Kaleidoscope Dance is one of the leading dance institutions in the Chicagoland area. At our school, we aim to create a home away from home, where children feel empowered and excited to build their skills.
About
Discover Kaleidoscope Dance
About Kaleidoscope Dance
A top Chicagoland dance studio located at the crossroads of the Skokie and Evanston communities, Kaleidoscope Dance offers classes for dancers of all ages and abilities in Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical and Modern..
With a warm community atmosphere and small class sizes, our school is able to give each student personal attention so they can progress at a faster pace. We encourage quality dance technique and self-discipline while fostering a love of movement and self-expression.
Understanding that some children have their hearts set on a career in the spotlight, while others simply want to have fun, we offer a range of classes for all ages and abilities. Enroll your child and watch them grow their confidence, make new friends and experience the joy of dance.
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Years in Operation
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Weekly Classes
Dance Is the Hidden Language of the Soul
Our Values
The Benefits of a Dance Education
Schools have shifted heavily toward common core subjects, like reading and math, and often leave out the arts. Although some believe art education is a luxury, its simple, creative activities are essential building blocks of child development. Learning to be creative and using their imagination is extremely important for children as they grow up.
Children who participate in the arts experience benefits such as:
The Kaleidoscope Difference
Kaleidoscope Dance was created with family and professionalism in mind. Our mission is to provide:
Our Teachers
The Kaleidoscope team of dance instructors all have degrees in dance as well as professional experience and focus on getting to know your child as an individual.
Heather Jackson
Owner
Kaleidoscope Dance Ensemble
Artistic Director
Kaleidoscope Dance Ensemble
Artistic Director
Heather has been instructing and choreographing professionally for over 20 years, with an emphasis on children’s dance. Heather received her formal dance training from Claudette Soltis (former dancer of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo) of the Joliet Ballet Society. The Ballet Society gave her the opportunity to work with many other ballet greats such as Irina Kolpakova of the American Ballet Theatre and Dace Dindonis, formerly of the Indianapolis Ballet. She is a graduate of Millikin University and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Performance degree in Dance & Musical Theatre. She is the former Director of Dance at the Mayer Kaplan JCC in Skokie. Heather also established the Kaleidoscope Dance Ensemble in the Northshore area in 2001, for which she is the Artistic Director. Heather teaches all forms of dance and several classes at the studio. Heather’s choreography credits include Kaleidoscope Dance Ensemble, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Yours Anne, Sound of Music, Elixir of Love, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and several works with Millikin University Dance Ensemble. She has also danced with the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and performed with Chicago’s Timestep Players Children’s Theatre. Performance credits include Steppin’ Out, Pippin, Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, Bartered Bride, Little Shop of Horrors and Millikin Dance Ensemble.
April Torneby
Kaleidoscope Dance Ensemble
Assistant Artistic Director
Assistant Artistic Director
April is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance with a focus on choreography. Her studies also include anatomy, kinesiology, ballet, modern, jazz, teaching methodologies and music theory to name a few. While at Cornish, April has had the opportunity to perform in works by Wade Madsen, Deborah Wolf, Alex Little, and Nancy Cranbourne. As well, April has choreographed for several shows including the Cornish BFA Concert, New Moves, Terpsichore’s Landing, and 3rdshift Dance. April has performed with AEON Contemporary Dance and 3rd Shift Dance in Seattle, WA.April has been teaching and choreographing for competitive dance studios in the pacific north west for six years and is excited to continue sharing her passion for dance in Chicago, IL. April fuses her love of movement, music, athleticism, and individual creativity into all of her classes.
Gabriela Ortiz
Kaleidoscope Krew
Artistic Director
Artistic Director
Gabriela Ortiz is excited to be a part of the Kaleidoscope team. She gradated from Columbia College Chicago with double major in Dance and Performing Arts Management. Gabriela has performed at Carnival Chicago, opened for Beyonce’s dancers at the Shrine, choreographed and danced in a national ad campaign for formidable entities, danced with several Chicago companies, including Desuaño, and currently enjoys choreographing for Chicago-based shows and dance companies. She has performed works by Pam McNeil, Trae Turner, Sofia Perez, Kris Bellive, Denita Inez, Ginger Jensen and international choreographer Xu Chung. She greatly enjoys sharing her love of dance while instilling self-confidence in all her dance classes.
Ashley Bassett
Ashley Bassett has been involved in dance since she was three years old, and for the past ten years became a professional instructor, performer, and choreographer. Most recently, she was a Visiting Professor for the Dance Department at the University of Iowa in 2018-2019 teaching yoga courses to non-majors. In May 2018, she received her MFA degree in Dance/Performance from the university and was a teaching assistant with the department, received her yoga certification, and was the tap/jazz instructor for the UI Youth Ballet Program. During her time in the department, Ashley had the honor to work with artists such as Rennie Harris, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Hanna Brictson. In May 2011, she received her BA in Dance from Slippery Rock University and received the “Most Outstanding Performer” award. Ashley performed in faculty, student, and guest artist works such as Camille A. Brown, Doug Varone (staged by Natalie Desch), Tania Isaac, Mark Taylor, Chad Michael Hall, and Lindsay Fisher. After graduation, she went on to apprentice for the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble in Pittsburgh from 2011-2012. Following Ashley’s apprenticeship, she taught dance at an international school in Fuzhou, Fujian, China for two years. When she returned to Pittsburgh in June 2014, she worked with Shana Simmons and her project entitled “Passenger,” which was performed at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Ashley has worked with many students in her professional career and wants to continue to share her knowledge through dance education.
