Buckingham City's Best Ballet Schools: A 2024 Guide for Aspiring Dancers and Parents

In the past decade, three dancers from Buckingham City, Illinois, have joined major American ballet companies. All three trained within a ten-mile radius of one another. That concentration of success is no accident. The city has become an unexpected hub for serious ballet training, with three distinct schools producing everything from pre-professional principals to well-rounded young artists.

But "elite" means something different at each institution. For parents and students navigating auditions, tuition, and training philosophies, the real question isn't which school is best—it's which school fits your goals.

Buckingham Ballet Conservatory: The Classical Track

Founded: 1972 | Location: Downtown Buckingham, near the Civic Arts District | Ages: 8–19 (pre-professional division)

The Buckingham Ballet Conservatory is the oldest and most selective of the three. With only 40 spots in its pre-professional program, admission requires a live audition and annual re-evaluation. The training is rooted in the Vaganova method, emphasizing precise placement, épaulement, and gradual physical development.

What sets it apart: Conservatory director Elena Voss, a former soloist with American Ballet Theatre, leads the upper division. Voss danced with ABT from 1994 to 2006 and has brought that company's standards to Buckingham City's downtown studio complex, which includes two sprung-floor studios and a dedicated conditioning room.

Students take daily technique, pointe or men's virtuosity, variations, character dance, and partnering. The conservatory stages one full-scale classical production annually—recent repertoire includes Giselle and Don Quixote—with costumes rented from a Chicago opera house. Notable alumni include James Park, now a corps member with San Francisco Ballet, and Maya Ortiz, who joined Houston Ballet in 2022.

Best for: Dancers aiming for professional company contracts who can commit to 20+ hours of training weekly.

Buckingham City Ballet Academy: Performance-First Training

Founded: 1998 | Location: West Buckingham | Ages: 5–18 (open enrollment through Level 3; audition-based upper divisions)

If the Conservatory is the "old guard," the Buckingham City Ballet Academy is the stage-savvy challenger. Under the direction of Michael Delacroix, a former dancer with New York City Ballet, the academy trains in the Balanchine style—fast footwork, musical responsiveness, and an emphasis on performance quality over rigid form.

What sets it apart: Volume of stage time. Academy students perform in two full-length ballets per year, plus a spring contemporary showcase and regional competitions. It is the only school in the region to stage a complete Nutcracker with live orchestra, drawing audiences from across central Illinois.

The academy also runs one of the strongest boys' programs in the state. At 16, Marcus Chen recently won the senior classical division at a regional Youth America Grand Prix and will compete at finals in New York this spring. Chen credits the academy's free men's scholarship program and daily pas de deux classes for his rapid progress.

Best for: Students who thrive under pressure, want frequent performance experience, or respond to the Balanchine aesthetic.

Buckingham School of Dance: Breadth With Technical Backbone

Founded: 1985 | Location: North Buckingham | Ages: 3–adult

The Buckingham School of Dance offers ballet alongside modern, jazz, tap, and musical theater. But don't mistake variety for softness. The ballet faculty includes Sandra Okonkwo, a former dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, and David Rylance, who trained at the Royal Ballet School before performing with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

What sets it apart: Flexibility without sacrifice. Students can major in ballet while taking supplemental styles, making this a popular choice for dancers in competitive academic programs or those exploring dance as one of several pursuits. The school's ballet syllabus draws from both RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and Vaganova principles, with an emphasis on clean alignment and artistic expression.

Performance opportunities include two studio showcases and a biennial full-length production. Recent graduate Priya Sharma double-majored in dance and biomedical sciences at Northwestern and now performs with a Chicago-based contemporary company while pursuing her MD.

Best for: Students seeking strong training without full pre-professional hours, or dancers who want to cross-train in multiple styles.

How to Choose: A Quick Comparison