The Dance Station

We are committed to making ​your dance lessons ​affordable and effective!

Why?

Because I am an educator first, and a business owner second.

How?

By requiring classes 2x per week, your student will learn more at a ​faster rate.

What else?

• I don’t mark up costumes (they are expensive enough!).
  
• I Don’t charge registration fees (what is that even for?)
• I don’t Charge you and your extended family to attend recitals. ​(I Choose a less expensive or free venue so everyone can attend!)
• I am the teacher. I have more than 30 years of dance teaching ​experience. (I haven’t seen it all, but I have seen a lot!)
  

Tuition and Dress code Information

Check out the classes we offer!

Registration for fall is

NOW OPEN!

CALL OR TEXT 217-737-7755

Fall Session runs Aug 19th-Dec 6th

Level 1 (Pre-K & Kindergarten)

• This is a great introductory class for your young dancer!
• Dancers will learn skills in Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Ballet and Musical Theater ​style in preparation for our Holiday Recital in early December.
• Students will practice social skills like taking turns, listening and following ​directions, working independently and working as a team, all while having fun!
• Dancers should be potty trained and able to use the bathroom independently ​prior to joining this class.
  
• All classes meet 2x per week. Students retain more information and develop ​muscle memory faster when they practice more than once a week. students ​don’t waste time being re-taught the same choreography because of learning ​lost over the course of 7 days.
• Relationships and skills are built faster with consistent attendance.

Students at this age may not be ready to dance independently. That is ok! ​students are welcome to try class for one week and see how they feel about it. ​Level 1 parents or guardians will be given feedback about their child’s readiness ​after the first class or week of class.

Level 2 (1st & 2nd Grades)

• Dancers will learn skills in Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Ballet and Musical Theater ​style in preparation for our Holiday Recital in early December.
• Dancers will build on skills learned previously and practice new skills at ​their own pace.
• Students will be given corrections and congratulations on both their dance and ​social skills.
• Dancers will develop work ethic and perseverance as they practice.
• Dancers will learn to cheer on their peers in a team setting, work together to ​obtain synchronization and group unity, all while developing friendships and ​having fun!
  
• All classes meet 2x per week. Students retain more information and develop ​muscle memory faster when they practice more than once a week. students ​don’t waste time being re-taught the same choreography because of learning ​lost over the course of 7 days.
• Relationships and skills are built faster with consistent attendance.

Level 3 (3rd, 4th, 5th grades or by Invitation)

• Dancers will learn skills in Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Ballet and Musical Theater ​style in preparation for our Holiday Recital in early December.
• Dancers will build on skills learned previously and practice new skills at ​their own pace.
• Students will be given corrections and congratulations on both their dance and ​social skills.
• Dancers will develop work ethic and perseverance as they practice.
• Dancers will learn to cheer on their peers in a team setting, work together to ​obtain synchronization and group unity, all while developing friendships and ​having fun!
• Students at this age should be developing an awareness of their strengths and ​weaknesses both skillwise and socially. Students will be encouraged to be ​happy with the unique qualities they possess while striving to improve in areas ​that would help them be more successful as dancers and as people!
• Students will be encouraged to practice self acceptance and have a positive ​mindset.
  
• All classes meet 2x per week. Students retain more information and develop ​muscle memory faster when they practice more than once a week. students ​don’t waste time being re-taught the same choreography because of learning ​lost over the course of 7 days.
• Relationships and skills are built faster with consistent attendance.

Level 4 (6th-12th Grades or By Invitation)

• Dancers will learn skills in Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Ballet and Musical Theater ​style in preparation for our Holiday Recital in early December.
• Dancers will build on skills learned previously practice new skills at their own ​pace.
• Students will be given corrections and congratulations on both their dance and ​social skills.
• Dancers will develop work ethic and perseverance as they practice.
• Dancers will cheer on their peers in a team setting, work together to obtain ​synchronization and group unity, all while developing friendships and having fun!
• Students at this age should be developing an awareness of their strengths and ​weaknesses both skillwise and socially. Students will be encouraged to be ​happy with the unique qualities they possess while striving to improve in areas ​that would help them be more successful as dancers and as people!
• Students will be encouraged to practice self acceptance and have a positive ​mindset.
• Students that are interested in pursuing dance opportunities in their future will ​be guided on audition processes and strategies.
  
