Rast Ballet & Dance Studio

I attended one of Tri-​Fits yoga sessions in the studio. It is a very relaxing space, save for the Brown line which runs right next to the building. Mats, blocks, blankets were provided and the studio was big enough so we weren’t crowded in there. I subtracted a star because of the proximity to the train which ruins the relaxation part a bit.

Natalie Rast is a wonderful ballet teacher and I highly recommend taking classes at her studio! I studied dance from preschool until 7^th grade and decided to pick it back up again in my thirties. After finishing a ballet class at the Olde Town School of Folk Music, the teacher recommended Rast Ballet for continuing ballet education. I took the beginning ballet class on Monday nights for over a year and I loved it. What I like most about Natalie other than her hilarious sense of humor is the fact that she offers such helpful corrections and critiques of each dancer. There has definitely been a noticeable improvement in my form since I started attending her class. Natalie has a real passion for dance and it comes through in her teaching. The beginning ballet class is challenging in a good way in which it made me excited for each class. I’m sad to say I no longer take classes at Rast Ballet because I moved across country but I will definitely make an effort to attend one of Natalie’s ballet classes if I’m ever in the Chicago area!

I started taking class with Natalie Rast six months ago when I decided I wanted to get back into ballet after an only one year of study in high school. Her classes are the perfect mix of fun from her sassy sense of humor and technique training. Her ability to watch and critique every student is my favorite aspect of her classes. She sees mistakes and teaches you how to fix them – something that never happens in an adult ballet class. And perhaps more importantly, she recognizes and praises hard work and improvement.
Natalie’s passion for dance comes through in every single class she teaches. Her positive energy is contagious which draws me into her studio and excites me for class. I am thrilled that I found Rast Ballet!

I have been attending Natalie’s beginning ballet class for about a year now and I cannot even begin to express how much I enjoy myself! I hadn’t «formally» danced or attended ballet since I was a young kid and I was a little nervous before attending my first class. Natalie immediately made me feel welcome, comfortable, and completely confident in my abilities. She has the incredible talent of assessing the ability level of every student and catering to their needs, regardless of who is attending the class on a given day.
All in all Natalie is an incredible teacher that truly motivates her students. Her sense of humor and vivacious personality are contagious. Her class is challenging and pushes you to push yourself as a dancer. I have not once felt out of place or judged in any way when in her studio. I have even gone weeks or months without attending her class, and upon my return, I am welcomed with open arms!
For anyone who may have previously danced or simply want to try out ballet for the first time, check out Rast. I guarantee you will enjoy yourself!

Natalie Rast is a dance teacher at Columbia College that has taught ballet at various Chicago studios without having one as her own. I used to take her classes at Belle Plaine Studio and always enjoyed her technique (similar to my ballet training from age 8 to 20) as well as her sweetly cynical sense of humor. She now has her own studio in Ravenswood with a well rounded schedule of classes for all levels. So far I’ve only taken ballet.
Last night I showed up for class and after over a year of not taking ballet, Natalie remembered me and made me feel welcome. Her students are a mix of ages and skill levels and everyone seems friendly with each other which is quite unlike the super-​competitive nature of many Chicago studios. The studio itself is a decent size but it does have two floor to ceiling support posts which you have to dodge when doing certain combinations. They are a little annoying but I got used to them. The floor is wood, not Marley, so she provides rosin and damp sponges for your shoes if it gets too slippery.
I’m too old and out of the professional dance game to be putting up with intimidating and pretentious studios. I do really love ballet and it always makes me sad when I realize that I rarely dance anymore. Natalie’s classes give the aging never-​was ballerina an outlet without judgments. As long as Natalie teaches ballet, she’ll most likely be my home base.

One evening, as I was walking my pup around the neighborhood, I heard the sounds of classical music emanating from overhead. I looked up and that is when I first discovered Rast Ballet Studio.
I’m a ‘used to be’ ballerina. I took ballet from the tender age of 3 up through high school and a bit in college.
I knew that I would never ‘be’ a prima ballerina. For one, I don’t have the discipline, and for another, I weigh substantially more than 75 lbs.
And while I never truly ‘loved’ ballet, I appreciated how it trained my body to be able to do other forms of dance that I enjoyed — jazz, tap and modern.
But lately I’ve been wanting to get back into it… rediscover the artistry in the exercises, improve my posture and flexibility. I found that I… missed it.
So, I dusted off my ballet shoes, pulled on my leotard, slapped on some tights and took a Beginning Ballet I & II mix class. Prior to taking this class, I exchanged some very warm and encouraging emails with the studio’s owner, Natalie Rast, who helped me decide which level would best suit my abilities.
The class was wonderful. The studio has beautiful hard wood floors. Two of the walls are lined with windows and the third wall is a mirror. There were about a dozen dancers of varying abilities and ages. Natalie was so warm and fun. She introduced me to Sarah, a ‘used to be’ ballerina like me, who was coming back after her own prolonged hiatus. Natalie offered constructive help, without being too hard or demanding (as has been my unfortunate experience with earlier teachers).
And I found that in my ten year hiatus my mind had retained many of the steps and exercises, but my body had not. Two days later every tiny muscle in my feet was screaming in tandem with my calves. During the class I lost count of the number of times the arches of my feet were seized by cramps, as my 30-​something year old body rebelled against all this… torture. But it felt sooo good!
I know there are other ‘used to be’s out there. Don’t be shy or intimidated. Drop in for $ 13 or get a punch card. Aside from ballet, the studio offers ballroom dance, yoga, Belly dancing, Salsa and NIA.