Business Details
Your Premier Dance School in Ottawa, IL
Adagio School of Performing Arts provides comprehensive dance education for students aged 3 to adult, offering daily classes in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Musical Theater, Creative Movement, Adult Cardio Pop, and Adult Barre Blast. Our curriculum emphasizes technical progression and self-esteem development through expert instruction and student dedication. The faculty comprises degreed professionals with extensive performance and teaching experience, ensuring a high-quality educational environment. Our facility features four studios with marley-covered sprung floors and air conditioning, designed to promote safe and effective training.We prioritize individual growth, both as dancers and as people, while maintaining a professional atmosphere with strong student-family relationships. Students may pursue recreational dance or prepare for professional careers through our structured programs. The studio hosts annual performance opportunities including the Summer Dance Festival and a competitive team that performs locally and competes nationally.
Services
Ballet
Jazz
Hip Hop
Tap
Barre Blast
Modern
Musical Theater
Acrobatics
Leaps & Turns
Private Lessons
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of combined teaching experience from degreed dance professionals
- Our curriculum includes 10+ dance genres with structured progression programs
- Professional facility features marley-covered sprung floors for injury prevention
- We provide performance opportunities through annual festivals and competitions
- Our instructors have performed with renowned artists like Mikhail Baryshnikov
Services
Ballet Instruction
Our ballet program develops technical proficiency through structured training in classical vocabulary. Students learn proper alignment, strength, and grace through barre exercises and center work. Classes cater to ages 7+ with progressive levels from beginner to advanced dancers.
Barre Blast Fitness
This adult fitness class combines dance conditioning, isometrics, and interval training to sculpt lean muscles. Participants improve flexibility and core strength through low-impact, high-intensity movements. Classes welcome both dancers and fitness enthusiasts seeking a challenging workout.
Competition Team
Our award-winning competition team offers advanced training for dedicated dancers. Members receive specialized choreography instruction and perform at regional events. The program includes summer preparation and winter/spring competition seasons for ages 5+.
Private Lessons
Personalized instruction accelerates technical development for dancers at all levels. Sessions focus on individual goals, whether building foundational skills or refining advanced techniques. Lessons available year-round with flexible scheduling.
Summer Dance Festival
Annual performance opportunity showcasing student progress through professionally choreographed productions. The festival emphasizes low-stress preparation with mandatory rehearsals. Dancers gain stage experience in a supportive, celebratory environment.
People
Rachel Martin
Owner/Head Instructor
Rachel Martin, a Columbia College Chicago graduate, brings extensive professional experience from working with renowned artists like Mikhail Baryshnikov. She founded Adagio to provide high-quality dance education in her hometown after years of national teaching and performance work.
Clayton Cross
Guest Instructor
Clayton Cross is a nationally recognized choreographer and performer with extensive theater credits including work at Marriott Theatre and Broadway productions. He holds degrees from Texas Christian University and has taught nationwide for major dance conventions.
Lauren Pfeffer
Instructor
Lauren Pfeffer, a former UDA All-Star cheer captain, specializes in tap instruction. She earned her BFA in Fashion Design from UW-Madison and brings experience from Disney's entertainment costuming division. She joined Adagio in 2016 after teaching locally since age 17.
Avery Glunt
Instructor
Avery Glunt trained at The Chicago Academy for the Arts and the Martha Graham School. She performed iconic Graham roles with Graham 2 Company and completed their teacher training program, bringing classical modern dance expertise to our faculty.
Mya Bryant
Instructor
Mya Bryant, a Sam Houston State University graduate, values inclusive dance education. She performed with South Chicago Dance Theatre and brings contemporary expertise through her university training and professional performance experience.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We offer Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Musical Theater, Creative Movement, Acrobatics, Leaps & Turns, and Barre Blast classes for ages 3 to adult.
Are there performance opportunities?
Yes! Our annual Summer Dance Festival and competitive team provide performance experiences. The competition team performs locally and competes regionally from September through May.
How are class placements determined?
Placement considers age, academic grade (as of September 1), and prior experience. The head instructor and studio owner make final decisions for appropriate class levels.
Do you offer adult classes?
Yes! We offer Adult Cardio Pop and Barre Blast classes designed for fitness-focused adults. These classes accommodate all experience levels in a welcoming environment.
What are your facility features?
Our studio has four rooms with marley-covered sprung floors for injury prevention, air conditioning, and professional lighting systems to support safe, high-quality dance training.
Reviews (5)
Megan Devera
Sep 06, 2019
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Such a great studio! Highly qualified instructors. They offer everything you could imagine. Parents, students and staff function as a family! Couldnt be more happy or impressed! So glad we found Adagio School of Performing Arts! Highly recommend to anyone!
Kayla Moore
Aug 26, 2019
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My daughters both love adagio. The quality of dance at the studio is excellent. Very creative and knowledgeable teachers. The shows are always enjoyable to watch. You can tell they are really organized. The office worker is easy to work with as well. Great place.
Andrea McConville
Sep 04, 2017
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I grew up with Rachel and have always had incredible respect for her skill and knowledge of dance and performance. I just recently started attending the barre class she offers through the studio and it's absolutely incredible! I'll be honest, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life but there's something about it that keeps me coming back! It's probably the fact that I've made a lot of really great friends there and we have so much fun but it's incredibly challenging which is the point! Highly recommend!!!
Justagurl Whoslivinlife
Jan 07, 2017
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I go here 4 hours a week the teachers are all so sweet i love all my teahers and i am a wonderful dancer because of my teachers and you will too i also love all the festivals winter every other year and summer ev ery year the first day of class you will fall in love try this studio if you do you will not regret it
Adagio School Of Performing Arts
Dec 28, 2014
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Just wanted to thank you for working so hard to make Adagio a happy, loving, and positive place for our girls to grow, learn and dance! They just love coming every week, and adore all of their teachers.
Adagio Parent
Adagio Parent