Welcome to ADTC’s Lake Forest, IL Dance Camp
At ADTC in IL, you’ll take 4 – 5 dance classes per-day, Mon through Fri. Classes are taught by our professional choreographers. The core dance disciplines you’ll take are contemporary, hip hop and jazz (styles vary and may include Bwy or lyrical). Elective dance classes include ballet, tap & world dance.
No matter what your dance level or background, our curriculum is designed to challenge you. You’ll be organized into groups by age & ability and get to perform in a big Friday Show.
Life @ ADTC in Illinois
Our IL dance camp home is the Lake Forest College. Lake Forest is a beautiful, fully accredited college conveniently located 30 miles from Chicago.
Parents, you’ll be happy to know that Lake Forest College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). And fun fact – the 1983 movie “Class” starring Rob Lowe was filmed on campus!
At ADTC “ULTIMATE Chicago Lake Shore” in Illinois, campers and staff live together in a traditional residence hall. Hallway blocks are organized by age and ADTC’s staff is housed in rooms on each floor, providing campers with 24-hour supervision & support.
Follow Our IL Dance Camp on Instagram!
Our handle is @danceadtc. Use the hashtag #adtclakeforest for a REAL behind-the-scenes look at life at our IL dance camp!
Awesome Activities at our IL Dance Camp
At ADTC’s IL dance camp you can enjoy
awesome activities & extras like swimming, trampoline house,
paddle boats, Six Flags Great America, laser tag & more!
Just Some of Our Amazing Lake Forest, IL Dance Camp Staff
Jayme Wappel
Jayme Wappel is proud to be a North Carolina native. She began her dancing career in Raleigh at CC & Company Dance Complex in Raleigh, where she trained in all genres of dance, ranging from ballet, to jazz, tap and broadway.
While still a student, Jayme was asked to choreograph Oklahoma! for Cardinal Gibbons High School under the direction of, and buoyed by the enthusiasm of, Kevin Ferguson.
After graduating from high school, Jayme continued her dance training at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At Point Park she trained with Kiesha Lalama, Doug Bentz, Garfield Lemonius, and Jason McDole.
Jayme currently lives in New York and choreographs for studios in New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut. She has worked with choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance in Los Angeles and New York. She also teaches for Arts Action, an outreach program through Unity Stage Company that aims to increase the physical activity of children in New York City’s public schools.
Resha Holmes
Resha Holmes is a recent graduate of Illinois State University with a BA in Dance Performance. While at IL State, she started her own dance team (AceGroov) in 2019.
Resha began her dance training at Chicago High School for the Arts where she majored in Musical Theatre. Resha studied hip hop with Tanji Harper & Brandy Ford before expanding her training to Jazz, Modern & Ballet under Brandon Dicriscio, Kaley Ozminkowski, Laina Carni, Ricardo Garcia & Gregory Merriman. She’s is a true interdisciplinary artist – a fusion dancer and model (instagram: @resha.re) who also sings, acts & cooks 🙂
Resha teaches jazz & hip hop at VH Dance Center in Aurora. She was an Instructor-Counselor at ADTC in Wisconsin in 2021 and has also worked at ADTC virtual camps. Resha is full of energy and positive vibes and she loves sharing her passion for dance with younger girls!
CJ Johnson
Christina Johnson (aka “CJ”) fell in love with dance back in the 1900’s in a far away land known as Oregon…
CJ began dancing professionally with BodyVox, Bent, and Kinetic Images in Portland, then moved to Seattle, where she spent quality time learning and performing with many prominent dance companies and choreographers, including Cheronne Wong; BetterBiscuit; XODO; Alethea Adsitt; Fusion; and Seattle Jazz, to name a few.
In 2003 CJ co-founded her own eclectic modern dance company, Jerboa Dance, where she choreographed, co-directed, co-produced, and starred in many successful shows, including a special guest appearance with Dance Masters of America.
CJ joined the NYC dance scene in 2005 and is proud to have shared the stage with The Love Show, Shir Dance Theater, Jordana Che Toback, Noemie Lafrance, Eva Dean Dance, Sambasa, Anahid Sofian Dance Company, Tara Quinn, Gilgamesh Theater, Witches in Bikinis, The Drum Café, and independentdancemaker/Kara Tatelbaum. She also choreographed and produced the Jerboa Dance NYC premier “Back from the Brink”.
