Lou Conte Dance Studio

I am in Chicago for an extended weekend. Have taken intermediate jazz and intermediate modern. Adrian’s jazz start very gentle, but elegent warm up. Chreograph is intense and powerful. Though Andriana said it was a relative slow one for today ;P. Modern is great, instead of playing a CD, there is a drum player play the beat in class, which makes the class very special. Ethan’s warm up and combo is very flow and comprenhensive. Great studio, teacher and students! I have been dancing modern and jazz consequently 2 times per week since 3 years. Intermediate level is perfect for me since some part is nicely challenging, meanwhile most of it, I can follow without too much effort.

I’ve been dancing here for 6 years. Love the variety of classes offered here. Plenty of adult classes in the evenings to choose from for all skill levels. And free parking on the street!

Very big spaces. Great floors. Nice and professional people. Kind of awkward location.

Simply a great place to take dance classes in Chicago! The teachers are very supportive and their open house events are a great opportunity to take classes for free and see what’s up. All the students are very friendly and they have something for everyone – Pilates, Zumba, Ballet, Hip Hop, Yoga – all very well done. Just be sure to start off in basic if you haven’t danced before «beginner classes» don’t really mean beginner. But definitely go! I never thought I would dance ever, but this place has instilled confidence in me! I try to get all of my friends to go – its a great way to stay active and exercise your body and mind!

Labake is the man! My girlfriend and I came for basic hip hop dance and we had a blast. I have had 4 different teachers from four different hip hop dance classes and labake’s instruction and natural energy puts my other teachers to shame. I have never felt so confident after a dance class and his repetitive, supportive teaching style really helps noobies like me get the moves down. He really loves what he does and his yells/​screams of joy are energizing to the entire class.
Only real problems I had were the price + class size: $ 15 a class is a little steep and there were so many people taking the basic class on Tuesday night, I felt a bit squished. Other than that Lou Conte is the way to go!

i love love dancing! i used to be a professional ballroom dancer and there are days when i miss dance. you can’t really ballroom dance by yourself. that’s when i tried out this place for their basic ballet class. i was in love! melinda the teacher is amazing! she helps you focus on the art of ballet and she encourages you take your time. it doesn’t matter if you miss your step or miss your arm styling. she makes you focus on the foundation of dancing. its great! i like the fundamentals and i love the details of the dance. its weird. i know. but she encourages you to perfect your skill. but she also doesn’t discourage you from doing your thing. she walks around the room and helps you feel the muscle that supports your releve, your piqué, etc. she levels with you and talks to you in terms that everybody understands. you don’t have to have dance experience for this class and that’s the beauty of it! if i could afford it, i would go everyday and try every class!!!

if you’re into gettin’ down and dirty on the dance floor, in all kinds of aspects, this is definitely a great place to take class.
i’ve been coming here for a very long time now, on and off. i mainly take hip hop, but i’ve also tried their zumba, ballet and jazz classes. all kinds of different levels for everybody. the going rate for classes is $ 15 for a drop in, and then you can purchase class cards for the season.
don’t be intimidated. if you’ve always wanted to dance, let your hair down, take a couple shots, and DO IT. no one cares what you look like. everyone is there to support everyone else. everyone is at different levels, and it’s understood amongst all.
come 10 min early, change, pee, find your studio, grab some water. s t r e t c h. relax. smile. get down with your bad self.

AMAZING!!! A breathtaking experience of true dance technique. Most studios lack technique to give students the thrill of dance, but this beautiful and professional studio doesn’t. Amazing dance. Amazing technique. Amazing people! All ages and levels will benefit from this place! My favorite by far when I was at Notre dame this past summer!
When I went I took the following on Saturdays:
Basic ballet
Int jazz
Musical theater
Hiphop
Great experience. Thanks guys!

I absolutely love the hip-​hop classes here, especially Labaki’s Tuesday basic class. Be warned, if you don’t have a lot of experience, it’s hard. But Labaki is so awesome and understanding — he breaks it down in a way that makes you feel okay about not looking like a hip-​hop pro. On top of that, I’ve gotten so much better since going to his classes.
Not all of the teachers are as understanding. There are some serious dancers at this studio so just know what you’re getting into (ie. beginner is NOT beginner is most cases).
African dance is also super fun. This place has to be as good as it gets for dance in Chicago!

Having danced for years I came here to try out some of the drop in classes. I found that the beginner classes were too easy, but the next level made me fall behind. I really didn’t think I was such an awful dancer until I came here.
I really liked the beginning Jazz teacher — that is what kept my going back. I also liked the ballet had a live pianist. I really tried hip hop — several times. I was AWFUL though.
I ended up spending my punch card on Pilates and yoga classes where my skills were better. These classes were great — especially the personal instruction you get in the Pilates classes.
If it weren’t for the distance from home, I’d come here more. There is a lot of nearby street parking for those driving. Also near to the train. I really wish the area felt more safe however.