• All classes meet 2x per week. Students retain more information and develop ​muscle memory faster when they practice more than once a week. students don’t ​waste time being re-taught the same choreography because of learning lost over ​the course of 7 days.
• Relationships and skills are built faster with consistent attendance.

Recitals!

We have two dance sessions per year: ​Fall Session and Spring Session.

• Each session concludes with a recital.
• All students who sign up for Dance are expected to ​participate in the recital.
• Your student will learn two dances to perform at the ​recital!
• It is the fun and rewarding part of putting in all of ​that hard work in class!
• Spring recitals are themed (example themes are: ​Circus, Board games, movies, disney, fairy tales, ​colors/shapes and patterns)
• Winter Recitals are Holiday themed, or we perform ​our own version of the nutcracker or frozen, for ​example.
• I love giving students a chance to perform and shine in ​front of their friends and family!
• Recitals are a tangible way to show what your ​student has learned and for families to share in the ​joy of dance!

“Family Dance”

a Dance Station Tradition

Since 2007, we have had a “family” dance at the ​recital!

Students are welcome to invite a member of their ​family to practice with them and be a part of our ​annual “family” Dance. This has been a fun memory ​maker for dancers and someone they love!

Over the years Dads, moms, brothers, sisters, cousins, ​grandparents, aunts and a variety of other folks ​have stepped on stage as a part of this FREE class!

We have danced as So many characters! For example: ​pirates, storm troopers, chimney sweeps, and this ​year we even Glowed in the dark.

this is an event that truly showcases our

“DANCE FAMILY”!

Disney!

Every Couple of years since 2018, ​we Do an optional dance trip. This ​December will mark our 3rd trip ​to disney!

Students will participate in a ​disney parade and perform in a ​stage show with choreography we ​bring from home!

It’s a fun experience and a great ​memory maker for families and ​students who choose to ​participate.

In the future we may choose to do ​a bowl game trip or perform in ​NYC (or head back to disney ​because it’s so fun!)

Wherever we go, we will keep ​making memories together!

Instructor Bio: Angie Neal

• I Grew up in a small farming community in Washington state. I have been dancing since my mom enrolled me in dance classes 41 years ago (way ​back in the 1st grade!). Early on, I primarily studied jazz and ballet. I enjoyed dancing so much that it became my passion. In 8th grade, I ​joined the Ellensburg Youth Ballet and studied under Christine Patterson, a former member of the Royal Ballet. I credit her with my strong ​knowledge of dance technique.
• At age 16, I began teaching dance classes while I continued to study and dance with the EYB. I also studied modern dance, musical theater and ​tap while continuing to study jazz, ballet and pointe. I enjoyed being a part of the EYB’s performances of the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.
• My junior year, I became one of the founding members of my high school’s dance team, which is still in existence today. I attended UDA camp and ​earned the honor of being an All-Star dancer. I was able to take two memorable trips my senior year, dancing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ​parade in NYC and in the New Year’s Day parade in Paris.
• In college, I auditioned for and made the WSU Dance Team in Pullman, Washington. The following year, I made the WSU Pom Squad and the WSU ​Dance Team and performed with both groups. My junior year the groups, including the WSU Cheer Squad, combined into one under a new coaching ​staff. It was through these teams that I developed my Hip Hop dance skills.
• We had some exciting experiences during my junior year in college as our football team made it to the Rose Bowl. As a spirit squad team ​captain that year, I had the opportunity to travel to some away games from Washington State (one was to an early season game vs. the ​Illini!). It was my first ever trip to Illinois. We were in the Rose Parade, cheered and danced at the game, and got to be a part of all the ​festivities that come with a winning season.
  