CJ has performed with these companies and more on national and local television, and in the most authentic theaters in the big apple. CJ’s choreography was recently featured on Fox 5, America’s Got Talent, and “Loosen My Tie” video. She has has also recently performed for P Diddy, Beyonce, Martha Stuart, and was the opening dance soloist for Diana Ross.
CJ loves sharing her passion for dance. In rehearsal she shares with the dancers, on stage she shares with the audience, in class she shares with her students. For 12 years CJ has taught dance classes and workshops on both coasts in creative movement, pre-ballet, ballet, tap, jazz, modern, musical theater, acrobatics, hip hop, break dance, and samba. Her classes focus on technique within choreography and having fun!
Another love CJ has been sharing with students young and old is the practice of Pilates. CJ has been teaching Pilates for 5 years and has recently become one of the first certified instructors of Barrelates, which combines Pilates mat work and ballet barre exercises.
CJ joined the ADTC team in 2010; she started the summer teaching hip hop and finished as program director. CJ has directed and taught dance at ADTC locations in Vermont, California, Texas, New Jersey, Colorado & Wisconsin.
Kierstyn Sharrow
Kierstyn Sharrow graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Dance & Minor in Musical Theater from Marymount Manhattan College. Kierstyn has taught ballet, pointe, partnering, tap & jazz at renowned NYC-area studios like the Broadway Dance Center, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
Kierstyn has been on National Tour with CATS (swing) and American Dance Machine (dance captain). She was also the dance captain of the Off-Broadway show, Idol: the Musical.
Kierstyn has been on staff at ADTC dance camps in Colorado & California since 2017. She’ll soon be adding ADTC’s Wisconsin dance camp to her list! Kierstyn has an amazing sense of humor and loves to make our campers & staff laugh.
Kierstyn loves having such an important impact on the lives of our campers. She wants girls to learn from her that change is OK! “Life doesn’t stop when something shifts, so we can’t stop either. It is scary and empowering to all of a sudden be pushed outside our comfort zone.”
Rachel Martens
Rachel Martens was born and raised in Illinois. She is in her first season with Ballet Quad Cities. She began her training in ballet and pointe at the Faubourg School of Ballet under the direction of Watmora Casey. After Faubourg, she performed and competed with the Visceral Studio Company in Chicago, Illinois.
Rachel recently graduated Magna Cum Lade from State University of New York at Purchase College with a BFA in Dance. At Purchase College, Rachel had the honor to perform works by George Balanchine, Norbert De La Cruz III, Hannah Garner, Rena Butler and Jenelle Figgins. During her junior year she was chosen to study abroad for a semester at Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts performing works by Raymond Chai and Anh Ngoc Nguyen.
Rachel has attended summer intensives at Colorado Ballet, Alonzo King Lines, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, B12 in Berlin and Hubbard Street Dance. She has been on staff with ADTC in Beaver Dam, WI & Lake Forest, IL for four summers.
Brynne Loberger
Brynne Loberger is from Fort Worth, Texas. She recently graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Dance. At UNT, Brynne received the Katherine Margaret Altermann Scholarship her Sophomore year, and the Jonathan Bostick Memorial Dance Scholarship her Senior year. She was also on the Dean’s list and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Brynne has extensive dance training and teaches all levels Hip Hop & Contemporary. She was an Elite Dance Company Member at Dance by Emily Studio in Hewitt, Texas before becoming an Assistant Teacher & Solo/Team Choreographer.
Brynne started as a Junior Instructor Counselor at ADTC in North Carolina & Texas in 2018, and returned as an Instructor Counselor in North Carolina & Wisconsin in 2019. In 2021 Brynne was the Asst. Program Director in NC and also joined our team in Illinois & Wisconsin as an Instructor Counselor.
Lauren Goodman
Lauren Goodman grew up in Ohio and was Valedictorian of her High School class. She was in the Gem City Ballet Pre-Professional Company for 5 years, trained by Barbara Pontecorvo, Dan Duell and Nilas Martins, before joining the Dayton Ballet Company.
