Our Mission
Our mission is to provide the most professional dance experience possible all while offering quality instruction to dancers of all ages and abilities. We understand that students enroll in dance for various reasons. It is our vision to build the foundation to make it possible for all students to attain their personal goals. At Byron Dance Academy, we pride ourselves in creating an atmosphere that gets the very best out of each dancer. This positive environment allows each dancer to grow in confidence and self-esteem while mastering the many different dance styles and techniques.
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Meet the Instructors
Cultural Arts Program Manager- Jessica Julian
Jessica has been teaching dance for twenty-three years. As a former dancer herself, Jessica studied at several different diverse studios in the Stateline area and knows first-hand the impact dance can have on young lives. She loves teaching all styles of dance and is wonderful with dancers of all ages. Her passion for music and kids shines through in her creative choreography and class atmosphere! Jessica was a member of Fourth Movement, a semi-professional ensemble that toured in Europe. She has also danced all over the United States and won many top-scoring awards at both regional and national levels while competing. Her choreography has been featured at several dance studios in the Stateline area. She has enthusiasm and passion for teaching, and it shows! Jessica always gets the very best out of her students with her wonderful choreography and the positive class environment she creates.
Dance Instructor- Hannah Otte
Hannah has been dancing for thirteen years and teaching for seven. She began her dance journey with a community dance group in the styles of Hip Hop and Cheer. Then moving to a program called CYT (Christian Youth Theater), Hannah studied multiple dance styles including: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip hop, Ballroom, Swing, Rockettes, African, and Musical Theater! After graduating high school, Hannah joined CYT as a dance instructor where she taught dancers of all ages and abilities for five years before joining the BDA team. Hannah is heading into her third season with us and we are very lucky to have her on staff.
Dance Instructor- Hannah Breault
Hannah has been dancing for sixteen years beginning her passion to dance at four years old. Her many years of studio training lead her to perform and compete on her high school dance team all four years where she adapted highly competitive technique onto her previous dance foundation. She also performed in two musicals where she was selected as a dance coach and created a positive learning environment to help the cast successfully carry out each dance routine for the shows. Although she has trained in many styles of dance, Hannah has a fire for hip hop and is thrilled to be able to share her enthusiasm and love for dance at BDA!
Dance Instructor- Taylor Doane
Taylor began recital classes at age 4 years old and has been dancing for 17 years. She also spent some of those years dancing competitively. She has trained at several diverse studios, and studied from a variety of instructors at the collegiate level. Taylor has been trained in a variety of styles, but has always had a love and passion for Tap! She has recently graduated from the University of Tampa with her BA in Exercise Physiology. She is beyond excited to incorporate her schooling and help dancers understand how to properly train and take care of their bodies for a sport like dance. Taylor has always had a strong desire to give back to the dance world and thankfully BDA has a place for her to do so! She looks forward to giving students a space to create and express themselves all while becoming stronger both mentally and physically. Taylor is committed to not only helping her students grow in dance, but also as humans. We are thrilled to have Taylor's talent here at the Byron Dance Academy.
2023-24 Assistant Dance Instructors
Alana Julian Annabella Barker Taylor Fabish -
Welcome to the 2023-24 Dance Year!
The Byron Dance Academy recital dance classes include five sessions. The fifth session ends with the Recital. Dancers performing in the recital must register for the second, third, fourth, and fifth sessions. Attendance at the dress rehearsal and the performance will be required. Additional costume fee(s) will be applied to accounts at the start of the second and third sessions in addition to the registration fee.
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Class Descriptions
Please note: Not all dance classes are offered year round as part of our recital program. A variety of non-recital adult and youth dance classes are typically offered in the winter and spring months. For a complete list of our current classes, click here.ADULT BARRE FITNESS will include ballet barre, stretching and strengthening exercises that will tone and firm your body. This class will help to elevate the heart rate giving a great cardio workout as well.
ADULT HIP HOP will include choreography and isometric exercises taught each week. You will be dancing the hour away to some of the biggest names in hip hop and rap music!
BALLET will provide an environment where dancers will be able to challenge themselves and grow. Ballet serves as a great foundation for all styles of dance. It allows each dancer to improve essential skills such as balance, coordination, discipline and overall strength.
COMBO will help dancers discover three ways to have a blast dancing! Each week dancers will learn technique and choreography in ballet, tap, and jazz. The growth that is possible when combining all three styles into one class period is both exciting and incredible!
COMPETITION PREP CLASS will work on all of the key technical elements that will improve performance and prepare dancers for Competition Dance Team auditions. This will be a sneak peek at some of the new and exciting elements that team dancers will be working on throughout the Competition season.
