Performing Arts Limited (“PAL”) opened in 2000 in West Rogers Park, Chicago, Illinois. Since that time, PAL has been providing Chicagoans of all ages with high-quality performing arts education and professional training. Their studio has a strong neighborhood presence in Chicago’s diverse Northside communities, with multiple community performances and staged productions annually, and caters to students of all traditions and walks of life. In partnership with Donna’s Good Things, underprivileged students are provided with scholarships to pursue their performing arts studies at PAL each year.
Under the direction of Kate Kinyon, their Owner and Director, PAL is one of Chicago’s top performing arts studios for Dance, Music, Theater, and Fitness! They offer classes for children and adults of all ages and experience levels. PAL has been with the neighborhood for 15 years with its studio serving the area for 50! In Kate’s opinion, their facility design offers the best environment for student learning and achievement.
PAL’s programs are divided in four different areas – Dance, Music, Theater (including Musical Theater) and Fitness. PAL’s Dance Program\ offers instruction in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern Dance, Lyrical, Ballroom, a program Just for Boys, and Creative Movement for their littlest dancers. Their Music Program offers Piano, Voice, Guitar and Strings in their Music Program. Their Acting Program offers Stage Acting and Camera Acting. Lastly, Musical Theatre, their “Triple Threat” program encompasses all that PAL has to offer. In this program students combine their dance, singing, and acting talents. Past productions include Annie, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Into the Woods, Damn Yankees, and By George, a Gershwin revue. Next year PAL will produce its first mainstage production. In addition to the above performance programs, they have a Fitness Program where they offer Pilates and Cardio Dance.
Performing Arts Limited offers classes for novice students through professional levels for 
both children and adults. Students perform in annual music, dance, and acting recitals, as well as the holiday classic The Nutcracker.
PAL nurtures passion for dance, music and drama within a family-friendly studio environment. Its students have been selected to study at the Joffrey Ballet School and Ballet Chicago. Many of PAL’s students continue their studies in college and go on to find success as professional performers, producers and performing arts educators. Students and Alumni have performed at Great America and Dance Chicago. They have been represented by the Shirley Hamilton, Ford and Deborah Maddox talent agencies.
PAL offers dance programs at such schools as Decatur Classical, Stone Academy, St. Margaret Mary, Arie Crown to name a few. Students of PAL have achieved roles in The American Girl Place, Ensemble Espanol, the Illinois Board of Tourism, and many more.
According to Kate, PAL is marked by its diversity and by its nurturing, family-friendly ethic. Their studio encourages boys dance classes through its “Just For Boys” programs, where, rather than the minority, boys represent the entirety of the class. It also produces an annual “Women’s Only” dance recital for its Easter, Orthodox Jewish students and families. Each December for the past nine years, PAL has shared the talents of its top students through its fully-staged production of The Nutcracker Ballet, which features PAL dancers as young as five through its most advanced ballet students dancing principal roles and with guest artists from Chicago’s professional ballet companies.
Kate’s proudest moment while coaching dancers occurred when her first student was chosen to perform in The American Girl Revue. Since then, dancers being awarded roles in Bulls Kidz, Ensemble Español, The Joffrey Ballet, and more have made her very proud. In classes and in their productions, she is proud to see her older dancers taking younger ones under their wing.
In Kate’s opinion, the biggest mistake she sees dancers make is being too hard on themselves! It is difficult to see a great dancer let a disappointment shake their confidence. In their group performances, they find good opportunities for their dancers of different ages and levels to support and encourage one another.
Their performing group, the PAL company dancers have performed at such venues as Dance Chicago and Great America, and Borders Bookstore. Kate reveals they are excited for the return of PAL Company for their elite dancers, and to celebrate their 10th anniversary Nutcracker production in 2016. Their 2015 local production features dancers from 28 different schools. They first performed at Christkindlmarket and in Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest in 2015. They would love to perform in more new venues in 2016!
Kate started Performing Arts Limited because of her experiences as a child. She was privileged to receive a performing arts education and had many incredible teachers. She wanted to offer this chance to many other students and families.
PAL loves to support local businesses, and frequently partners for events with area restaurants, libraries, schools and stores. There is a strong neighborhood vibe in Northside Chicago and Evanston, and they love being a part of it! Several of their talented faculty members also manage their own dance companies, and PAL is proud to sponsor them with rehearsal space and to support their artistic endeavors.
If you would like more information about Performing Arts Limited, visit their website at www.performingartslimited.com, call them at 773.262.DANCE (773-262-3262) or email them at info@performingartslimited.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Kate Kinyon of Performing Arts Limited .