Lauren participated in the Alonzo King Lines Ballet Trainee Program as a Scholarship recipient from 2018 – 2019. She is currently a Dance & Biology Major as well as Academic & Merit Scholarship recipient at Wright State University.
Lauren also teaches Ballet & Pointe at a local studio. She has been an Instructor-Counselor & Assistant Program Director at ADTC dance camps in California, Wisconsin, Texas & Maryland.
Ellen Henry
Ellen Henry started dancing when she was three years old. Ever since then it has always been a passion of hers that will hold a special place in her heart. She began her training in Louisville, KY at 360 Dance Studio. At the age of seventeen she was chosen to take part in the Kentucky Governor’s School of the Arts summer program.
Ellen graduated from Point Park University in 2013 where she was majoring in Dance with a concentration in Jazz. While at Point Park, she performed in productions by Cirque Dreams, took classes from prestigious choreographers in Los Angeles and New York City and studied dance abroad in Paris, France.
Ellen has been on staff at American Dance Training Camps ULTIMATE Chicago Lakeshore dance camp in Lake Forest, Illinois since 2012. She has directed ADTC camps in Vermont and Illinois. She currently dances professionally in New York City.
Taylor Eagle
Taylor Eagle is from Galion, OH. She grew up studying ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and pointe at Eagle Dance Center. Taylor was a member of EDC’s Competition Team and received many individual & group awards and titles at both regional and national levels .
Taylor began teaching in 2009 and choreographing in 2013 – working with students ages 3 to 18 in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and pointe. She currently choreographs for EDC’s competition team.
A 2013 Galion High School/PCTC graduate, Taylor attended Pioneer’s Performing Arts program with a focus on dance – as well as being active in GHS’s Varsity Dance Team. Following high school, Taylor went on to study dance at Maricopa College in Arizona, and is currently a student at UNC Charlotte, majoring in Dance Education and minoring in Psych & Childhood Development – after college, she plans to continue on to receive her Masters in Dance Education.
Taylor was an Instructor Counselor & Asst. Program Director at ADTC in Illinois & Wisconsin in 2021.
Lauryn Johnson
Lauryn Johnson is originally from Michigan where she performed hip hop & contemporary repertoire with Vertical Ambition Dance Company. She has 24 years of dance experience and 11 years of experience teaching dance to children ages 3 – 18 and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design (Minor in Professional Writing) from Oakland University in Rochester, MI.
After college, Lauryn moved to New York City and completed the Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester in 2014. She is currently working as a professional dancer, choreographer & graphic designer in the NYC area. Lauryn teaches hip hop, tap, ballet, jazz & acro at Moves & Motions in NY & Progressive Dance Studio in Englewood, NJ.
Lauryn loves seeing students find their passion and learn how to work towards their goals. She hopes to help campers find lots of joy in movement and hear new elements in the music. Most of all, she wants girls to feel pride in a job well done, no matter what their ability level is.
Megan Kaye
Megan Kaye is from Chicago, IL. She graduated with a BFA in dance from University of Arizona in 2018.
Megan currently teaches dance at Integrity School of Dance in Elgin, IL, and Underground Allegro Dance Company in Batavia, IL.
Megan has worked at American Dance Training Camps in Lake Forest, IL & Beaver Dam, WI for five summers.
Shannon Grayson
Shannon Grayson was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She began her professional dance training at Howard University, where she received a BFA in Dance. While at Howard, she received summer internships at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Shannon was on scholarship at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Jacob’s Pillow Jazz/Musical Theatre Program, Jacob’s Pillow Choreographers Lab, and Nathan Trice Summer Dance Intensive. She continues to train and teach Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Tap throughout the city of Chicago as a faculty member of the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Hubbard Street Youth Dance Program, Principle Dance, The Gallery, and Dominican University.
Lauren Blane
Lauren Blane is a proud native of Chicago’s western suburbs. She began training seriously at the Faubourg Ballet Academy under the direction of Watmora Casey. She later graduated with honors from Grand Valley State University, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance Performance. In her senior year, Lauren’s choreography was chosen to be featured in the American College Dance Festival gala.
