McDonald Dance Academy celebrates 25 years

McDonald Dance Academy is celebrating its 25th year in business. The studio was started in 1994 by Linda McDonald in a small retail space in Arlington Heights, with enough room for one studio. Today, the studio is at 25 S. Dunton, Arlington Heights, in a much larger space with four studios under roof.

McDonald Dance Academy was started with the sole purpose of teaching correct dance technique to students. All the staff is highly educated in dance, many from universities where they were dance majors. Some of the staff dance professionally in Chicago.

"They love working with children and passing on their knowledge and passion of dance," McDonald said.

McDonald Dance Academy is a studio where students learn the true foundation of dance. McDonald did not want all the frills, elaborate costumes, sets and trophies.

"Dance is an art form," said McDonald. "It is something that should be appreciated for its true beauty and not hidden under flash and trophies. When you have all that stuff you are distracted and don't see the dancers themselves."

McDonald started dancing at 3 years old in a studio where there was more flash than education. She found out at an early age that all she had were trophies, fancy costumes and no dance foundation.

She quickly changed studios to one where proper technique was taught, which gave her the ability to go onto Texas Christian University, where she received a bachelor's degree in ballet. She danced with the Fort Worth Ballet, Fort Worth Opera and Musical Theater of Wichita.

McDonald started her own studio to give dancers a strong foundation from the very beginning.

"To learn from the start the correct way of moving is key in the art form," McDonald said.

Today, McDonald Dance Academy turns out beautiful dancers with strong technique. Some go on to college to major in dance, dance professionally or use dance in their careers.

"If nothing else, our students appreciate the true art form and its beauty," McDonald said.

The academy teaches more than just dance. It teaches an art form, and with that comes valuable life lessons.

Dance teaches that hard work and dedication has its rewards. The best satisfaction in life is what you accomplished through that hard work and not just what is given to you.

It teaches how to work alone and as a group. It teaches one how to be their own advocate and fight for what you want and never give up. The studio is a safe place where many long lasting friendships are made. Strong bonds happen when dancers work together.

"I am so blessed to have such wonderful families and dancers at the studio. Because of their strong technique, they are beautiful dancers and are able to do many workshops in Chicago and dance in their high school dance groups and productions.

"Every other year we take a group of our more advanced dancers to New York. They take class right along with the professionals. Their strong technique and the environment we have at the studio gives them the confidence and ability to do this," said McDonald.

"The professional companies in Chicago are aware of these dancers as well."

The studio has a great reputation for building strong technical dancers. Every year choreographers from the city come out and give master classes, as well as set dance pieces on some of the students.

McDonald Dance Academy has a performing group, the Arlington Dance Ensemble. The ensemble was started five years after the studio opened. The ensemble is a concert-based company, not a competition company. Every winter they host a gala, where a variety of dance disciplines are preformed as well as pieces set by guest artists.

Besides the gala, they perform in different venues throughout the Chicago area. Every other winter they perform excerpts from the "Nutcracker" ballet at different local retirement communities. The ensemble also performs in charity events.

"It is these kinds of performances that give the dancers an opportunity to give back to their community by using their talents," said McDonald.

McDonald believes that her studio and dance has helped to shape some of the greatest children around.

"A simple philosophy with a staff that cares and believes in their students. This is what has kept the school around for 25 years. We care about our students and teaching dance correctly in its purest art form," McDonald said.

For information about McDonald Dance Academy, visit www.mcdonalddance.com.

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