Summer Programming at Forte Arts Center
Forte Arts Center, 1200 N Division Street, Morris, IL 60450
About
Summer Programming at Forte Arts Center includes a wide range of activities such as Forté Free Play, Toddler Time, Dance for Littles, Under the Sea, Tumbling Tots, Superhero Training Camp, Defying Gravity, Hip Hop Tots, Little Limelight Summer Camp, and Hippity Hop. Older kids can take part in Dance Fundamentals, Hip Hop, Camp Dance, Leaps & Turns, various tumbling classes and workshops including Tumble Team Workshop, Front & Back Walkover Workshop, Tumbling Ages 6–7, Tumbling Ages 8–10, Side & Front Aerial Workshop, Back Handspring & Back Tuck Workshop, and general Tumbling. The program also offers Private Lessons and combined Dance & Music Lessons, along with a Star Leadership 12 & Under session on prioritizing and time management.
• Ages: 1–12 years old
• Schedule: Summer hours may vary, with daytime staff available by call, text, or email Monday–Thursday from 10 AM–2 PM, and in-person hours Monday–Thursday from 4–7 PM.
Forte Arts Center states that its mission is to provide a safe and inclusive environment for students while providing engaging and entertaining classrooms. Faculty members have degrees in the arts or comparable professional experience and continue training to stay on the cutting edge. Class sizes are limited, and the program offers viewing windows and parent observation days throughout the year, as well as participation in a recital at Minooka High School where more than 2000 people attend the shows each year. The organization describes itself as a family-first organization that provides life skills, friendships, and community in a welcoming atmosphere and invites families to compare the features and options it offers.
Forte Arts Center has been serving the community through music, dance, and tumbling for over 30 years, opened its Morris location in 1993, and added a second location in Channahon in 2002. It notes “Teaching Life Through the Arts: 33 Years of Confidence, Connection, and Community at Forte Arts Center” and has been offering dance classes for kids of all ages for over 29 years. The program has been featured “As seen on Good Morning US.”
The organization highlights several unique features, including professional floating activity floors that rest on high-density foam to absorb shock and reduce fatigue, and a vinyl marley surface that allows dancers to slide with control but is not slippery. It offers a Peace of Mind Guarantee stating that if, after 30 days of actively participating in classes, families are not completely satisfied, Forte Arts Center will work to make it right and, if expectations cannot be met, money will be refunded. It also states that it aims to build self-esteem, make life-long friendships, and provide fun, and that it offers dance and music lessons for kids of all ages and for students of all ages and abilities.
Forte Arts Center is committed to community service in addition to education in the arts and has created the Service Society to raise awareness and encourage community involvement. Students receive points for participating in, contributing to, or starting a service project, and the organization states that a mixture of good grades, service to the community, and arts education will help students become well-rounded individuals with a successful future.
The leadership and staff team includes an owner, junior faculty members Riley Gorak, Molly Passerman, Quinn Hetzel, Olivia Poulsen, Katie Morin, and Mikaela Weatherbee, and faculty members Jana Brodeur, Brittney Erickson, Scarlett Nash, Megan Post, Brianna Sing, Lindsey Cote, Shelby Harris, Zoe Olsen, Bailey Reiser, Pam Simpson, Megan Edwards, Rishelle Manda, Morgan Powers, Katie Scuderi, Audra Spielman, Erin Strle, and Ashley Swanson. Music faculty include Mr. Ken, Miss Audra, Mr. Joe, and Mrs. Wendy, and staff members include Cathey Koerner, Jenn Tuider, Emily Mepham, Felicia Pacheco, and Sarah Hetzel.
Parent testimonials describe experiences at Forte Arts Center. Sarah Peterson, mother of a dance and music student, states that Forte is an incredible place for dance and music lessons, that teachers and staff are caring and patient with students and parents, and that her family feels fortunate to be part of the community. Caitlin Gunty, mother of a dance student, shares that this is her daughter’s first season at Forte, that her daughter has fallen in love with dance, and that instructors are kind, caring, and make sure every child is included and feels welcomed, and she notes that Forte feels like a home away from home and that she has watched her daughter grow and learn over the past year.
Last updated January 8, 2026.
• Ages: 1–12 years old
• Schedule: Summer hours may vary, with daytime staff available by call, text, or email Monday–Thursday from 10 AM–2 PM, and in-person hours Monday–Thursday from 4–7 PM.
Forte Arts Center states that its mission is to provide a safe and inclusive environment for students while providing engaging and entertaining classrooms. Faculty members have degrees in the arts or comparable professional experience and continue training to stay on the cutting edge. Class sizes are limited, and the program offers viewing windows and parent observation days throughout the year, as well as participation in a recital at Minooka High School where more than 2000 people attend the shows each year. The organization describes itself as a family-first organization that provides life skills, friendships, and community in a welcoming atmosphere and invites families to compare the features and options it offers.
Forte Arts Center has been serving the community through music, dance, and tumbling for over 30 years, opened its Morris location in 1993, and added a second location in Channahon in 2002. It notes “Teaching Life Through the Arts: 33 Years of Confidence, Connection, and Community at Forte Arts Center” and has been offering dance classes for kids of all ages for over 29 years. The program has been featured “As seen on Good Morning US.”
The organization highlights several unique features, including professional floating activity floors that rest on high-density foam to absorb shock and reduce fatigue, and a vinyl marley surface that allows dancers to slide with control but is not slippery. It offers a Peace of Mind Guarantee stating that if, after 30 days of actively participating in classes, families are not completely satisfied, Forte Arts Center will work to make it right and, if expectations cannot be met, money will be refunded. It also states that it aims to build self-esteem, make life-long friendships, and provide fun, and that it offers dance and music lessons for kids of all ages and for students of all ages and abilities.
Forte Arts Center is committed to community service in addition to education in the arts and has created the Service Society to raise awareness and encourage community involvement. Students receive points for participating in, contributing to, or starting a service project, and the organization states that a mixture of good grades, service to the community, and arts education will help students become well-rounded individuals with a successful future.
The leadership and staff team includes an owner, junior faculty members Riley Gorak, Molly Passerman, Quinn Hetzel, Olivia Poulsen, Katie Morin, and Mikaela Weatherbee, and faculty members Jana Brodeur, Brittney Erickson, Scarlett Nash, Megan Post, Brianna Sing, Lindsey Cote, Shelby Harris, Zoe Olsen, Bailey Reiser, Pam Simpson, Megan Edwards, Rishelle Manda, Morgan Powers, Katie Scuderi, Audra Spielman, Erin Strle, and Ashley Swanson. Music faculty include Mr. Ken, Miss Audra, Mr. Joe, and Mrs. Wendy, and staff members include Cathey Koerner, Jenn Tuider, Emily Mepham, Felicia Pacheco, and Sarah Hetzel.
Parent testimonials describe experiences at Forte Arts Center. Sarah Peterson, mother of a dance and music student, states that Forte is an incredible place for dance and music lessons, that teachers and staff are caring and patient with students and parents, and that her family feels fortunate to be part of the community. Caitlin Gunty, mother of a dance student, shares that this is her daughter’s first season at Forte, that her daughter has fallen in love with dance, and that instructors are kind, caring, and make sure every child is included and feels welcomed, and she notes that Forte feels like a home away from home and that she has watched her daughter grow and learn over the past year.
Last updated January 8, 2026.
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