About NIDC

Northern Illinois Dance Center is dedicated to providing you with a premium dance education, but also a memorable experience. Consistent improvement is a top priority, but equally important is ensuring a fun environment that allows for team building and everlasting friendships.

We at Northern Illinois Dance Center value the importance of family. As a family-oriented business we strive to provide not only a comfortable, fun environment for our dancers, but also for their families. Our studio offers wireless internet and a homework lounge, allowing students and their parents a space to work and study while in our studio.

Our dedicated staff, most of which have a background in education aside from dance, offer a unique area of expertise. Focusing on their individual strengths, each member of our staff provides expertise-based instruction to allow for a fun, self-esteem boosting environment.

Our instructors have all been background checked through Good Hire.

Our Directors

Raelyn’s journey in the world of dance commenced at the tender age of 7, where she discovered her passion for movement and expression. Over the years, she has evolved into a dedicated dance coach and preschool educator, merging her love for dance and teaching. Presently, Raelyn channels her enthusiasm into crafting enriching dance experiences for preschool-aged children, seamlessly blending her two lifelong passions.

As the driving force behind the Northern Illinois Dance Center, Raelyn is committed to providing a platform brimming with distinctive opportunities for parents, families, and students. Recognizing the importance of continuous improvement, she has enrolled NIDC as an esteemed IDEA member, empowering her staff with invaluable resources to deliver top-notch classes. Raelyn’s relentless pursuit of excellence is evident through her participation in numerous classes, seminars, and certifications facilitated by IDEA and the “Dance Life Retreat Center.”

An accredited International Ballet Barre Fitness Association Instructor, Raelyn extends her expertise to offer exclusive adult barre classes at NIDC’s dedicated workout space. Leveraging the skills acquired through this certification, she spearheads the FlexFix class, a program meticulously designed to enhance dancer strength, flexibility, and stamina.

Above all, Raelyn is devoted to fostering a sense of safety and belonging at NIDC, envisioning the studio as a home away from home for dancers and their families. NIDC serves as a nurturing space where aspiring dancers not only refine their craft but also cultivate life skills. Raelyn takes pride in witnessing the transformative power of dance, elevating the confidence of young minds. With a diverse team of specialized teachers covering various dance disciplines, NIDC thrives under Raelyn’s guidance, ensuring holistic growth for its students.

Atlee has been teaching for NIDC since our opening in 2009. She has danced since the age of three and began competing in lyrical, jazz, and tap at age nine at both Summer’s Academy of Dance in Crystal Lake and Dixon Dance Academy in West Dundee. Atlee was a four-year member of the Sycamore High School Varsity Dance Team and the first president of the Orchesis Dance Company. She went on to coach the Sycamore Middle School Dance Team for five seasons (2015–2019), leading them to five consecutive NCJC championship titles.

Atlee received her bachelor’s degrees from Northern Illinois University and her master’s in social work from Our Lady of the Lake University. She is currently the Family & Community Liaison for a neighboring school district, where she builds partnerships between families, schools, and community resources to help students thrive. Her work focuses on fostering belonging, connecting families to essential supports, and strengthening school–community collaboration.

Atlee has had professional training in a wide range of dance styles, which brings a fresh perspective to her classes. She incorporates new styles, techniques, and ideas to create a dynamic edge in her routines. Her teaching emphasizes strong technique, individual growth, artistic expression, and overall performance quality. Atlee also directs our competitive program, Elevation Dance Company, bringing the insight of her own competitive dance background to inspire and challenge her students.

Ella has been dancing since the age of 3, had danced at NIDC since 6 and competitively since 7. She is a Sycamore High School Graduate, where she was an Orchesis officer, a Track and Field athlete, as well as involved in many other clubs. She has taken almost every style but has a special spot for Musical Theater and Tap, and loves sharing her love of both to her students.

She is excited to bring her energy and personality into her classes and create a fun environment for her students and to collaborate with her fellow teachers.

Our Instructors

Courtney has been dancing since the age of three. She has been teaching Ballet, jazz and Lyrical since 2005, and started with NIDC in 2012. She has studied with some of the nation’s leading ballet, jazz, and lyrical professionals.

While a company member of the Beth Fowler Dance Company Courtney was featured in roles such as the Russian Doll, and Chinese Soloist in the Nutcracker, and the Spring Fairy in Cinderella and various other roles. She has performed with Pastiche Dance Ensemble of Milwaukee, performing at multiple art galleries, Harley Davidson’s 100th Anniversary, and Summerfest, featuring multiple repertoires including the Matrix. While working with Studio A of Hampshire, she performed at a Rock River Raptors Football game and worked with the award winning competition groups. Courtney takes pride in all of her classes focusing on dance technique and ballet vocabulary in a fun fresh way, as well as keeping open lines of communication with all of the dancers.

Outside of dance Courtney works as a front office staff member at a psychiatry office and enjoys assisting and helping all clients.
Courtney hopes to continue to share her love of dance with the dancers and staff of Northern Illinois Dance Center.

