Testimonials

We chose YDA for our daughters, Reese and Ellie, because of the stellar reputation of the program. Yvonne and team has given our children the opportunity to experience, learn and love the art of dance. Both Reese and Ellie dance all of the time. They dance so much, in fact, that we hung mirrors in our basement so they would no longer stand in front of the TV or glass mini fridge door trying to see their reflection as they practice.

We stay at YDA because of the many types of opportunities that YDA offers our girls to engage with dance. During our first year with YDA Reese and Ellie both took ballet. They quickly realized that there are many different types of dance classes available to them and took interest. Over the past few dance seasons both Reese and Ellie have expanded their class selections and loved every minute of each class.

Our dancers report that they love to go to YDA because they get to learn hard to do dance moves and because they love Miss Yvonne.

Just as important as the level of instruction the girls have received and the love of dance they have developed is the sense of family that YDA has.  We had only been at YDA for a year when one of our children received a life changing medical diagnosis. Miss Yvonne and her team took a personal interest in supporting our family.  Their continued support, compassion and kindness helps our girls navigate difficult times and shown us that YDA is more than a dance studio, it’s a dance family.

Nine years ago, we had a preschooler named Emma who wanted to dance. We choose YDA because we knew people who went there, and it was in our school. We didn’t think that dance was going to become such a big part in our life when we enrolled Emma into class, but now we realize that we were wrong. Now we wouldn’t just pick YDA because it was close to our school. We would pick it because of the loving and caring teachers, environment, and classes. 

We have stayed with YDA because we know that it is a very important place to both of our girls. We trust YDA so much. It has become a second home to Emma, and Maddie is enjoying it as much as Emma has. We never plan on leaving YDA to go anywhere else. Emma is hoping to continue through high school, and hopefully Maddie will continue to feel the same. Why would we ever want to leave such an amazing place that our whole family loves and respects?

Some people would say “Ugh. Dance class,” but our girls value the time that they get to be in the classroom. The teachers care a lot about the girls they teach. The teachers have fun with the girls, they talk to the parents, they comfort the girls and they smile all the time. The studios and the locations are very nice and clean, and it shows that they care a lot about the people that see their studio. We remember when they only had the one classroom at St. Bens, but what we also remember is the open house for the IPR Studios. Over the years we have valued dropping them off on their first day, all the way to the end of their last 3-minute dance at the recital. Watching the change in Emma from a little girl to a young woman has a direct link to the poise, balance and confidence she has gained from dancing.

We both love coming to YDA because we are excited to learn something new each week. I, Emma, personally love coming here because I get to learn my favorite thing and hang out with my friends. I have gotten so many opportunities and I hope that there are more to come. I love dance and when I grow up, I want to be a dance teacher and a dancer at the Joffrey.

I, Maddie, love coming to YDA because I love to be in the classroom. I like playing games about the dance style/move we just learned. 

We want others to know that if you’re looking for a studio YDA is the best option. They have lots of options for your dancer and the teachers who teach those classes are amazing. Mrs. Yvonne has the best dance academy in the city of Chicago. What we’re trying to tell you is the Yvonne’s Dance Academy is amazing.

YDA has taught my girls the fundamentals of dance, but so much more.  YDA has taught them about confidence, about inclusiveness, and about dedication.  As I once said to Yvonne, it takes a village to raise kind, confident girls, and I feel so blessed that YDA is a part of our village.

I love YDA because I can do ballet and also choose other classes that I like too. And, whichever classes I choose, the teachers are always super nice and fun. They select awesome costumes for the recital and the songs are cool. YDA gives me confidence and makes it fun to perform on stage at the recital. Ms. Yvonne is amazing!

We want to thank you for all you have done for Zoe this year. She has truly enjoyed dancing at YDA and we have truly enjoyed seeing her learn. The recital was AMAZING. It was our first time seeing a YDA production and we were beyond impressed. When we registered Zoe at YDA for the 2016-2017 season, we really didn’t know what to expect, as this was our first “dance” experience. However, while watching the recital, all we could think was, “this school is no joke.” Your studio creates serious dancers and we were genuinely entertained. We are so proud that our Zoe was part of this awesome production and that she is part of the YDA family. We can’t wait for for the day that Zoe is on stage with you receiving her 5 (or 10) year trophy!

We first joined YDA because Sophie’s friends were dancing after school and it was convenient. Plus her older brothers favorite teachers were running the studio! We’ve remained loyal to YDA for a few reasons. (1) Our dancer has literally grown with the studio and it’s been a joy to watch that process. (2) It’s a welcoming environment that fosters not only love of dance but love of self. No matter the level or genre of focus, all are welcome and all are positively challenged. (3) Our dancer has gained confidence that carries over into all other areas in her life.

The sense of community has proven to be most important and valuable to us. Everyone looks after each other and encourages each other to shine. The YDA staff works so hard and spends so much time developing the right choreography, choosing the best song, and picking the costume that ties it all together so perfectly. YDA cares so much about their dancers and want their experience to both challenge and satisfy them on many levels. It’s very gratifying to see the look of accomplishment in our dancer’s eyes when she is on stage and enjoying the moment!

Sophie loves coming to YDA because it feels like family to her. She feels comfortable expressing herself in word or movement at YDA. YDA has something for everyone and will challenge your child to be their best and to have FUN. One of our dancer’s favorite memories (besides every recital!) was our Dance at Disney adventure in the summer of 2015. Not only did she dance in a parade down Main Street in the happiest place on earth, she performed on a main stage as well with all her closest friends. The dancers worked so hard for months and it literally couldn’t have been any more ‘magical’. The girls were all floating on air, they were so proud, charged, and confident! She will remember that feeling, that moment, that experience the rest of her life.

There is simply no better place for a young child to learn about the incredible gift of dance. Yvonne and her staff are passionate, kind, and teach so much more than just dancing!

Compassionate. Dedicated. Adventurous. Bold. These are all words that I would use to describe YDA, Yvonne, and her team. Our daughter has been with YDA for 10 years and so, perhaps not surprisingly, these are all words we would use to describe the traits we are noticing in our daughter. This is much more than a dance academy. YDA is a classroom, a gymnasium, a sanctuary, and a playground. It’s a place where our daughter has grown from a quirky toddler into a strong and confident adolescent. It’s a place where our daughter is her true self. YDA does a great job of balancing serious with silly. The classes are challenging and demanding yet fun. Our daughter is involved in numerous extracurricular activities and looks forward most to YDA. She has developed friendships and has even taken a mentoring role to some of the younger dancers. We couldn’t be happier with YDA.

My daughter started dancing with YDA three years ago when she was 3. We originally joined YDA because it was convenient and my daughter enjoyed it. After attending our first recital, I saw how emotionally attached many of the older dancers were to Ms. Yvonne, the program, and their fellow dancers. I remember some of the girls speaking about how Ms. Yvonne taught them to love their bodies and themselves through dance. I was struck by this powerful message to young girls. Having left gymnastics in my early teens after being told I needed to lose weight, what I love most about YDA is that Yvonne and her staff teach all dancers to be themselves and to love and cherish their bodies.

Originally, we chose YDA because it was conveniently located in the same building as our daughter’s preschool (St. Benedict Preparatory School). We now choose to return to YDA every year because our daughter loves to dance there, loves the teachers, and it is her #1 favorite activity to be part of. YDA has given her confidence, grace, strength, a true love of dance, and so much more! And, this year she is beyond excited to share in the Dance the World experience at Walt Disney World with the YDA dancers and teachers.