Isabella Buscaglia
Isabella Buscaglia graduated from the University of Iowa, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. While in school, Isabella had the opportunity to work under the direction of Melinda Myers, Kristin Marrs, Armando Duarte, Eloy Barragan, Britt Juleen, George de la Pena, and several others. She performed at the Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City. Prior to her time in Iowa, she was a member of Extensions Dance Company in Chicago, studying under Lizzie MacKenzie for eight years. She also studied dance while a student at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois. Isabella, who lives in Chicago, has participated in numerous classes, workshops and intensives in the Midwest and continues her training at Visceral Dance Center and other Chicagoland area studios.
Kelly Clifton
Kelly Clifton Zajak brings twenty years of experience to Kaleidoscope Dance. After graduating high school in 1999, Kelly attended Columbia College Chicago, training in ballet and modern techniques. Over the course of two decades, Kelly has amassed a trove of experience and titles—coaching and choreographing for a number of dance teams in the Chicagoland area—including Maine East, St. Viator, Niles West, and Reavis High School. Her choreographic skills extend into the solo arena as well; her soloists have received much acclaim, earning the highest marks from both Universal Dance Association, Illinois Drill Team Association, and Energy Dance. Her choreography has has been featured in Cirque Dreams Holidaze. In 2011, Kelly and colleague Melissa Roman-Cajigal founded Expressions Dance Company to provide dancers, young and old alike, a new venue for technical and artistic growth. Under EDC, the two have mentored a competitive team, staged several shows, and hold summer workshops. You can see Kelly teaching at various studios and Park Districts in the Chicagoland area, as well as providing private instruction and freelance choreography.
Molly Eder
Molly Eder is a dancer and arts manager from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her early training in Point Park University’s Pre-Professional Dance Program and graduated with a BS in dance management from Oklahoma City University in May 2019. During her time at OCU, she was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company and performed as the lead dancer in various pieces. Since graduating, Molly has had the opportunity to work with Chicago Human Rhythm Project, the American Rhythm Center, and Virginia Repertory Theatre. She currently performs with Chicago Tap Theatre and enjoys dancing in other shows in the Chicago area. Molly has a passion for the arts and hopes to use her skills to bring joy to those around her, improve the local arts community, and educate the next generation of dancers.
Ashley Hogue
Ashley Hogue is a classically trained ballet dancer who began dancing semi-professionally at the age of 13 and is schooled primarily in the Cecchetti method. She has over 10 years of teaching experience in the Chicagoland area. During her performing career, Ms. Hogue trained extensively with the Boston Ballet and performed as a Principal Dancer with Ballet Arkansas. One of her most notable career achievements was winning the National Society of Arts and Letters Ballet Competition for her performances from Swan Lake and Le Corsaire. She is certified by the American Ballet Theatre to teach the National Training Curriculum, an internationally recognized system of teaching developed for ballet instructors to give age-appropriate training to pre-professional and recreational students alike.
Caitlyn Huynh
Caitlyn Huynh grew up in Central Illinois, where she began her training at Stacy’s Dance Factory under Stacy Terry. She graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Contemporary Dance and a Certificate in Arts Administration. During her time at IU, Caitlyn received the privilege to perform in works by Larry Keigwin, Roger Jeffery, Angie Hauser, Elizabeth Shea, Selene Carter, and Roberta Wong. Upon graduation, Caitlyn moved to Chicago where she is currently a performing apprentice for Noumenon Dance.
Ruby Levin
Ruby Levin began dancing at Le Ballet Petit school of dance at just 3 years old. Some years later, she started training at the Joel Hall Dancers and Center studio. Since then, the Joel Hall Community and studio have been like a second home to her. She attended Senn High School’s dance program and starting her sophomore year, she joined the Joel Hall Dancers Youth Company. Summer of 2019, she worked in the After School Matters Dance Ensemble. From August of 2019, to March of 2020 she was in the Global Citizen Year Program. In this program she lived with a host family in Senegal, Africa. She had an apprenticeship in tailoring, learned the native language, and immersed herself in the beautiful Senegalese culture. Throughout her dance career, she has trained in Graham, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet and West African. Her choreographed piece “vibezzz” was accepted in the Illinois State Dance Festival. She currently is carrying on her connection with Joel Hall as an Adult Company Member. She is also an online student at College of Dupage getting her Associates degree in American Sign Language Interpreting. She aspires to be a choreographer, company member, and American Sign Language Interpreter for the Arts and Music!
