Dance Camps in Chicago

Chicago dance camps range from beginner-friendly creative movement to elite pre-professional training with world-renowned companies. What unites them is access to instructors from some of the world's most respected dance organizations.

A Typical Day: All dance camps begin with warm-up and technique class—essential for injury prevention and building foundational skills. The specific style depends on the program: ballet barre at Joffrey, contemporary movement vocabulary at Hubbard Street, or circus fundamentals at The Actors Gymnasium. Mid-day typically features repertory or choreography sessions where dancers learn and rehearse pieces. Afternoons might include cross-training in complementary styles, stretching and conditioning, or specialized workshops.

Styles and Approaches: Joffrey Ballet Academy offers the full spectrum from creative movement for toddlers through elite summer intensives with auditioned admission. Their training emphasizes classical ballet technique with guest teachers from the world-renowned Joffrey Ballet company. Hubbard Street Dance represents contemporary dance at the highest level—their summer intensives are competitive, and selected dancers may join a Company World Premiere residency. The Actors Gymnasium provides circus arts training including trapeze, aerial silks, juggling, and stilts—a unique alternative for kids drawn to physical performance but not traditional dance.

Performances: Most programs conclude with an informal showing or formal performance. At Joffrey, this means dancing in professional-quality studios and theaters. Circus camp showcases at Actors Gymnasium feature the aerial and acrobatic skills campers have developed. These performances let families see the summer's progress and give dancers valuable stage experience.

The Chicago Difference: Training with Joffrey Ballet or Hubbard Street Dance puts young dancers in direct contact with companies that perform globally and have launched countless professional careers. The instruction quality, facility access, and professional atmosphere are comparable to programs in New York or Los Angeles.