Jitterbug, hand jive, dougie… you can do it ALL here.
i’ve been going here for a few years now. i love the drop in classes! it’s less than 20 dollars for a class or you can get a ten punch pass and get a discount. the studios are huge, with extraordinary accompanists playing on perfectly tuned pianos. i like going here, because it’s a fun mix of dance lovers. it’s a bunch of old ladies, professionals and columbia/​roosevelt students. we have nothing in common EXCEPT for our love for dance.
i recommend beginner ballet, for anyone who would like a new hobby. you won’t regret it!

I’ve had a mixed experience at Lou Conte. The teachers are very knowledgeable. However, neither the staff nor the teachers that I’ve encountered are very friendly. As a result, I find the atmosphere to be slightly intimidating as a beginner. However, if you’re looking for high quality dance instruction, this is definitely the place to go.

I’ve taken dance classes at LCDS on and off for the past 3 or so years, and even though I’ve tried several other dance studios (both in Chicago and in other cities while I’ve traveled for work), this one continues to be of my favorites. The instructors are fantastic, the space is HUGE, and the schedule is so robust, it’s easy to find a class at the right time that works for you. The beginning ballet class was challenging yet steady enough to ease me back into it after several years away — there’s typically a mix of levels in beginning ballet and the instructors offer options to help tailor the class to what you’re comfortable with. And since the studio offers so many different classes, the drop-​in schedule is great for those days when I feel more on my feet and want to take a higher level class or when I want to try a different style/​instructor.
Some instructors really do try to focus on technique, but once in a while, you’ll get a class so large there isn’t much room for individual attention. That’s probably the only downside — some classes are SO packed (especially hip hop, usually because it’s SO FUN), it can get a bit crowded trying to watch the teacher go through the choreography. But regardless, the fun factor of the classes usually outweighs the crowdedness.
To sum it up, awesome dance studio. Great selection of classes, cool teachers, and lovely accompanists in a huge non-​intimidating environment. Highly recommend!

Absolutely wonderful. Reminds me very much of the dance studio I spent 12 years at as a kid.
You’ll have no problem finding a class here — there are six different levels of ballet and jazz, plus tap, modern, hip-​hop and African dance. You can also take musical theater, pilates, yoga and Zumba. They really do have a wonderful selection of classes. The studios are quite large and well kept. It’s nice to have someone actually playing piano during the classes as well!
And the teachers! The teachers are so patient, kind and talented. They encourage questions, especially in the beginner classes, and really make it a point to check every single dancer’s technique to help you get it right. I love that they take the time to thoroughly review combinations — don’t get me wrong, the classes move fast, but they have no problem going over steps several times.
There’s just the right amount of stretching and floor work. By the time you start putting together combinations, you really do feel warmed up. Having been to other studios where stretching and cool-​downs were hit or miss, LCDS is a welcome sight!
I usually drop-​in for classes and pay the $ 15 fee, but you can certainly buy a class card, which starts at $ 125 for ten classes (I believe you also have to pay a registration fee the first time around). Thankfully LCDS takes credit cards!

Finally danced at Lou Conte! I took the intermediate jazz class. The front desk was nice, the studios were big and clean. There was a sub instructor, and while the class was easy to follow, it was a little more modern based then I expected and there wasn’t a lot of technique correction.
Side note… the clientele here seemed to be a little more hipster, high school dance team than the Joffrey. And creepy factor, one of the high school girl’s boyfriends was outside the studio taking photos on his cell phone through the window. Ew.
Lou Conte does have large variety of class times and types, although I still prefer taking class at the Joffrey in the loop.

Exercise? Like many people I am willing to do it as long as it doesn’t feel like exercise. Bike riding? Love it but hard to do in the snowy months. Swimming? Fun but hard on the hair. Dancing? My all time favorite as the time flies by and I am reminded of those days when I danced on stage with my parents clapping in the audience.
Lou Conte Dance studio, conveniently located at Racine and Jackson, offers up some of the best classes around. Jazz, hip-​hop, ballet, tap and now Zumba. Zumba, you ask? Why yes. Zumba is an hour long class of a mix of styles (hip hop, meringue, salsa, disco, ballroom) all done to Latin inspired music. The time flies by you work to keep up with the two instructors that make it all look so easy.
Upon entering Lou Conte– you sign in with the receptionist, pay or show your card and enter. You then need to sign in on the class sheet as well as check the list on the wall to know which studio you will be dancing in that day.
Classes run about $ 14 each or you can buy a 10 class pass for $ 120. The dressing room is small and usually filled with coats and boots but take your purse to the actual studio with you. The bathrooms are always messy and just make me wonder sometimes about the tidiness of women. Trash cans are around but somehow the waste paper isn’t in them.
The studios range in size and the sound systems vary. There are students of every color, size, age and sex in all classes. Attire ranges from workout gear to more formal dancing attire (especially in the ballet classes). You should arrive about 10 minutes early for your class to get the best spot.
Not sure my «figure 8» hip move is ever going to look like the instructor’s. But I sure am having fun practicing it!

