Elburn looks to State Street Dance Studio to boost program

In a move to bolster the struggling Blackberry School of Ballet and Dance, board members of the Elburn and Countryside Community Center have contracted with State Street Dance Studio in Geneva to conduct dance instructions in Elburn.

The Blackberry program, which is operated by the center, had experienced low enrollment and other problems since founder and director Kristen Rivers retired in 2006, according to board member Jack Hansen. The Blackberry program began in an Elburn church in 1983 and moved to the center, which took over running the program in 1995.

"We had too many programs offered and too few students enrolled," Hansen said. "I was a consultant, and I know that when your business is in trouble you can sometimes find help from a competitor."

Hansen contacted Linda Cunningham for help. She is artistic director and owner of the State Street Dance Studio.

Cunningham sent Krista Petersen, a member of her faculty, to be a substitute teacher in Elburn.

"She was wonderful and the parents wanted her to stay," Hansen said. "I went to the board and we talked about having State Street run our program. When I went back to Linda she said yes."

"I did some soul searching," Cunningham said, recalling her talks with Elburn Center board members. "State Street is an amazing program and I want to do as good a job in Elburn as we do in Geneva."

According to Cunningham, State Street Dance Studio is a technically-driven, non-competition based school.

"I believe the trophy is within you," Cunningham said regarding her philosophy. "The reward is coming off the stage after giving it everything."

Cunningham said her studio will offer a full range of classes to students 3 through adult in Elburn. Classes include ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, lyrical, tap and adult ballroom.

Elburn students will also have the opportunity to audition for State Street Dance Studio's annual production of "The Nutcracker" at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles, and to perform at the Paramount Theater in Aurora.

"We're very excited, they (State Street Dance Studio faculty) have a great reputation," said Laurie Studdard of the Elburn Center.

Studdard says the Blackberry School has drawn students from not only Elburn but Sugar Grove, Maple Park, St. Charles, Hampshire and Batavia.

The center is seeking volunteers to help paint and clean up the dance studio.

For details, call the center at (630) 365-6655. More information will be available at an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. June 25 at the center, 525 N. Main St.