TranscenDance Studios forges ahead in a new facility and climate

OAK PARK, IL—TranscenDance Studios, an Oak Park dance studio, celebrated its tenth anniversary in the summer of 2019 with the purchase of a new building to host its expanding operations.

The new facilities are located at 120 Madison Street in Oak Park, just across from Village Hall, and host 10,000 square feet of beautifully renovated dance space. Dancers can enjoy four large climate-controlled dance studios showcasing wall-to-wall mirrors, professional sound systems, numerous lighting options, and elite sprung hardwood and Timestep marley floors.

Parents will appreciate the ample lobby space with large studio viewing windows, retail area for dancewear and gifts, and drop-off drive-through directly in front of the building’s main entrance. Seven personal changing stalls and a multi-purpose room with kitchenette and seating for meals and homework will make life easy for busy dancers.

“The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority,” says TranscenDance Studio’s owner, Cait Jones-Seebacher. “We have gone to great lengths to ensure dance is a safe physical outlet for our students at a time when so much is restricted.” Masks are required at all times for anyone within the building and Zoom is an option for anyone wishing to take class from home. Class sizes have been limited to allow a constant 6-10 feet of distance between students, and class activities have been modified to remove any physical contact or sharing of props. “We brought on additional staff to assist with cleaning studios between every class and installed MERV-13 filters in our HVAC systems, as proper ventilation is key,” says Jones-Seebacher. “We are doing all we can to stay abreast of new findings and safety recommendations.”

A full listing and frequently updated description of the studio’s COVID-19 precautions can be found on their website at www.transcendancestudios.com/covid-19.

When asked about the future of the studio in such uncertain times, Jones-Seebacher says, “It has been a challenging process, but we are thankful to be thriving. Along with offering rental space to Chicagoland’s artists, we plan to offer socially-distanced birthday parties and event rentals for local celebrations outside of class hours.”

This comes at a time when families are looking for options as winter weather forces small gatherings indoors. With large, open studio spaces and strict occupancy and COVID-19 guidelines, TranscenDance Studios believes it can offer a safer alternative to gathering in personal residences. “We will, of course, continue to follow local health recommendations and will revise or postpone our rental offerings if they cannot be executed in a safe manner,” says Jones-Seebacher.

To celebrate their new facility, TranscenDance Studios will be giving away 25 hours of free rental space for the month of February. To be considered for the giveaway, interested parties must complete the rental application at www.transcendancestudios.com/rentals and enter promo code FREEFEB.

Classes for boys and girls are offered for ages 2 through adult, as well as dance teams for ages 4 through 19. To find hours of operation, register for classes, sign up for a free trial class, or reserve rental space, visit www.transcendancestudios.com.

“We are excited to continue to transcend expectations,” says Jones-Seebacher.