Business Details
22 Years
experience
Your Trusted Dance School in Oak Park for All Ages & Skill Levels
At INTUIT Dance, we cultivate life-long lovers of dance through a philosophy centered on body, energy, space, and time. Established in 2004 by artistic director Diane VanDerhei, our studio offers comprehensive training in technique, improvisation, and choreography for students aged pre-K to adults. Our approach emphasizes the body-mind connection, integrating The Brain Dance and Bartenieff Fundamentals to develop technical proficiency and personal expression. With a team of world-class instructors, we provide recreational, pre-professional, and adult programs spanning ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, tap, and musical theater.Students benefit from performance opportunities in all-studio recitals and intergenerational productions, with advanced dancers gaining access to our professional company, ChoreoSpace. Our curriculum fosters creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness, reflecting research-backed benefits of dance education. We prioritize individualized attention through personalized curricula and small class sizes, ensuring each student achieves mastery at their own pace. Located in Oak Park, Illinois, we serve the Chicagoland area with two studio locations, offering flexible scheduling and community-focused programming.
Services
Ballet Classes
Contemporary Dance
Hip Hop Instruction
Jazz Dance
Tap Dance
Musical Theater
Adult Dance
Pre-Professional Training
Wedding Dance Prep
Studio Rentals
Details
- Year established: 2004
Highlights and features
- We offer personalized dance curricula tailored to individual skill development
- Our instructors include professional choreographers and former company dancers
- We provide intergenerational performance opportunities through ChoreoSpace
- Our philosophy integrates body-mind techniques for holistic dance education
- We emphasize cultural awareness and historical context in dance training
Services
Ballet Classes
Our ballet program develops technical proficiency through progressive training in classical techniques. Students learn foundational positions, barre exercises, and center work while building strength and grace. Classes emphasize proper alignment and musicality for dancers aged 3 to adults.
Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance classes focus on expressive movement and body-mind connection. Students explore improvisation, floor work, and dynamic choreography while developing technical versatility and personal artistic voice through structured technique and creative exploration.
Hip Hop Instruction
Hip hop classes teach body isolations, rhythm, and street-style choreography. Students learn foundational moves and freestyle techniques while developing musicality and performance energy in a supportive environment for all skill levels.
Wedding Dance Prep
Private wedding dance lessons create customized routines for couples. Instructors focus on partner coordination, timing, and confidence-building through choreography that matches the couple's style and comfort level for their special event.
Studio Rentals
Our 750 sq ft studio offers versatile rental space with Marley flooring, mirrors, and sound system. Available for rehearsals, workshops, and events with flexible scheduling and technical support for dance professionals and community groups.
People
Diane VanDerhei
Artistic Director
Founder of INTUIT Dance with 20+ years teaching experience, former Hubbard Street Dance Chicago education consultant, and recipient of Milwaukee County Fellowship in Choreography.
Connor Cornelius
Resident Choreographer
Chicago-based choreographer and performer with Project Bound Dance, DanceWorks Chicago, and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Recipient of multiple choreography competition recognitions.
Emma Draves
Dance Educator
MFA holder with teaching experience at Northwestern University and Columbia College Chicago, specializing in modern dance and ethnographic movement studies for over 15 years.
Sage Miller
Ballet Instructor
Cornish College graduate with performance experience in works by Ohad Naharin and Crystal Pite, specializing in ballet and contemporary technique for intermediate to advanced dancers.
Nikki Renfroe
Dance Faculty
University of Illinois graduate with 10+ years teaching experience, certified in pre/postnatal yoga, and current director of Trinity High School dance program.
Questions
What age groups do you accept for dance classes?
We offer programs for children as young as 3, pre-professional teens, and adult dancers of all experience levels.
Do you offer performance opportunities for students?
Yes! All students participate in annual recitals, with advanced dancers eligible for intergenerational productions through ChoreoSpace.
What dance styles are available?
We teach ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, tap, musical theater, and choreography with specialized instructors in each discipline.
Are private dance lessons available?
Yes, we offer private instruction for wedding dances, competition preparation, and individual skill development with our faculty.
What is your dress code policy?
Students may wear any comfortable clothing that allows movement, with specific footwear requirements varying by dance style.
Can adults join dance classes without prior experience?
Absolutely! Our adult division welcomes beginners through professionals with classes focused on technique, fitness, and performance.
