Business: Elevate Dance Experience
Address: 1112 S. Washington St., Naperville
Phone/website: 331-204-6984; www.elevatedanceexperience.com
Owner: Lindsay McLoughlin, 40, of Naperville
Years in business: 5
What does your business do? “We offer multiple levels of dance classes. We have a dance company that competes,” McLoughlin said.
Where do you compete? “We go to competitions in the spring and compete against other dance studios in the area. We compete out of state and in national competitions.
“Our first competition (this year) is on March 7. That will be at the Westin in Itasca. The kids start dancing at 7 a.m. We have 73 different dances between solos, duos, trios. The day ends around 10 p.m. … Thankfully, District 203 does not have school that day. Some kids may be pulled out of school. No different than soccer.”
What gets you through that day? “A lot of coffee.”
How many competitions? “There are six up until May. This one is called West Coast Dance Explosion.”
What about nationals? “Last year was in Orlando. This year, in July, it’s in Chicago.”
How big is the competitive company? “We have 124 kids, from age 5 to 18.”
Any boys? “We do have some incredibly talented boys. I’d say we are majority girls with a sprinkling of boys. And they’re all best friends.”
What if someone just wants to dance? “We have recreational classes in different genres of dance. We have jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, ballet, fusion and lyrical dance.”
Kids only? “We do have dance for adults, but we start as young as 2 years old. We have multiple 2-year-old classes. They have a lot to do with learning etiquette, how to behave in a dance class, but the recital is so cute. That’s my favorite.”
Why did you start this business? “There were a bunch of dancers here who were at another dance studio that closed just before COVID. (The studios) sat here vacant two, two and a half years. … My daughter was one of the dancers. There was no place to dance where they could all stay together.
“I decided, ‘Why not (run the business myself)?’ I was friends with a lot of the staff … and asked them if they’d be willing to teach if I were to open a facility. There were amazing and said yes. Still to this day they are here. They are what keeps the heartbeat going.”
Are you a dancer? “I competed in high school (at Naperville Central). But not anymore.”
How’s the business doing? “We recently expanded. Built two dance studios in August. We have six now.”
What was it like when you opened? “It was in the thick of COVID, July of 2020. We started with masks. We had to alternate kids (at lessons). It was an interesting time.”
When are you open? “Every day except Sunday, 3:30 to 9:30 p.m., and on Saturday mornings.”
When are you busy? “All year.”
What did you do before? “For years, I was in business and then I was home with my four kids. They are now 18, 16, 15 and 11. They kept me busy a long time. They still do. … Ella is the dancer. She’s 16.”
What do you like best? “The relationships with the kids, my staff, the parents, the different people in the community. I’ve been very lucky.”
How many students? “About 500. They’re from Downers Grove, Oswego, Bolingbrook, Naperville, Aurora, all over.”
Any negatives? “I don’t like when people don’t recognize how much work we put into things. … They think, ‘It’s a dance studio, how hard can it be?’ Well, it is hard. It’s still a business. … There’s a condescending nature with some people.”
How many employees? “Fourteen dance teachers and one front desk staff. Incredibly talented people.”
What’s your philosophy? “To provide (students) with an experience that will make them better people. It’s more than dance.”
Who makes the costumes? “We have a seamstress, Sam Sharp. We order a base costume. She makes sure it fits every dancer. It’s hard work. … We as a staff put rhinestones on each (costume) to make it more unique.”
What challenges do you face? “Kids change their minds all the time. … Keep the kids happy. Keep the parents happy.”
What about pricing? “It’s $158 for one hour per week for seven weeks. If you do more classes, the price (per hour) comes down a little bit. The second child (in a family) gets a 5% discount.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “You have to believe in yourself. You can’t stop. You have to push through all the obstacles. … I found a few. You keep going. And when you come out on the other side, it’s pretty cool.”
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
