Northern Illinois Dance Center

Northern Illinois Dance Center offers Movin w/ my Mini, an introductory class for a child and parent or caregiver that includes creative movement, musicality, coordination, listening skills, and class etiquette. It also offers Dance Basics, combo classes such as ballet and lyrical, jazz and hip hop, ballet and jazz, or musical theater and tap, plus ballet, hip hop, jazz, teen and tween lyrical, musical theater, pointe or demi pointe, and tap.

Programs

• Movin’ w/ my Mini — 18 months – 3 years old · Introductory dance class for child and parent/caregiver. Focuses on creative movement, musicality, coordination, listening skills, and class etiquette. Included in Holiday Show and Spring Recitals.
• Dance Basics — 3-5 years old
• Combo Classes — 5-7 years old · Combo classes such as ballet & lyrical, jazz & hip hop, ballet & jazz, or musical theater & tap. Focus on fundamentals, coordination, motor skills, creativity, musicality, and dance class etiquette.
• Ballet — 8+; 7 if they have taken a combo class with us the prior year and the teacher recommended level 1 · Class includes barre work, center combinations, and traveling progressions. Ballet 1 and 2 meet one day a week; Ballet 3 and 4 meet two days a week.
• Hip Hop — 8+ · Fast-paced class with popular dance moves and styles from a variety of eras. Includes popping, locking, breaking, tutting, warm-up, center combinations, and creativity.
• Jazz — 8+; 7 if they have taken a combo class with us the prior year and the teacher recommended level 1 · Fast-paced, energetic class that builds on ballet technique. Includes warm-up, progressions, technique training, and a center combination.
• Teen / Tween Lyrical — Middle School & older · Modern/lyrical class introducing modern concepts and building on ballet alignment. Focuses on creativity, spine position, body awareness, and body placement.
• Musical Theater — 8+ · Focuses on combining jazz style with Broadway characteristics and personality. Includes acting, musicality, jazz technique, progressions, and center combinations.
• Pointe / Demi Pointe — Age: strictly on teacher placement / evaluation · Offered to advanced ballet students. Teacher permission is required for both demi pointe and progressing to pointe.
• Tap — 8+ · Fast-paced class focused on rhythm and musicality. Includes warm-up, progressions in the center and across the floor, traditional tap skills, improvisation, and creativity.

At a glance

• Ages: 1–18 years old
• General schedule: Classes are divided by age, type of dance, and level of experience. The studio has open enrollment and welcomes new students throughout the year as space allows. All ages are based on the student’s age as of September 1st of that school year.

About the provider

Northern Illinois Dance Center says Atlee Smith has taught there since the studio opened in 2009. The studio states that instructors have all been background checked through Good Hire, Raelyn Joyner is an accredited International Ballet Barre Fitness Association Instructor, and the studio is an IDEA member.

• Barre & Beyond Class – Adult Fitness Classes — Adult · Barre-based fitness classes using ballet-inspired postures plus yoga and pilates. Incorporates resistance band, light dumbbells, body resistance work, and a yoga-inspired cool down.
• Dance Buddies 6-week sessions — A lower-commitment class similar in style to Movin’ with My Mini with caregiver participation; does not participate in performances.

Northern Illinois Dance Center has an open enrollment policy and welcomes new students throughout the year as space allows. Registration is open. Classes are based on age as of September 1st of the school year. If a class is full and it is a first choice, students should waitlist it. Movin’ w/ my Mini is included in Holiday Show and Spring Recitals. Dance Buddies 6-week sessions and Dance Stars 6-week sessions are lower-commitment options without recital/performance participation. Teacher permission is required for Pointe / Demi Pointe progression.

Last updated August 23, 2026.