Dance classes offered in our program include:

Mommy & Me:

Class designed for young dancers to be shared with a parent. This class helps their developmental needs and creates a fun learning and bonding experience. Incorporates motor skills, stretching exercises, creative movement and expression.

Pre-Ballet and Pre-Ballet/Tap:
This is a wonderful introduction to ballet using French terminology, proper posture, stretching and coordination exercises.   While Pre-Ballet/Tap is a combination class that introduces ballet and tap dance and includes basic tap skills, steps and rhythms.

Classical Ballet:

Each ballet class consists entirely of technique and includes barre exercises, center work, adagio and allegro. Children spend approx. 20-30 minutes of each class at the barre in order to gain strength, balance and turn out necessary to execute center work correctly. Ballet is the foundation from which all forms of dance originate. Therefore, we recommend that all students take ballet to ensure proper technique and form.  Pointe preparation: Students will need to be at least 11 yrs of age, and will continue for a year or more until they are ready for pointe work.

Character Dance:

Folk dance will be taught at the more advanced ballet levels, including Polonaise, Czardas, Mazurka and Spanish Tarantella.

Ballet/Contemporary:

Includes classical ballet technique with a more contemporary and fluid style. Class consists of barre exercises, center work and combinations using more contemporary music.

Jazz:
This is an energetic, fun class!!! Students will learn Jazz steps, rhythm and combination using popular music.

Hip Hop:

Incorporates some of the basic jazz techniques like turns, leaps, jumps and flexibility. This is the style you see on music videos.

Showbiz / Broadway:
A totally fun class that has a foundation of jazz technique with warm up and stretching jazz exercises, combinations and routines based on Broadway shows.

Tap:

A fun form of dance that increases coordination of the mind and body. Develops a sense of rhythm and timing which is essential to the development of every style of dance.

Cheers/Poms:

A progressive class that includes warm up and stretching exercises, poms moves and routines.

Adult Ballet:
Especially for adults and young adults! If you wanted to learn ballet and never did, or you want to come back, this is the class for you!!!

Adult Hip Hop:

Join the latest dance craze and learn some new moves to get you out on the dance floor in a fun and relaxed environment. Class appropriate for high school through adult.

Adult Jazz/Salsa:

A fun class! Warm up with Latin style jazz stretching exercises and isolations; center work technique and steps and combinations across the floor. Combinations will incorporate salsa dance, mambo, samba and other Latin dances.

Our program is a full year program with classes offered in the Recreation Center’s Dance Studios.

Semester I
September - December

Semester II
January - June

In June, at the end of our dance year, there is a Dance Recital where everyone may participate.

Attendance:
Students are expected to be ON TIME for their class with their dance attire and hair up.

Dance Attire:
Pre-Ballet, Classical Ballet: Black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet slippers

Showbiz / Broadway, Jazz, Tap: Black leotard, black tights, black jazz or tap shoes

Adult Dance Classes: Leotard, tights, comfortable clothes (ballet slippers or tap shoes)

Safety & Security:
Students should not be left unsupervised for long periods of time before or after class.

Dance Staff
Dance Director/Instructor:

Esther Pool

Dance Instructors:

Laura Hampton, Sarah Pasquesi, Brittany Goodrich, Lindsey Katsetos, Miguel Antonia

Esther Pool, a professional choreographer and teacher for more than 30 years, started dancing at the age of six with the Russian School of Ballet under Maestro Dimitri Rosstoff. She later continued her studies with Madame Gniavi and Maestro Roger Fenonjouis and performed leading roles in ballet productions including "Swan Lake," "Sleeping Beauty" and "Giselle." After her marriage, Esther took advantage of her intensive international travels to study and teach Spanish and Russian folklore dances, Afro-Caribbean dance, jazz and modern dance in addition to her classical ballet training. After moving to Chicago in 1976, she started and developed the Dance and Fitness programs both in Vernon Hills Park District (1977-1987) and Libertyville Recreation Department (1983-1987). Esther is also the co-creator of the dance exercise record, DANCEX (1982), sold nationally. She has been the dance director of the Lake Bluff Park District School of Dance since 1994.

Laura Hampton has been teaching for seven years all over Lake County, including Highland Park, Libertyville, and Spring Grove. She began training at the Judith Svalander School of Ballet and continued to study at the Ellis DuBoulay School of Ballet in Chicago. In addition to ballet, she has studied jazz at Lou Conte in Chicago. She has performed with the Prairie Spirits Dance Theater and the Illinois Youth Dance Theater. Laura has been teaching at the Lake Bluff Park District School of Dance since 1997.

Sarah Pasquesi started taking ballet classes at the age of three in her native country of Canada. After moving to Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of nine, she continued her studies at the University of Cincinnati College's Conservatory of Music (official School of the Cincinnati Ballet Company). For four years she performed in the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of "The Nutcracker" and also as a dancer in the University of Cincinnati's Opera "Falstaff." She received her bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University where she was a member of the University Performing Dancers. Sarah lives in Lake Bluff with her family and has two small children ages three and five. This is her second year with the Lake Bluff School of Dance.

Brittany Goodrich is  a senior at Lake Forest College. She is double majoring in Communications and English with a minor in Art. Brittany is part of the leadership program and is on the Lake Forest College Poms Squad. During the 2008-09 season, Brittany will lead the pom squad as captain/director. Brittany has seriously trained as a dancer for about 13 years and was a part of the Terpsichore Dance Company in Libertyville. She trained as a child in tap with Savion Glover and in jazz with Kim Kalla and Ann McCrosky. Brittany has performed at Disney World twice and recently danced for the half time show of the Fed Ex Orange Bowl in Miami, FL. She has been a dance instructor at Lake Bluff Park District’s School of Dance for three years.

Lindsey Katsetos received her early training in ballet, jazz and tap while growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lindsey has trained alongside the following choreographers: Mia Michaels, Nick Bass, Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo, Brian Friedman and Dee Caspary. She is currently the administrative assistant as well as company member of Hip Hop Connxion Chicago.  Most recently Lindsey had the opportunity to perform in Orlando at the International McDonald’s Convention as a hip hop dancer.

Miguel Antonia has studied and trained many years in ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop at Lou Conte Dance Studio and Joel Hall Dance Studio. His training included master classes with choreographers and dancers of: Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce Knowles, Justin Timberlake, Ciara and Monsters of Hip Hop Tour Show.  His dance experience included The Happiness Club in Chicago, Dance Chicago, Navy Pier Skyline Stage, Chicago Theatre and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Miguel has been the leading dancer in many music videos including: Southern Boi; I Can’t Go; Not For Me; Crime in the Streets and others. Currently he is part of the dance company: Hip Hop Connxion in Chicago and choreographer for Company, Urban Nite 2007, Dance Chicago 2006-2007, Monsters of Hip Hop Convention Chicago 2006, Dance Live 2008 and others. Miguel is the recipient of the “Urban Jamm Convention Scholarship 2008”. He teaches adult intermediate hip hop at Dance Viva Dance Studio in Chicago and children and adults beginner hip hop at Lorraine Grey Dance Studio in Chicago. This will be his first year with the Lake Bluff School of Dance.

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