Molly McGivern
Molly McGivern grew up in Davenport, IA and began her dance training at Illinois Ballet Theater under Susan Snider. Wanting to further her training, Molly left Iowa for boarding school, attending the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under Ethan Stiefel her junior year and Interlochen Arts Academy under Cameron Basden her senior year. Following high school, she went to the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music under Qi Jiang where she received her BFA in Dance. Molly’s professional career began in Boston where she danced with BoSoma Dance Company, Tony Williams Dance Company, and SundanceX. In addition to performing, Molly taught for Boston College, Tony Williams Dance Center, and Small World Child Care, giving her a passion for dance at all ages! Molly currently teaches dance to high schoolers at Little Black Pearl Academy in Chicago and free-lances with Joel Hall Dance in addition working at Kaleidoscope Dance.
Jenny Oelerich
Jenny Oelerich hails from Winnetka, Illinois and earned her BFA in Dance at the University of Illinois in Spring of 2019. During her time as an undergrad she had the privilege of working with Jan Erkert, Renee Wadleigh, and Abby Zbikowski among others. Choreographically, Jenny is interested in floor-work, partnering, and navigating full-bodied movement phrases that eat up space. Jenny is a dance teacher with students ranging from 3 years old to adults, and has recently earned her 200 hour yoga teacher certification under Linda Lehovec. Since graduating, Jenny has relocated back to the Chicagoland area.
Laura Thurston
Laura Thurston studied dance at Northern Dance Theatre of Northern Illinois University and at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago where she graduated with a degree in Dance Performance. She began performing professionally in 2004 and has performed with Chicago Dance Crash, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and Piel Morena Contemporary Dance, among other independent performance opportunities. She’s performed locally, nationally, and internationally. She founded Still Inspired(?) in 2013 in Chicago, where she completed producing and choreographing for the company’s 6th season in Chicago in February 2020. Laura thoroughly enjoys sharing her love for dance as a dance educator, teaching children, teens, and adults. She has taught dance for over 19 years, and was most recently on faculty at Virtuoso Performing Arts in Morton Grove, IL where she was the Director of Virtuoso Performing Arts Dance Company. Other recent dance faculty positions include: Gus Giordano Dance School & North Shore School of Dance in Highland Park. She’s had the pleasure of being on faculty for Dance Masters of Wisconsin, teaching master classes and judging competitions. She offers student choreographic opportunities through educational programming offered by Still Inspired(?) and mentors students for their own production showcasing their student choreography. Laura encourages individuality and artistry, providing each student with the tools to achieve self-awareness and confidence in a nurturing, exciting environment, and is excited to work with the students at Kaleidoscope Dance! Laura is forever grateful for her parents, who provided the opportunity to study dance in her youth and continued to encourage her through her young adult life as she pursued a career in dance. Laura’s life would not be complete without her husband, Andrew and her two, young children Parker and Clara.
Lizzi Wood
Lizzi Wood is a performer and dance educator originally from Austin, TX. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago in May 2016. While in school, she performed works by Erika Randall, Victor Alexander, Kristina Isabelle, Dr. Xi Zhang, Carrie Hanson, and Alexa Giacinto. While pursuing her studies, she also engaged in classes and workshops with world renowned choreographers Stephen Petronio, David Rousseve, Bill T. Jones, and Andrea Miller. Post graduation she moved back to Austin, where she performed with site-specific dance company Dance Waterloo, dancing in evening-length works Panorama Playground, Off the Wall, Therefore, and Rule of Three. In 2017, she appeared in Re-Collect: A Dance Film (Directed/Choreographed by Morgal Teel), which debuted in NYC at Gibney Dance and in Austin as a part of East Austin Studio Tours. She also served as Creative Director at PAIYH Dance Studios, teaching students of all ages and abilities. Lizzi is excited to be joining the Kaleidoscope team; and is looking forward to a joyful first year!
Kristin Vollmer
Kristin Vollmer has been training in ballet since the age of 3, as well as jazz, Graham and Horton-based modern, tap, contemporary and hip hop. Her early training was with Kehl’s School of Dance in Madison, WI, Madison Youth Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet and Alvin Ailey. She has spent the majority of her Professional Career with The Joel Hall Dancers in Chicago, IL, performing Joel Hall’s unique Urban Jazz Dance Style. She has also performed with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Inaside Chicago Dance, Chicago Dance Crash, in Bollywood film Dhoom 3, and across South Korea in an USO tour. Through these opportunities she has had the honor to work with choreographers Joel Hall, Paul Sanasardo, Jim Morrow, Harrison McEldowney, Wilfredo Rivera, Jessica Deahr, William Gill and Jarrett Kelly. She is currently a Dancer for the Joel Hall Dancers, a Teaching Artist for Joffrey Ballet, Design Dance, and Kaleidoscope Dance, and also a proud mother of 2.