have consistently provided a top notch dance education, adapted with changing times, and that students have the chance to grow socially and emotionally, with instructors showing love and care for their students.
Last updated January 11, 2026.
• Ages: 6 months–18 years old
• Schedule: Summer camp, summer intensive, and a 6-week class session
The programs include summer camps for ages 3–9, a summer intensive for ages 8 and up, and a 6-week class session for walking-age children through age 18. Programming includes Grown-Up and Me for ages 6 months to 3 years with an adult, First Steps for independent 2-year-olds, Tiny for ages 3 and 4, Mini and Petite for kindergarten through third grade, Foundations through Advanced for fourth grade and up, and Elite Dance Company competitive and performance teams. Space is limited for registration, and all class days, times, and teachers are subject to change. The building includes sprung dance floors, quality acrobatic mats, paddle lock doors, and video security surveillance. The studio offers a professional training program that will prepare students for a career in dance.
The leadership team includes Owner Renée Deets; Artistic Director, Instructor, and Choreographer Ashley Deets; Business Manager, EDC Team Leader, Instructor, and Choreographer Paige Deets; EDC Director, Instructor, and Choreographer Gina Matsie; EDC Team Leader, Instructor, and Choreographer Laura Witter; EDC Team Leader, Instructor, and Choreographer Rebecca Dankovich; and Instructor and Choreographer Lezlie Gray. Instructors are professional or former professional dancers who have received dance degrees from universities and continue to train in the dance field, and several instructors are current performers with Chicago-based companies. The team is CPR, First Aid, and AED certified, trained in emergency preparedness, and follows a code of conduct and safety handbook. Ashley Deets is an award-winning dancer, teacher, and choreographer, a certified Acrobatic Arts, Rhythm Works Integrative Dance, and Wingman for Dance educator, and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. Paige Deets is a professional dancer, certified teacher, and award-winning choreographer who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Western Michigan University and received her teaching certification in physical education and dance in 2021. Gina Matsie is a certified M1 Acrobatic Arts Instructor and program developer for DiscoverDance and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology. Rebecca Dankovich graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BFA in Dance and is certified to teach Pure Barre.
The program’s stated mission is to maintain a supportive atmosphere dedicated to fostering professionally trained students with high self-esteem, self-discipline, and self-respect, and to focus on nurturing not only exceptionally talented athletes and artists, but healthy and well-rounded individuals. Renee and her husband have lived in Homer Glen for 32 years, where they raised three children and now have two grandchildren. One parent testimonial describes Elite as a second home for their child and notes that the staff pour their heart and soul into the studio. The same testimonial states that the school is well organized, that the owners and staff are exceptional, and that the family has participated since 2011. The testimonial also states that the staff have consistently provided a top notch dance education, adapted with changing times, and that students have the chance to grow socially and emotionally, with instructors showing love and care for their students.
Last updated January 11, 2026.
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