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Center Stage Dance Academy is growing by jetés and bounds.
The Huntley studio recently expanded its space by 5,000 square feet – doubling in size. The expansion made room for a team locker room, private office space, additional storage space, more rest rooms and a fourth state-of-the-art dance studio.
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Debbie Nowotnik, owner of Center Stage Dance Academy teaches a Turns, Jumps and Leaps dance class at Center Stage Dance Academy in Huntley on Monday, October 15, 2012. (Sarah Nader –[email protected]) |
Studio director and owner Debbie Nowotnik began her dance program with only 20 students. She moved to 10631 Wolf Drive in Huntley in 2008. At that time, her studio was 2,500 square feet with 185 students. Today, Center Stage has 10,000 square feet of space, 370 students and 11 instructors.
“This most recent expansion was definitely out of necessity,” Nowotnik said. “We needed additional studio space to accommodate both the quantity and variety of classes in our fall schedule. We wanted to be sure we were able to offer a variety of levels for each genre of dance in order to have room for all our students.”
“I love all the new space at the studio,” said Trisha Fritz, 15, a member of Center Stage’s competition team, Envision Dance Co. “The new studio gives us so much room for our larger classes, making it easier to move around and perfect more complicated choreography.”
Nowotnik said Envision Dance Co. has grown to 53 dancers, who compete in events throughout the Chicagoland area.
Twenty-five Center Stage dancers will be in Orlando Nov. 28 to participate in the taping of the Christmas Holiday Spectacular Parade at Disney World, which will air Christmas morning on ABC.
“We’re super excited about that,” Nowotnik said. “We did a Disney performing arts program last year, where dancers auditioned for a half-hour show in Downtown Disney and participated in workshops with Disney staff,” she said. “They were so happy with our performances that they invited us for the taping this year. It’s a pretty neat honor.”
Nowotnik said Center Stage class offerings range from preschool to adult. Dance styles taught by instructors include jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop and musical theater.
And Nowotnik goes off site a few times a week to teach after-school classes in local elementary schools, as well as preschool dance and senior tap dance classes in the Huntley Park District.
“The Mom and Me class with 2- and 3-year-olds is super cute.” Nowotnik said.
“Dancing is for everybody.”
Center Stage Dance Academy:
What: A dance studio that offers recreational programs as well as an extensive competitive team.
Where: 10631 Wolf Drive, Huntley
Information: Call 847-669-2510 , or email [email protected]