• When I graduated, I continued to teach dance while working in my new career as an agricultural entomologist. I had been doing this for a ​couple of years when I decided to audition for the Charlotte Hornets “Honeybees” dance team, 3000 miles away! I made the team, and in the ​fall of 2001, I relocated to Charlotte to continue my dance career. When the Hornets relocated to New Orleans in the fall of 2002, I ​auditioned for the Milwaukee Bucks “Energee” dance team and moved to Milwaukee.
• In addition to dancing for the Energee team, I began teaching dance at a large studio in Wisconsin. My students there still mean the world to ​me even though they are grown and have children of their own! After one season with the Bucks, I found a dance team I truly loved. What ​began as a group dancing at Milwaukee Admirals Hockey games soon evolved into the Diamond Dancers for the Milwaukee Brewers. My husband ​Cory and I were engaged at a Brewers game that I was performing at!
  
• When we moved to Illinois in the summer of 2006, it didn’t take me long to decide I wanted to start teaching dance here. I started The Dance ​Station that fall and I haven’t looked back!
• I currently teach music at Pana Elementary School, which has been a wonderful and rewarding way for me to grow in my career as an ​educator while blending my love of music with my love of dance. I cherish the opportunity to teach students both during school and outside of ​school.
• I am a wife to Cory and a mother to three wonderful children: Andrew, Bo, and Viola. I have a strong faith and have learned a lot from my ​family and my students about acceptance, love and priorities! I have a growth mindset and strive to cultivate a positive environment whether ​at home, at school or at dance!

Collegiate Dance Memories

Senior year at WSU. I am just to the right of the ​mascot in the front row. Go Cougs!

Milwaukee Admirals Ice Angels Memories

I am front row, far left. This was such a special ​group of women. This is just a snapshot after a ​game with a few teammates, and the Zamboni!

Milwaukee Brewers Diamond Dancer Memories

I am front row, far left. Cory and I had just gotten ​engaged while I was performing at a Brewer game ​shortly before this picture was taken!

Why Don’t You Compete?

To Be Honest, I don’t believe in competitive dance anymore.

I competed as a young dancer growing up in Washington state and ​won many awards. I competed at the NDA college dance team ​championships as a collegiate dancer in florida. I led my ​competition dancers to many awards as a teacher in wisconsin. I ​coached a HS team here in Illinois and led them to state in Pom ​dance, hip hop and Lyrical.

But, in the end, there were times when the work was so intense, ​the improvement was so great, and the reward was nothing.

There were times where the work put in and the finished piece ​weren’t where they should have been and an award was still ​given. Ugh.

There were contests where there were way too many competitors ​and contests where we were the ONly competitors.

I’ve been a judge myself and the rubric that is used is entirely up ​to the people holding the contest. Many dance contests are ​companies that travel around, hosting contests who ultimately ​make a profit off of families who participate by handing out ​shiny awards and selling you merch. Yikes.

Frankly, i don’t need a shiny award to prove my students are ​valuable. They don’t need a score on a sheet to see where they ​fall as a human. how you placed at a contest in another state ​when you were in 3rd grade will not go on your resume.

Dance is art. Dance is athleticism.

apprecitation of the way you dance should come from within.

that is what I teach & what I Believe in!

At the dance station, costuming and choreography are ​done with care. Students are costumed and taught ​dances with the intent of looking classy and put ​together.

Business Hours

Pana Location

Monday/Thursday 4-7

Bethany Location

Tuesday 4:30-9

Wednesday 4:30-5:30

Thursday 8-9

Friday 4:30-6:30

Call or text Angie Neal 217-737-7755

Email: angiesdancestation@yahoo.com

Dancestationdancefamily.com

Pana Location:

AAMP building

11 South Locust

Pana, IL 62557

Bethany Location:

212 W. South Water

Bethany, IL 61914