A studio dedicated to teaching correct dance technique, theory and terminology for beginning through advanced students.

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theater and Modern

At McDonald Dance Academy, our classes are designed to stimulate the enjoyment of dance while laying an important foundation for further training.  As the student advances, the variety and intensity of the class work increases.  Many of our students have gone on to careers in dance, while other students participate in dance for the exercise and pure enjoyment of the art form.  We offer classes for beginning though advanced students, ages three through adult.

Parental Involvement

We encourage parental involvement by sending home regular newsletters with information about important studio news and events.  Parents are also invited to observe their dancer at our Parent Observation Week offered each semester.  We want parents to observe their child’s progress and to offer encouragement and praise for their accomplishments.

Dance Performance

We conclude each year with a Day of Dance, which is modeled in the tradition of the French School of Ballet.  Emphasis is not on elaborate costumes, but rather on the skills and techniques which the students have mastered over the course of their education.  The performance consists of short dances choreographed from steps that the students have been working on all year.  The rehearsals for these dances takes place during the last ten minutes of class time after Spring Break, in the second semester.  While participation is not mandatory, we find that the chance to perform is a rewarding and confidence building experience.

The Arlington Dance Ensemble is our performing group.  Click here for more information.

Instructors                                                       

Linda Daniels McDonald Director of McDonald Dance Academy, received her early ballet education from noted instructors such as Anida Sedala, Ruth Page, Gus Giordano, Fernando Schauffenberg, Barbara Copeland and Jerry Bywaters Cochran. Performing with such artists as Edward Villela and Rudolph Nuryev further enhanced her educational experience. Linda received a fine arts degree in ballet from Texas Christian University, was a soloist with the Fort Worth Ballet Company, and danced with the Fort Worth Opera under the direction of Marina Swveltova. She danced in Summerstock with the Music Theatre of Wichita Kansas. She taught at Dance Center North, Northbrook Dance Center and Dance Variations Workshop in Palatine until opening McDonald Dance Academy in Arlington Heights in 1994.

Linda is actively involved with Dance for Life in Chicago and a member of C.N.A.D.M. Board of Directors.   Linda directs the Arlington Dance Ensemble, a group she started for those students interested in the opportunity to perform more and share their talents with the community. Linda’s students have gone on to receive dance scholarships, to major in dance at college and to dance professionally. Additionally, Linda has created choreography for many local theatre groups, including four St. James musical productions. Linda lives in Arlington Heights with her husband and three children.

Jeanette Aylward studied ballet at the University of Illinois while earning her BS. She has performed with the Full Body Poetry Ensemble and Reverse Live. Jeanette is currently a member and choreographer for the Pont Des Arts Ensemble in Chicago. She has been teaching dance locally for the past 13 years.

Madelyn Doyle received her BFA with a concentration in teaching dance from Columbia College Chicago. Madelyn has been teaching Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern and Hip Hop, and is working towards her K-12 teaching certificate from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She plans to teach public school dance programs in order to share her passion with students who are interested in the study of dance. 

Pat Doyle has taught in the area for the past 30 years. Her training was at Stone Cameron, Gus Giordano, and Anida Sedala. Pat studied with Bruce Stegman and  has received her Grade One Cecchetti teacher's degree. She has choreographed a number of community productions including ones at Morten Jr. College and Stevenson High School  and is the costumer for Prospect High School.  Pat also taught for Stevenson High School's Odyssey program and has been a member of C.N.A.D.M. for 28 years.

Laura Gates graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Dance and Psychology. After moving to Chicago, Laura performed as a guest artist in several suburban Nutcrackers and danced professionally with Swallow Cliff Dance Company. For 6 years, Laura danced with internationally renowned Thodos Dance Chicago and is presently the Rehearsal Director and Ballet Mistress for the company.

Katie Calandra Kritek graduated summa cum laude from New York University with a BS in Dance and Dance Education and completed her M.Ed. from National-Louis University. She has been an active member of the Chicago dance community as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for more than 15 years. Currently, Katie teaches in New Trier High School’s Dance Division.

Sarah Losh recently earned two BAs from the University of Illinois while training with Deanna Doty at the Champaign Ballet Academy.  Sarah studied with Alexi Kremnev, Ana Reznik, Jon Lehrer, and Linda Lehovec and served as a special assistant to Judy Rice at the CNADM Convention.  She has participated in training Intensives with The Joffrey Ballet, River North, and Thodos Dance Chicago.

Joshua Manculich graduated from Pointe Park University in 2009 where he was the recipient of the Conservatory’s Outstanding Graduate Award. Josh is going into his second season with Thodos Dance Chicago where he has worked with such artists as TONY Award-winning Ann Reinking, Jessica Miller Tomlinson and Melissa Thodos.

Kara McDonald graduated from Texas Christian University with a BFA in Ballet and Modern dance. While at TCU, Kara worked with renowned artists such as Fernando Bujones, Christian Von Howard, and Li Chou Cheng. After graduation Kara moved to Chicago where she is now a current member of Project 606 Dance Company and teaches dance in the Chicago area.

Kelly McDonald graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Dance and an Entrepreneurship Certificate. Kelly has performed works by renown choreographers Alan Sener, Armando Duarte, and Charlotte Adams and performed a summer series of Duarte Dance Works pieces. She teaches at local area studios, is orchesis director at St. Viator, and a member of Project 606 Dance Company.

Pamela Patyk graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Dance Education and a masters degree in Fine Arts for Dance. She studied under such renown teachers as Viola Farber, June Finch and Lar Lubovitch.  Ms. Patyk taught dance at Western Illinois University, Barat College and Harper College. She also performed with Mordine and Company.

Justin Sears began dancing at Northern Kentucky University while majoring in Musical Theater. Justin has taught Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary master classes in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois and worked with Rutina Wesley, star of MTV’s How She Move. He danced with Thodos Dance Chicago and in Elijah Gibson’s, formerly of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, world premiere work, choreographed for Thodos Dance Chicago’s New Dances and teaches at area studios.

Mark Yonally received his degree in dance from the University of New Mexico. He has performed with Bill Evans Dance Company and Especially Tap Company in Chicago. Mark has taught at Oklahoma City University and Gus Giordano and holds master classes throughout Chicagoland. He did a residency at Les Centre Des Arts in Paris and continues to teach in both France and Germany. Mark is the artistic director of the Chicago Tap Theatre.