Analisa has been dancing since the age of two and has called NIDC home since 2010. A graduate of Sycamore High School, she served as an officer for Orchesis, the school’s dance program, and was actively involved in many clubs and activities throughout her school years.

Her passion for dance has led her to train in a variety of styles and learn from some of the industry’s most inspiring artists, including Mia Michaels, Travis Wall, Katherine McCormick, and the Shaping Sound Dance Company. These experiences have shaped her into both a versatile dancer and an enthusiastic teacher.

Outside of the studio, Analisa is a hairstylist and the proud owner of Wrangled Roots Salon in Sycamore. She is eager to bring fresh techniques and innovative approaches to her teaching, creating a fun, engaging, and inspiring environment for her students. Above all, she is passionate about sharing her love of dance and nurturing the next generation of dancers.

My name is Gabby Norman and I’m starting my first year of teaching at NIDC. I started my dance journey here at NIDC when I was around 9 years old. I started my love for dance in hiphop, but it quickly expanded and I was even able to get my first pair of pointe shoes while I was here at NIDC!

I am currently a junior marketing major at NIU and am also a member in the Women’s in Business Professions organization. While I’m no longer a student, I am able to come back to share and introduce all the styles of hiphop there is. I look forward to meeting all my future students and am so excited to be back in the studio and see where this season takes us!

Alex has been dancing since the age of 3, and enjoyed learning Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, and more. Alex was also heavily involved in her church dance group for 14 years, dancing on missions trips across the US and in Ireland. She taught a dance team of kids ages 5-11 at her church for 4 years and that is where her love for teaching dance started.

Along with dancing, Alex also love playing and teaching piano. She’s been playing piano for 15 years and teaching for 4 years.
She currently teaches a variety of classes at NIDC, and teaches ages 5-18. Some of her favorite styles to teach and dance are Ballet, Jazz, and Lyrical. One of her favorite parts of teaching at NIDC, is getting to watch and help students work hard, make new friends and improve their dancing abilities.

“One of the things I try to do as I teach, is never underestimate a dancer. No matter what age, height, or experience level, I will always work to help each dancer be comfortable in class, be the best dancer they can be, and be confident in their abilities.”
-Ms. Alex

Mz. Mindy Walker has been teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Creative Dance, Preschool Dance, Character, Hip Hop, and Tumbling for over 30 years. Her love for dance started at the age of 5 at her hometown dance studio in Kentucky. She studied dance and was trained in their honors program. Her training led her to extended classes, advanced training, competitive dance teams, and many community performance opportunities at local events.

She began a teacher apprentice teaching program at the age of 14 and fell in love with teaching dance. She began assisting and teaching her own classes while in high school at the studio and also performed for the local H.S. poms/cheer squad. She continued her technical training into college and after through professional workshops and masterclasses with CNADM, Rhee Gold Dance Life Conferences, and many more. Her extensive training includes instruction from dance greats such as Gus Giordano, Al Gilbert, Patricia Dickinson, and Bruce Stegmann.

Her love of teaching children led her into many jobs like Nanny, Camp Counselor, Preschool Teacher, Daycare Provider, Dance Teacher, Studio Owner, Certified K-5 Teacher, and currently an ELL/ENL Specialist. She has a Bachelor’s Degree and an ELL/ENL certificate from Western Governors University. She has been an ELL/ENL teacher for 6+ years and 20+ years teaching students of all ages. She currently works with students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade and services 12 different languages. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching dance, reading about history, being a tech geek, spending time at the lake, and spending time with her husband of 33+ years. She also enjoys teaching international students online in a one-on-one English immersive classroom to Chinese students. Her passion is building a strong dance foundation for early learners and beyond. She is excited to be a part of your dance student’s dance journey. She has shared her passion with so many dance students that call her Mz. Mindy, Mz. Min, or Coach Mindy for our Curtsy Team.

Coming Soon

Kara has been dancing at NIDC since the age of 5, and competing since the age of 6. She is currently a part of the class of 2026 at Sycamore High School, where she is a member of student council, National Honor Society, and an assistant student director of Orchesis Dance Troupe. Her favorite style of dance is tap, and she has also taken ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater. She is so excited to be working for her studio again this year!

Katy has been dancing with NIDC since she was 3 years old, and elevation since 5 years old. She has taken almost every style but has a growing passion for tap and jazz. She has taught the ages 2-5 in dance classes. Katy loves to help out in the community and dance classroom when given the chance. She has a love for dance since she started and dance just lets her express her feelings through the movement. Katy has been teaching for a few years at NIDC and is excited to continue doing so. She is exited to spread her love and passion for dance with other students!

Coming Soon

Jordyn began her dance journey at NIDC at just 4 years old in 2016. When she was 7 she began competitive dancing with Elevation. Through all her years of dancing, she has developed a deep passion for Jazz, her favorite dance style. A dedicated 8th grader at Sycamore Middle School, Jordyn is also a member of the SMS Dance Team. Outside of dance, she enjoys bowling, painting, and snowmobiling. Jordyn is thrilled to once again step into a helper role, she is eager to inspire and nurture a love of dance in younger dancers.

Coming Soon

Our Directors

Our Instructors

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