Wow
1.) H.S./College students were the primary population
2.) The receptionists are kind of bitchy and do not know how to manage crowd control
3.)A woman who looked like a Cheerleader taught the class
4.) We rolled around the floor for 1 hour for the basic modern (I still feel dirty)
5.) I walked out 70 minutes in and worst of all, I didn’t learn anything :-/

While Lou Conte’s largesse keeps me from feeling completely invested in it (unlike Intrigue or even FGF), its facilities, faculty and schedule flexibility are really top notch.
All the Unilocal reviews mourning the loss of the parking lot had me prepared to get there about 30 mins before class just to build in some time to circle the block if need be. I have to admit, I don’t know that I would particularly love to go there at nighttime because I’m not completely sold on the area (esp. if I need to walk) but for a couple of classes on a saturday, It’s perfect.
I took beg/​int ballet and beg Jazz and I really liked the instructors for both of them. I’m used to small studios so I couldn’t believe how enormous the classrooms are! I guess there is some sort of physical fitness requirement for Roosevelt students (seriously? is this junior high or college?) and there were 36 and 30 people in my classes. FULL but I wasn’t that bothered by it because there is so much room in those studios that it wasn’t like we were TOTALLY on top of eachother. Like Andrea mentioned in her review, it does remind me of center stage/​RENT/​FAME any sort of movie about dance/​theatre.
Because it is so big, you don’t get the individual attention that will help you develop your skills as much as you would at a smaller place, but It’s always helpful to learn how different people teach the same styles of dance. My classes had beginners, intermediates, and a girl in pointe shoes who had been out of ballet for a few years. I’m hoping to bring my good friend who was a ballerina from 3 – 20 to this place so that she can work on her triples while i’m still perfecting my single pirouettes all in the same class. All in all, I’ll probably make this my go to spot for saturdays.
P. S. THEY ARE RUNNING A SPECIAL THROUGH DEC. 20: BRING IN A NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEM AND CLASSES WILL BE $ 12 UNTIL DEC 20!

I can tap, jazz it up (I’m really good at jazz hands ;)), and even do a bit of ballet… but hip hop is another story. My hips don’t move like they’re supposed to and I start hopping in the wrong direction. Yep, disaster!
This past weekend my friends and I decided to take a hip hop class at the Lou Conte Dance Studio with the hope that we could show off our new smooth moves at the club next weekend. Ok, who are we kidding? We don’t club anymore, but perhaps if we had the moves we would hit the clubs.
I’ve taken many tap classes at Lout Conte so I knew what to expect, although I was excited to see that this impressive dance studio (every class I’ve taken has been fabulous!) was recently remodeled.
Lou– I just love what you’ve done with the place! My 2 friends were absolutely giddy from the moment we walked in. One of them couldn’t stop comparing the experience to the movie Center Stage (c’mon, you know it’s one of your favorites too!). Perhaps this was our day to be discovered.
We were soon introduced to our instructor Trey, who may look like he could kick some serious dancer butt, but was so sweet! And this man has got some moves. After an hour long attempt (failed attempt!) to shake my hips and get down the way Trey does I was more than happy to give up and just watch Trey dance all day long.
So you can probably guess that Sunday wasn’t the day my friends and I were discovered by the hip hop gods, but we had an absolute blast and even learned a few moves I’ve been practicing in the privacy of my home. Thank goodness for those new blinds!

I finally made my way here yesterday to take Jeff’s adv/​prof jazz class, which is amazing. He’s a dance instructor at NU and my friend and I have been meaning to come take his class at Lou’s and finally had the time to yesterday since we’re finally done with school.
Classes aren’t outrageously expensive (a drop in rate is $ 14, and the class I went to was an hour and 45 minutes), and the front desk workers are nice. It takes about two minutes to sign in for class. Once you pass through the lobby, everything is really nice. The dressing rooms are nice, you can rent a locker for $ 10/​month, and there is plenty of lounging area to chill before/​between/​after classes. Upstairs there are really nice studios, and another lounge area with ballet barres where you can stretch and warm up before class.
The people there are all really friendly, and the instructors are great. I’ve only taken one class there so far, but hopefully this summer when I’m not working or in rehearsal I’ll get down there to take ballet on the weekends. I’ve taken classes with a lot of the instructors there because they teach at NU as well (Molly, Laura, Jeff), and they are all fantastic and worthwhile to take a class with.
I wish it was easier to access, but it isn’t too bad. I took the Metra in from the suburbs, and then you can take either bus 126 or 20 and be within a few blocks of the studio. There is street parking, but it’s not always available.