Lynnette VanDien, the Director and Coordinator of Curriculum at Lynnette’s School of Dance in 
Park Ridge, Illinois, believes their school stands out among other studios because it is like a family. Not only is her partner her niece, but all of their teachers actually started dancing at the Lynnette School of Dance as children, some as young as two years old.
Lynnette says every child is important to them whether they are with the school for a year or for their entire dance career.
All of the teachers are certified teachers. Lynnette is a Master Graduate of Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) and a certified Zumba Instructor and her partner, Lorena Free Hamzic, Director and Teacher, is a graduate of Columbia College with a degree in Dance. She is also a Certified Member of Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) and is a certified Zumba instructor and member of the Zumba Instructors Network (ZIN). Not only are all of their instructors certified, many of them have college degrees and some of the teachers have danced or 
choreographed professionally.
Lynnette advises her dancers that the most important aspect of their dance career is to dance because they want to dance, because they love it and not because their parents want them to dance. Other than that, she motivates them by keeping the class fun and up-to-date but still disciplined.
Since she has been in business for 43 years, Lynnette has had many proud moments. Some of those proud moments include seeing her students develop into beautiful dancers, especially her own daughter. Also, seeing her niece become a great business women and teacher who shares the same ideals for their dancers as she does.
The biggest mistake she sees dancers make when performing is trying to do something trendy and not sticking to technique. Technique should be the most important part of the dance.
Lynnette believes that the “must have” dancewear items every dancer needs begins with good shoes.
Her goals for this year are to do a better job of teaching and running the business than she did last year – to always strive for something better.
She decided to start a studio because of her love of dance, teaching and kids and because of her 
desire to give back to others what she could. Lynnette says her love of teaching and working with children has given her so much it is hard to describe. In the last 43 years, Lynnette has often been told that she has given so much to her students, but in actuality she believes that they have given more to her – LOVE.
Lynnette says that everyone at Lynnette’s School of Dance is a family and often students stay with her until they go to college. Many of her students have also brought back their own children and soon it will be their grandchildren and she loves it!
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Lynnette’s School of Dance or Lynnette VanDien.
