Ballet demands dedication, discipline, and exceptional training. For families in Como, Illinois—a small unincorporated community in Whiteside County—finding world-class ballet instruction close to home means looking toward Chicago, roughly 100 miles southeast. Fortunately, the Chicago area hosts several renowned ballet schools with distinguished faculty, rigorous curricula, and proven track records of launching professional careers.
Below are five top-tier ballet programs accessible to dedicated dancers from the Como area, each with unique strengths, training philosophies, and opportunities.
1. The Joffrey Academy of Dance
Location: Downtown Chicago (Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph Street)
The Joffrey Academy of Dance serves as the official training school of the Joffrey Ballet and holds accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Dance. Rather than offering casual recreational classes, the Academy operates a pre-professional trainee program and a graded children’s division for ages 2 through 18.
What distinguishes the Joffrey Academy is its direct pipeline into a major American ballet company. Trainees rehearse and take class alongside Joffrey Ballet company members, with opportunities to perform in Academy productions and occasionally in Joffrey company repertoire. The curriculum emphasizes both classical technique and contemporary movement, reflecting the Joffrey Ballet’s eclectic repertory.
Key details:
- Admission: Audition required for pre-professional and trainee divisions; open enrollment for some adult programs
- Notable feature: Trainees may be selected for Joffrey Ballet second-company or apprenticeship positions
- Best for: Dancers seeking a direct path to professional company life
2. The Lou Conte Dance Studio at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Location: West Town, Chicago (1147 W. Jackson Boulevard)
Founded in 1978 by legendary dancer and choreographer Lou Conte, this studio serves as the education arm of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. While Hubbard Street is celebrated globally for contemporary dance, the Lou Conte Dance Studio maintains a robust ballet foundation in its youth and professional programs.
The studio prioritizes versatility. Students train in ballet, modern, jazz, musical theater, and improvisation, producing dancers capable of moving between concert dance and commercial work. Adult and youth programs run year-round, and the studio’s professional-level summer intensive draws pre-professional dancers from across the Midwest.
Key details:
- Admission: Placement classes for youth and adult divisions
- Notable feature: Strong connections to Chicago’s contemporary and commercial dance scenes
- Best for: Dancers who want excellent ballet training alongside contemporary and cross-disciplinary study
3. The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
Location: South Loop, Chicago (1306 S. Michigan Avenue)
As the presenting and educational arm of Columbia College Chicago’s Dance Department, the Dance Center operates differently from a traditional private ballet academy. It offers a BFA and BA in Dance, pre-professional youth programs, and a nationally respected presenting series that brings in companies like Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Ballet BC.
Ballet studies here integrate contemporary practice, dance scholarship, and choreography. Class sizes tend to be smaller than at large private academies, and students receive substantial individualized feedback. The program suits dancers who want to explore ballet within a broader liberal-arts and contemporary framework.
Key details:
- Admission: College programs require standard undergraduate application plus audition; youth programs by placement
- Notable feature: Regular masterclasses and performances by internationally touring companies
- Best for: Students considering a college dance degree or those wanting ballet within a deeply contextual, academic environment
4. The Chicago Ballet School
Location: Lincoln Park and North Center neighborhoods
Founded in 2005 by artist director and former American Ballet Theatre dancer Mario Havana, the Chicago Ballet School trains approximately 200 students annually across two campuses. The school follows a structured Vaganova-based syllabus with additional emphasis on artistic development and performance experience.
Students progress through carefully leveled divisions, beginning with creative movement for ages 3–4 and advancing through a pre-professional division that includes pointe, variations, pas de deux, and character dance. The school’s affiliated youth company, Chicago Ballet Conservatory, stages full-length classics and contemporary works throughout the year.
Key details:
- Admission: Open enrollment for lower divisions; audition or director evaluation for pre-professional levels
- Notable feature: Youth company performances and personalized college audition coaching for upper-level students
- Best for: Families seeking a comprehensive, syllabus-driven program with clear progression and frequent performance opportunities
5. The School of American Ballet (Chicago Summer Course)
Primary location: New York City, NY
While the School of American Ballet (SAB) is permanently based in New York City as the official school of New York City Ballet, it operates a highly competitive five-week Summer Course in Chicago each year. This program represents one
