Jenny O'Brien, Dreams Dance Academy
Medium: Performing Arts (dance)
Studio Name: Dreams Dance Academy
Website: www.dreamsdance.com
Phone: 630.443.2181
Email: jenny@dreamsdance.com
Jenny has been dancing for over 30 years and studied jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and musical theater. She has been teaching since 1999 throughout the Chicago-land area.
From her first ballet class at the age of 3, Jenny had a passion for dancing and performing. Throughout her youth, she danced at Palmer’s Dance & Gymnastics and Dorothy’s Dancing Unlimited. Jenny also performed in theatrical productions such as "The Nutcracker" with Pennsylvania Ballet Company and "The Night Before Christmas" with Dayton Ballet. She participated in dance team and Orchesis throughout high school, in addition to continuing studio classes. Jenny was the only freshman accepted as a Company member for Orchesis (dance troupe), which is also where she got her start choreographing. Her start in choreographing happened by accident while recovering from a spinal fusion surgery from '95 - '96. When she graduated from Lake Park High School in 1999, she started teaching dance under the direction of her former dance instructor Mary Pilalis, and fell in love with teaching. After teaching for two years while earning an associates degree at College of DuPage, she attended Illinois State University and graduated with a BA in Communications. She began teaching again after graduating.
In 2012 she realized where her true passion was, and that is in the studio with her students. After focusing on a marketing career for 10 years, she decided to pursue her dream of teaching full-time. Jenny formed Dreams Dance Academy – a true life-long dream. She started "Dreams Dance Academy: The Traveling Studio" in September 2012 by renting space at community and fitness centers in three towns, and it skyrocketed from there. DDA reached 85 students in just five months. In August 2013, Jenny obtained her own studio space in La Fox to accommodate the quickly growing program. And in August 2015, DDA moved to St. Charles to a 3-studio facility which she hopes to call home for a very long time now that we can accommodate our growing program. The current home is truly the dream studio she always envisioned in her mind!
Jenny continues to attend both teacher trainings and studio owner conferences, as she believes in the importance of continuing education to keep the studio, technique, and teaching skills at DDA top notch. Dance is always evolving - so as dance professionals, we must continue to train and educate ourselves. She has written articles for Dance Studio Life Magazine, and is an active member of the International Dance Entrepreneurs Association. In 2018, she was an alumni panelist at Illinois State’s Annual Com Week. In April 2020, she recorded a webinar with other studio owners discussing how they created and maintained a virtual studio during the pandemic. She loves sharing her passion and knowledge for business and studio ownership with others.
Since March 2020, she has lead her students and staff through one of the most challenging times for their studio. She has already seen the positive benefits these times have brought on, in making her students even stronger than ever before. DDA is heading into season nine this Fall!
How did you discover your talent?
I started dancing when I was 3! I started choreographing at age 15 for my high school dance troupe (Orchesis) while recovering from a spinal fusion surgery, after realizing that although I couldn’t yet dance again….I could teach others. And then at age 18, I started teaching dance.
What influences you to create and perform?
My students...and seeing the joy dance brings to those watching it
What is the best thing about creating and performing?
That dance truly allows students to go from a bad day to a good day once they walk through our doors (or, during the pandemic - once they signed onto Zoom). The pandemic has reminded me even more just how important dance is to so many kids. Having the opportunity to provide a safe haven and teaching dance to kids of all ages during a time like now….is a huge gift and something I am extremely grateful for.
How has COVID-19 affected your work?
We were forced to close our doors on March 13th, and by March 15th I had a virtual studio up and running. Luckily, I am part of an organization with studio owners across the country who had already closed a few weeks prior...so I was able to somewhat prepare as I knew what was ahead. We ran our regular weekly schedule (120 classes) on Zoom for 13 weeks! In addition to regularly scheduled classes, we offered unique and fun daily “extras” including storytimes and teambuilding.
What are you currently working on or is there something we can promote for you?
Session have begun and we have classes for all ages! Class can be taken in person or remotely (via Zoom). We made a slideshow when the kids were dancing virtually at home for 3 months...they submitted videos dancing at home and how they chose to RISE UP. Click HERE to view that video!
Also, we found a way to have a recital for our kids last month - we did it on our parking lot, rented a stage, and took 6 days to get every class in order to stay by the event guidelines of 50 people or less. We hope you enjoy the pictures I’ve shared from this event. It was the best day ever and was the most positive experience to come from this situation. Truly!
