Bravo Theater · Dance Program

Dance classes
that build stage-ready performers.

Ballet, Jazz/Hip-Hop, Acro, and Musical Theater Dance for kids, teens, and adults in Buffalo Grove — taught alongside acting, voice, and real productions. Not just a recital. A stage.

20+Class formats
4–AdultAge groups
2Languages
LiveProductions
— Why Bravo Dance

We train performers,
not just dancers.

Most studios stop at choreography. Bravo combines technique with acting, voice, and real productions — so every student is ready when the curtain goes up.

01

Dance + acting + voice under one roof

Students rotate through choreography, character work, and vocal coaching — building the full toolkit of a stage performer.

02

Bilingual English / Russian environment

Instruction is primarily English; Russian is woven in so kids and families always feel at home, and bilingual students thrive.

03

Classical and theatrical foundation

A serious grounding in classical ballet and stagecraft — the bedrock under every jazz, hip-hop, and Broadway routine we teach.

04

Real productions, not just recitals

Bravo runs fully staged musicals every season. Dance students audition into the company and learn what live performance demands.

— Leadership

The people behind Bravo.

A theater director who built the program, and a lead choreographer who shapes the dance. Together they make Bravo's stage what it is.

Portrait of Marina Taleysnik, Theater Director and Founder Marina Taleysnik · Portrait
Theater Director · Founder
Owner · Director · Script Writer

Marina Taleysnik

Founder of Bravo Theater. Marina oversees every program — theater, dance, voice, acting, and camp — and writes and directs Bravo's original musical productions. Bravo is the realization of a lifelong love of theater that started in a school drama group and grew into a community center for Russian-speaking arts in the Chicago suburbs.

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Portrait of Yaryna Alzhnyeva, Lead Choreographer Yaryna Alzhnyeva · Portrait
Lead Choreographer
Choreographer · Dance Faculty

Yaryna Alzhnyeva

Lead Choreographer with a Master's degree in dance choreography and 20+ years on stage. A native of Ukraine, Yaryna trained in nearly every form of stage dance — ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, ballroom, flamenco, and Ukrainian folk — and brings that range into every Bravo production.

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— What dancers leave with

Six things every Bravo dancer takes home.

Skills, habits, and a sense of self that carry off the stage and into the rest of their life.

Confidence

Owning a stage, a room, a moment. The kind that travels back to school and home.

Coordination

Body awareness and control built through ballet barre, jazz combinations, and acro.

Discipline

Showing up, listening, rehearsing — the unglamorous side of a great performance.

Musicality

Hearing a phrase, feeling a beat, breathing with a count — the language of dance.

Stage presence

The trained ability to be watched. Eye contact, intention, and storytelling through movement.

Real performance

Multiple production opportunities each year — musicals, showcases, and community shows.

— Where we are

Dance classes in Buffalo Grove.

Easy to reach from every nearby suburb. Families travel to Bravo because the program is one of a kind in the area.

A short drive from anywhere in the north suburbs.

Bravo's home studio is in Buffalo Grove, with the main stage at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center in Palatine for major productions. Families from across the north suburbs commit to the drive because the bilingual, theater-focused training isn't offered anywhere else.

Buffalo GroveWheelingLincolnshireNorthbrook Vernon HillsArlington HeightsPalatineLong GroveDeerfield
— Frequently asked

Questions parents ask before the first class.

01What age can my child start?
Our Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement classes begin at age 4. From there, students progress through age-grouped tracks all the way through Broadway-Ready Intensive for ages 13+. We also offer adult classes for anyone returning to the studio.
02Does my child need previous dance experience?
No. Most of our Foundations classes start at absolute beginner. Our teachers place students based on age and a short trial, so every dancer lands in the right room for their level.
03Are classes bilingual?
Yes. Bravo runs in an English/Russian bilingual environment. Most instruction is in English, with Russian used as needed so families and students always feel at home.
04Can dance students perform in Bravo musicals?
Absolutely — that's the whole point of our program. Dance students audition into our musical productions and seasonal showcases, and the curriculum is built to prepare them for the stage, not just the recital.
05What should students wear?
Ballet: leotard, tights, hair pulled back, ballet slippers. Jazz / Hip-Hop / Musical Theater: form-fitting movement clothes, jazz or sneakers. Acro: leotard or fitted top, bare feet. A full dress code is sent after enrollment.
06How do I schedule a trial class?
Click any "Schedule a Trial Class" button and pick a time. Trial spots are free and we'll match your child with the class that best fits their age and experience.
Trial slots open this season

Schedule a trial class — and see if your kid's a Bravo dancer.

One free class. Our team places your child by age and level. No pressure, no obligation — just a chance to feel what Bravo dance is like.