Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilla Daniels.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My mom is Irina Makkai, she is the owner of the Irina Makkai Classical Ballet and Dance School in Highland Park. Born in Romania, my mom attended the Professional Classical Ballet School of Cluji, one of only two professional ballet schools in the country. In order to be admitted to the school, she had to audition with hundreds of other children; only 60 were chosen.
She was trained in the Russian based Vaganova-Tarasov method of ballet. The nine-year program required annual examinations in physical ability, body shape, and musicality. Of the 60 students who were accepted, only seven girls passed the harsh examinations, one of those being my mom. Year after year, my mom watched as her friends were dismissed due their body shape changing or ballet technique not meeting the strict standards of the ballet school. After graduation, the Iasi Opera House in Romania hired my mom, where she quickly advanced in the company and became a soloist. She performed in many ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Faust, Fountain of Bakcheseray, and Aida.
During that time, she met my dad, Ernest Makkai, and the two were married in 1966. They had my sister Noemi a few years later and my mom retired from performing. She went back to school and completed a Ballet Education Program at the Bucharest Institute of Choreography. This program included courses in ballet methodology, dance history, physiology, and pedagogy (the practice of teaching). My mom started teaching in 1971, and I came along a few years later.
Due to the harsh conditions in Romania and our Hungarian ethnicity, my parents were forced to flee Romania just before Christmas. My sister and I were left behind for 8 months while my parents asked for and received political asylum here.
Our school has been open for more than 34 years, and I am an extremely proud alumna. A few years after her arrival my mom opened the school and started training me in the same Vaganova Ballet Method. With her expertise and guidance, I also began my own ballet career. I was accepted and received full scholarships at the Houston Ballet Academy, School of American Ballet, Hungarian National Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet School.
When I graduated from Highland Park High School I attended Loyal University full time while dancing full time in various dance companies around Chicago. I was fortunate enough to dance with Ballet Chicago, Ballet Theater or Chicago, Bryant Ballet, and Lyric Opera. I performed the Ruth Page Nutcracker 125 times at the Arie Crown Theater and danced in Giselle, Swan Lake, Bizet Symphony, Les Sylphides, La Gioconda, Mefistofeles, and was a soloist in Coppelia.
I also retired from performing at age 22 — coincidentally, the same age as my mom. I then attended Loyola University Law School and tried out for the Corboy Trial Team. The years I spent performing and thinking on my feet, literally and figuratively, landed me a coveted spot on the team. My team became regional trial team winners and eventually competed in two National Championships. Once I realized that I loved to perform in the courtroom as much as I did on a stage, I interviewed for a position with the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, where I spent three years as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Appellate and First Municipal Divisions.
Today, things have come full circle, and I work side-by-side with my mom and dad as the Creative Director of the Irina Makkai Classical Ballet and Dance School. My mom is the Director and my dad, retired from Engineering, creates all the amazing sets and props for our ballets. The school offers classes in Pre-Dance, Ballet, Pointe, Partnering, Variations, Jazz, Modern, and Tap. Our award-winning faculty includes dancers from River North Dance Company, Gus Giordano, Elements Contemporary Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and a New York Finalist from the Youth American Grand Prix. We have had four locations in our long history, we started in Ravinia on Judson, moved next to Apple Tree Theater in the Shops on Elm Place, and then behind Bella Via, where they currently have their banquet room.
In 2005, we bought our building at 2126 First Street which holds four studios, a kitchen and homework room, two dressing rooms and spacious lobby for our students. Our success isn’t measured by the number of locations we have had, nor our long tenure in Highland Park, but rather the success of our students. Over the past 34 years our students have attended Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Northwestern, Dartmouth, Barnard, Vanderbilt, and Washington University — to name but a few. Our students have danced with the Joffrey Trainee Program, Harid Conservatory, University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Texas Ballet Theater, Madison Ballet, Civic Ballet, Vanderbilt Dance Theater, Dance Alive National Ballet, and Ballet Nacional Peru among others. Moreover, the talent of the students grew every year, and-accordingly–we had to keep up with the demands of their talent.
In 2008, we founded the Ballet Makkai Youth Company, to offer our dancers more performance opportunities, and, in 2011, we performed our first full-length Nutcracker. This year, we will perform our Seventh Annual Nutcracker at the Elm Place Middle School on December 2nd and 3rd. We have come a long way as a family since our arrival 37 years ago. As I look back at all the sacrifices my parents made for my sister and me, I’m so grateful for their strength, determination, and love and hope I can make them proud and continue their legacy. My mom continues to teach, for 37 years her love for her students and seeing them thrive is her ongoing motivation.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My parents fled the country of Romania with $280 dollars sewn in the lining of their coats. They left my sister and me behind and had to start a brand new life in a new country. My mom didn’t speak English but she went to ESL classes and decided she could bring her talent and love of dance to the North Shore.
The school has been around for 34 years and we have had to adapt to the changing needs of our students, it’s difficult but important to stay relevant and still be true to the art of dance.
Irina Makkai Classical Ballet and Dance School – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a family run dance studio. We specialize in the individualized attention of our students. We provide not only the finest in dance education on the North Shore but we strive to teach our young girls how to be independent, strong women.
We are known for our professionalism, bringing the Russian Ballet Method – Vaganova to the North Shore and for the success of our students.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success by an achievement of my students, not awards or scholarships they might receive but by how they treat others, motivate themselves and become self-reliant.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2126 First Street
- Website: www.balletmakkai.com
- Phone: 312-330-3908
- Email: lilladaniels@hotmail.com
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
