Meet Brenda Didier of Lincolnshire Academy of Dance in Vernon Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Didier.

Brenda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started dancing at age 8, professionally at age 16 and started teaching at the studio I started training with at age 23. Mrs. Campbell had a small neighborhood dance studio in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Her studio was in her small ranch home divided by a divider with her kitchen. She ran that school successfully for about 28 years. After she suffered a stroke, she asked me to teach for her. I continued that until she had to close her school and move into a nursing home. There were about 40-60 students with nowhere to go. My father suggested we rent space at a local gymnastics center for 6 months and see how it went. We did that, held our annual June performance and opened a small storefront studio in September of 1999. We had about 100 students, 3 teachers including myself and a pianist for all of our ballet classes. As we enter our 20th season this fall, the studio expanded twice as we are now in a 5000 square foot storefront, 3 studios, 109 classes a week, about 460 students, 16 teachers, 1 ballet pianist, 2 percussionists for our modern and hip hop classes, on office manager, tech director and production assistant for our 4 June performances! The time has gone by so quickly. What I am always amazed by is the love we all have for each other as a staff, our art form and for our students. Our alumni stay involved, coming back year after year to help backstage with the recitals, teach or work the very busy front desk. It has truly been a blessing to run this school and keep my teacher, Elizabeth Campbell’s dream alive! Kids need a safe space that nurtures and supports them as they follow their passion in the arts.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been challenging at times. When we expanded in the fall of 2000, our contractors were behind. We could not open until November. Our open date was the 2nd week of September. I had to still pay my teachers and refund tuition to our parents. I did not have a good lawyer then and had no recourse with our architect and contractor. I lost my brother to brain cancer and my father to kidney failure during 2 seasons which was very hard on me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The staff, students and parents could not have been more supportive during this time. I continued to run the school, teach and still plan our grand June performances that really kept me going. Expanding to a new location in 2011 was a huge 200K endeavor that was risky but we needed to grow. I had to fire 2 teachers for different reasons which was hard, but when you put the students first, the decisions are simple as their needs always come first.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lincolnshire Academy of Dance – what should we know?
We offer dance classes with quality instruction for children ages 3-18. We are known for a strict but fair training environment. We are known for our love of children, our live music in the classrooms and our professional June performances complete with a big themed finale with live professional singers, etc… That is what sets us apart from the other dance studios in Lake County, which are many! Our staff has been with us for over 10 years and that says a lot. I took our staff to Las Vegas in 2012 as a thank you to their incredible talent and support. I also believe in our strong scholarship program to help children stay in their dance classes when their families are struggling with a financial hardship or medical challenge. The students apply with an application and an essay. They help the teachers in the classroom as a student assistant. Older students help at the front desk. These students have an appreciation to the other side of the studio. We also donate to select charities each year as I strongly believe in giving back to the community. This year as we celebrate our 20th season, our dance companies are participating in Disney World’s “Dance the World” in Orlando in June of 2018. We don’t take shortcuts. We have motivational posters in our lobbies with positive words, quotes and encouragement in a world that is struggling with violence and hate. I hire diverse teachers that bring their unique cultural backgrounds to our students. My mission has always been to have the students leave our studio with a memorable, inspirational and educational arts experience. We teach compassion to others in and out of the classroom. It isn’t just “steps’ with us, It is training students’ minds and bodies. Arts education is really valuable to a young person’s life.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My father, mother, brother, husband and Peter Verdico (dear friend and project manager for our 2011 expansion) all had invaluable roles in saying to me “Do it! I believe in you!” My first teacher, Elizabeth Campbell, gave me confidence as a student, teacher and professional dancer and choreographer… and ultimately, a business owner and artistic director of a studio!

Contact Info:

• Address: 1260 S. Milwaukee Avenue- Suite 200 Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061
• Website: www.lincolnshireacademyofdance.com
• Phone: 847-955-1060
• Email: lad@lincolnshireacademyofdance.com
• Facebook: Lincolnshire Academy of Dance

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