DANCE TEAM PREP will introduce pom-style choreography, proper technique and skills to prepare any dancer that is wanting to try out for their schools dance team. This class will increase confidence all while covering many core methods taught in the school dance team arena.
HIP HOP will create a fun and exciting environment where dancers will learn stylized choreography. This class is perfect for boys and girls that have no prior dance experience.
JAZZ/LYRICAL will introduce two styles of dance. Each dancer will learn skills and choreography in both styles. This class will work on improving flexibility, balance, memorization of steps, and expressing movement connected to meaningful music.
MINI HIP HOP will introduce dancers to different styles of hip hop dance and even some jazz funk! Each class will consist of some stretching and conditioning as a warm up and will lead into learning short dance routines.
MODERN/CONTEMPORARY will provide a very unique and stylized learning opportunity. Delivering an exciting atmosphere of rhythms and different methods on how to use the body in a creative way. This class will teach dancers choreography that will challenge them and build them into strong performers.
MUSICAL THEATRE JR. offers a chance for our younger performers to learn about theatre and expand their knowledge of the arts! This class will focus on learning specific dance styles that would be seen in a musical performance. Dancers will be introduced to ensemble work, as well as star driven choreography. We feel this class will give dancers a head start so they are ready to take part in any musical!
TAP will offer a variety of tap technique steps, as well as tap combinations that will improve coordination and syncopation in each dancer. Being trained in tap also helps dancers excel in other styles.
TINY TOTS will learn about balance, coordination and rhythm. It will be a fun and encouraging environment that will allow them to grow using their imaginations and bodies to create dance steps. They will gain knowledge of ballet and tap technique.
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Costume Deposits
A costume deposit fee will be required for each recital class. Half of the deposit fee will be billed at the beginning of session two. The remaining balance will be billed at the beginning of session three. Costume deposits are non-refundable. Students will be measured for their recital costumes mid-November and costumes will be ordered in December. Costumes will be distributed upon arrival once the class' full order has been received.
Class Deposit Fee Combo Classes $85 Jazz/Lyrical Classes $100 Level Classes $70 Tiny Tots & Mini Hip Hop $60 -
Dress Code
Required Dance Attire:
Ballet Level 1, 2 & 3: Pink ballet shoes are required. The following attire is acceptable: leotards, tights, spandex shorts, ballet skirt, and leggings.
Boys Class: Clean hip hop sneakers are required. The following attire is acceptable: t-shirts, athletic shorts, joggers, and sweatpants (more fitted than baggy).
Combo 1, 2 & 3: Pink ballet, black tap, and black jazz are required. The following attire is acceptable: leotards, ballet dresses, spandex shorts, leggings, fitted tanks, ballet skirts, and fitted t-shirts.
Hip Hop 1, 2 & 3 and Hip Hop Mini: Clean sneakers are required. The following attire is acceptable: athletic clothes such as, t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, leggings, joggers, and fitted sweatpants. NO JEANS
Jazz/Lyrical 1, 2 & 3: Nude turning shoes are required. The following attire is acceptable: leotards, fitted tanks, fitted t-shirts, spandex shorts, leggings, and joggers.
Musical Theater: Black jazz shoes are required. The following attire is acceptable: leotards, fitted tanks, fitted t-shirts, leggings, spandex shorts, and joggers.
Tap 1, 2 & 3: Black tap shoes are required. The following attire is acceptable: leotards, fitted tanks, fitted t-shirts, leggings, spandex shorts, and joggers.
Tiny Tots: Pink ballet and black tap shoes are required. The following attire is acceptable: leotards, tights, dance dresses, spandex shorts, leggings, and fitted tanks/t-shirts.
NOTE: Shoes/attire can be purchased at Foot Lodge, Payless Shoe Store, and Walmart.
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Hip Hop with Dominic
Dominic is a hip hop dance instructor/director from Rockford, Illinois. He loves to inspire others by sharing his talents and passion of dance. Dominic is a very decorated hip hop performer and competed on an elite team for 12 years. While competing, Dominic and his crew won numerous high point awards and scholarships. He was featured on Season 15 of Americas Got Talent with Xtreme Dance Force. He has been teaching for 5 years now and plans to eventually open up his own dance studio. Dominic brings an energy level to his classes that is unmatched!Date: Saturday, October 7Minis (ages 5-8): 10:00-10:45 am; Fee: $15/$20
Juniors (ages 9-12): 11:00 am-12:00 pm; Fee: $20/$25
Teens (ages 13-18): 12:00-1:30 pm; Fee: $25/$30