Upon graduation, Lauren was selected by the Dance Faculty to receive The Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Dance. After she graduated from GVSU, she studied as a year-round scholarship student at the Lou Conte Dance Studio under the direction of Claire Bataille.
Lauren also performed as a feature dancer in the Lincolnshire Marriott’s production of SHOUT!, Now and Forever, The Nutcracker, and Mary Poppins. Lauren also performs both principal and soloist roles in the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble’s production of The Nutcracker. She then had the privilege of performing as a back-up dancer for Beyonce on Oprah’s Farewell Episode at the United Center.
Lauren is currently dancing with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago’s Second Company and is the assistant coach of the Cary Grove High School Varsity Poms Team. She also choreographs for the Lake Zurich High School musicals and is a Certified Personal Trainer, soon to be a Certified Sports Nutritionist. Lauren loves to dance because she believes that dance is a language where all styles and variations are accepted and embraced. An interesting fact about Lauren is that she loves to draw and paint.
Chloe Hamilton
Chloe Hamilton is from Chicago, IL where she currently studies photography at Columbia College. Chloe also participates in the work study program at Visceral Dance Center and teaches hip hop, jazz & contemporary dance at Integrity School of Dance in Elgin, IL.
Chloe has worked at American Dance Training Camps in both Lake Forest, IL and Baltimore, MD.
Cassia Cramer
Cassia Cramer is from Columbus, OH and has been dancing since the age of 3. She began her training at Dublin Dance Center and then Columbus Dance Arts Academy where she performed as a part of their repertoire companies, and trained extensively as a student teacher.
Cassia received her degree in dance performance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. While at Point Park she studied under Judith Leifer-Bentz (Martha Graham Dance Company), Nicolas Petrov (Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre), and Douglas Bentz, along with many others.
Cassia has danced with Vitoria Dance Company and performed with the company for 2 seasons as well as guest choreographed. Cassia has also guest taught at studios all around Ohio including: Dublin Dance Centre, Columbus Dance Arts Academy, North Pointe Dance Academy, and Performing Arts Dance Center.
In 2010, Cassia founded Seven Dance Company where she most recently directed and performed as principal dancer in “Lovely Diversions”, “A Collaboration”, “Human Design: A Simple Complex”, a “The Hour of the Unseen”, “Les Saisons D’Amor”, Nutcracker Variation” & “Alice in Wonderland”.
Cassia has also been seen in Columbus Alive and 614 Magazine for the founding and creation of Seven Dance Company. In 2012, Cassia co-founded Seven Dance Academy, where she currently teaches.
Cassia has been Program Director at American Dance Training Camps in Lake Forest, Illinois and Sparks Glencoe, Maryland.
Amanda Myers
Amanda Myers is a national dancer and choreographer from Southeast Georgia. Her dance passion is for competitive jazz, lyrical, contemporary & hip hop.
Amanda has been a dancer, actress and stilt walker at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. She has choreographed competitive dances for several studios in the United States as well as print modeling for companies such as Coca Cola, Vault, Oil of Olay, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Full Throttle. She was part of a dance group called the Pussycat Angels.
In 2009, Amanda appeared on FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance” in LA. She is certified as a ZUMBA Instructor as well as a choreographer for several studios throughout the Chicagoland area.
Currently, Amanda is an adjudicator for Applause Talent Competitions, Talent on Parade and is now Co-owner of an adult dance company in Chicago, called Rhythm Revolution. Amanda is also performing in the Carnival Choreographer’s Ball in Chicago for the first time this year.
Allison Slavin
Alli Slavin is from Indianapolis Indiana. She currently attends college at Purdue University of Indianapolis while also dancing. She is also busy teaching children’s theater.
This is Alli’s 7th year with American Dance Training Camps (she was a camper back in the day at our NC location). She can’t wait to be back for another awesome summer!
Inspiring IL Dance Camp Testimonials from Our Parent-Camper Surveys
We invite you to read the ADTC IL dance camp testimonials below (submitted by parents through our post-camp survey). Most testimonials below include an email for the alumni parent at the end of their review – please feel free to contact parents for more feedback about their ADTC experience.