top of page

Discover the Joy of Dance at
The Dance Center of La Grange

Our Approach

The Dance Center of La Grange is dedicated to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment where individuals of all ages and skill levels can explore the art of dance. Our philosophy revolves around fostering a love for dance while emphasizing technique, creativity, and personal growth. We believe in the transformative power of dance and aim to inspire each of our students to reach their full potential.

Directors

Untitled design - 1_edited_edited_edited

Dana Fry

This  will be Dana’s 20th year teaching at the Dance Center of La Grange.   She has taught and assisted all age groups from the Pre-Ballet/Creative  Movement level to the Advanced level. During her high school years,  Dana was part of the Pom Pons squad, where she was able to bring dance  to the football field and basketball court. She was also part of the  Eurythmic Dance Company, where she was able to bring all her skills from  the Dance Center of LaGrange to the high school. Dana is a graduate of  Illinois State University where she studied dance education and physical  education. While in college she was part of the Illinois State Dance  Theater Dance Company, where she had the opportunity to work closely  with the faculty members and guest artists.  Dana has worked at  Riverside Brookfield High School and has had the opportunity to  choreograph for various other high schools in neighboring areas.  She is  currently the Assistant Director of Lyons Township High School  Eurythmic Dance Company and JV Pom Pons coach.  Dana is happy that she  is able to bring her knowledge, creativity, and passion for dance to the  dancers at the Dance Center of La Grange.

Untitled design - 2_edited.jpg

Brittany Smith

Brittany  received her Dance Performance degree at Illinois State University  where she was a member of Illinois State Dance Theatre and a School of  Theatre scholarship recipient. She is also Director of the Eurythmic  Dance Company and Varsity Pom Pons coach at Lyons Township High School.  Brittany has had the honor of working with choreographers from all over  the country while at ISU and performing solo and ensemble work at the  American College Dance Festival.  She began dancing at the age of three  and has taught at the Dance Center of La Grange for fourteen years. She  is a graduate of Lyons Township High School where she was co-captain of  the varsity poms squad and a member of the Eurythmic Dance Company for  four years. Brittany continues to broaden her dance experiences through  workshops, intensives and classes throughout the Chicago area. She is  currently a member and Performing with Outlet Dance Company and is  excited to be bringing her experience and knowledge to the Dance Center  of La Grange.

Instructors

Linda_edited.jpg

Linda Wilinski

Pre-Ballet, Ballet/Tap, Ballet/Jazz/Tap, Ballet & Jazz/Tap III, Jazz/Poms, Advanced Dance

Linda Wilinski began her dance training at the Dance Center of Lagrange at just 3 years old and continued until she graduated high school in 2018. She continued her training at Illinois State University receiving her Bachelors of Science in dance teacher education as well as an endorsement in physical education. Linda is an active member of the community who has taught at DCL for 3 years now as well as within District 102 and at the Lagrange Park district. Her philosophy is that everyone deserves a chance to dance and aims to create an inclusive environment for her students. Linda teaches anywhere between creative movement and advanced dance and loves creating a personal rapport with students. 

20230601_110139.jpeg

Peggy Herman

Pre-Ballet, Ballet/Tap, Ballet/Jazz/Tap, Ballet & Jazz/Tap I & II

Peggy  is excited to be starting her 21st year teaching at the Dance Center of  La Grange.  Her past experience includes working as an instructor for  Youth Fitness Consultants teaching a yearly curriculum of weekly classes  in movement, fitness and health to children in elementary schools,  preschools and park districts all over the Chicagoland area for 8  years.  She has studied ballet since the age of 9.  She has studied  ballet and jazz at Daley College of Chicago where she was captain of the  Pom Pons squad while a student there.  She has also continued to study  ballet at the School of Salt Creek Ballet for more than 25 years.  Peggy  has enjoyed performing with the Dance Center of LaGrange, Ballet Legere  Nutcracker for 10 years, Lyric Opera of Chicago performances over the  past 2 decades, as well as appearing in a variety of tv and movie  productions filmed in Chicago.  Peggy will be teaching  Pre-Ballet/Creative Dance,  Ballet/Tap, Ballet, and Jazz/Tap this  year.

Untitled design_edited.jpg

Kim Pinkston

Advanced Dance Guest Teacher

Kim  has been dancing since she was 6 and teaching dance since she was 16.   She received her Bachelors in Dance from Western Michigan University and  continued her education with a Masters in Dance/Movement Therapy.  In  her full-time career Kim combines her love of dance and movement with  her passion for counseling and helping others who are struggling with  mental health issues.  Kim has been teaching part-time with Dance Center  of LaGrange since 1997.  She currently teaches as a guest artist for  the advanced level classes-ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, and tap.

4H5A1329 2_edited.jpg

Lauren Gadomski

Jazz/Hip Hop I & II, Advanced Dance

Lauren  Gadomski began her dance training and education at a young age. Growing  up, she trained in all dance styles as well as baton twirling but found  a true love for upbeat, performative styles such as jazz, hip hop, and  pom dance. This has helped shape her own personal movement style, as  well as influence her teaching methods. In 2021, Lauren earned her  Bachelors of Science in Theatre- Dance Teacher Education from Illinois  State University where she then received her professional teaching  license in Physical Education and Dance. During her time at ISU, she was  a member of the Illinois State Dance Theatre performance company, as  well as captain of the Redline Express Dance Team, spending all her time  on the football field, basketball court, or in the theatre. With her  teaching license, Lauren spends the day teaching PE at the Middle School  level stressing the importance of physical activity and an interest in  all types of physical movement. She is so grateful to have found a home  at DCL where she can help reinforce the idea that dance is an art to all  ages!

IMG_2765 2.JPEG

Nina Crouchelli

Advanced Dance Guest Teacher

Nina  Crouchelli began her lifelong journey with dance at the Dance Center of  LaGrange.  It was here that Nina found her voice in movement and a  passion that would inspire her to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in  Dance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  Nina curated  her love for improvisational movement and performance at the University  of Illinois, and danced in works choreographed by José Limón, Jennifer  Monson, Linda Lehovec, John Toenjes, and Roxane D’Orleans Juste.   Currently, Nina is pursuing her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at  Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago. As a teacher at the Dance  Center of LaGrange, Nina strives to intertwine her devotion to dance  with her love of science and education.

image000000.JPEG

Jamie Gawle

Advanced Dance Guest Teacher

Jamie  began her dance education and training at the Dance Center of La Grange  in 1999 and remained a student until graduating in 2012. At Riverside  Brookfield High School, Jamie was a part of Orchesis Dance Company and  Repertory Dance Ensemble. In all settings of dance, Jamie fostered her  interest of dance as an art form while dancing and choreographing. She  obtained her Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in Communication Disorders,  Spanish, and Dance from Central Michigan University. While in college,  Jamie performed in numerous dance productions, choreographed several  original pieces and was cast in the show HUMANITY: An Original Dance  Production. In 2018, Jamie received her Master in Speech-Language  Pathology Degree and is currently working in the pediatric setting. As  she is building her career in speech therapy, Jamie's passion for dance  has remained. She is honored to continue to be a part of this dance  education program.

bottom of page