AMERICAN DANCE CENTER
53 Years of Dance Education and Entertainment A Tradition of Excellence... A Legacy of Dance
2021 - American Dance Center's 50 Year Anniversary
2019 Illinois Delegates - International Dance Excellence Festival, Anaheim, California
2017 Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida - Dance the World Performers
2016 Villari Family inducted into the Homewood Hall of Fame
2013 Harlem Globetrotters Half-Time Show
2012 Orange Bowl Half-Time Dancers - Miami, Florida
Voted "Best Dance School in Chicago Southland", Southtown Star Newspaper 22 years straight
The Villari’s chosen Outstanding Dance Educators of America, Dance Magazine.
Named one of “21 Leaders in the Arts for the 21st Century” The Star Newspapers.
11th Annual Holiday Fantasy dinner theater production selected “One of the top 10 shows in Chicago.”
Featured performers at the 1996 Summer World Olympics, Atlanta, Georgia
Selected Illinois delegates - International Dance Festival, L.A. - 1995 -2019
Performances at Disneyland, Great America, Chicago’s Navy Pier, Donald E. Stevens Convention Center, Drury Lane Theater, Chicago Apparel Center, Park West, Chicago Theater, Hemmen’s Theatre.
Received Congressional Recognition Awards for the Performing Arts.
Artistic honors from the Illinois Arts Council and Office of the Governor of Illinois.
Olympia Fields Proclamation, celebrating American Dance Center Day, for Silver Anniversary Week.
Established Outreach Park District Dance classes for 15 area communities.
Developed credited dance classes for Prairie State College, Governors State University and Chicago Conservatory College.
Seven-time Best of Show winner, National Dance Olympus Competition and Teacher’s Choice Award.
Coordinated shows with Walt Disney, Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera Productions.
Trained regional and state winners for Miss America, Miss Teen and Miss Pre-Teen.Choreographer and production dancers for Mrs. Illinois America Pageant , 2007-2014Performed at International Association for World Peace, Mayor Daley special event.Featured performers in the Dance Chicago-invitational series Athenaeum Theater, 10 years. Invitational-National Tap Dance Day, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Vittum Theater. Choreographed ADC dancers for Midwest Beauty Show, John Amico national hair and beauty conventionsGala performances for Infant Welfare Society and Louis Vitton Chicago State Street.Performed for the Meeting Professionals- International Award Show, Chicago’s Park West TheaterDanced in Chicago’s State Street Thanksgiving Day Parade Performed for Homewood New Year’s Eve celebration-4 yrs., Community Arts Festival, 2 yrs.Choreographer for Chicago Sting-Honey Bees Cheerleaders, Milwaukee Bucks half time show, Harlem Globetrotters Pre-game entertainmentClassical ballet soloist for Mayor Daley’s 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championship.Exclusive dancers for “Weird Al” Yankovic Show, 2007.Established one of the area’s largest scholarship programs for dance training.ADC master classes with Joffrey Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Centre de Le Danse, Paris, France. Official school of the American Dance Center Ballet, area’s first professional level company.Combined ballet with symphony for the first time in south suburbs ‘73.Created Hansel and Gretel, Chicago’s longest-running original ballet, 23 years.Choreographed Russian gold medalists and Bolshoi Ballet soloists in ADC ballet.Commissioned soloists from American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, New York City and Zurich BalletSubsidized over 68,000 children for ADC school field trip programs. Featured on CBS-Channel 2-Morning NewsSpecial Dance for Sports classes featured on NBC, Channel 5.Performed for Serbian Radio’s Anniversary celebration, 3 years. American Dance Center documentary, Continental Cable."Making of a Holiday Tradition" documentary, Jones CableDancers of Tomorrow, documentary, Multimedia, Time Warner and Jones Cable.ADC Dancers were thrilled to be part of Chicago's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the 5th year in a row!
ADC Intermediate and Advanced tappers joined the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and continued to spread the joy that dance brings by tappin down State Street! The Parade was broadcast locally and nationally on WGN TV ! Thank you to all who joined us Thanksgiving morning for what has become a memorable ADC tradition!
ADC Productions and Radiance Dancers traveled to Orlando, Florida to represent the ADC in
'Dance the World' at Walt Disney World! The dancers presented their own show, with original choreography from 6 ADC instructors, at Epcot Center's World Showplace Theater, were featured performers in Disney's Main Street Parade and attended an exciting awards gala dinner and dance party, with a surprise visit from Mickey & his crew!
DANCIN AT DISNEY!
Dedicated American Dance Center dancers who are interested in making a greater commitment to their love of dance are selected through auditions and teacher recommendations. Our Performance Teams train in all styles of dance, meet weekly to work on their technique, learn new choreography from ADC's professional choreographers and serve as positive role models to all of our students. These dancers have additional opportunities to perform throughout Chicagoland and nationwide, including convention/competition events, sharing the Joy of Dance. We aim to teach our dancers to respect themselves and others, to continue to strive for excellence and to serve as leaders both in and out of the studio.
Dancers of RADIANCE and VIBRANCE were featured performers on the WGN Morning News Block Party Live broadcast in Homewood! We were honored to represent the Village of Homewood and will continue to share the Love of Dance with our community!
Thank you to all who tuned in and came out to support us!
We kicked off the holidays with a fun-filled night of dance and celebrated with the City of Chicago!
50 ADC dancers led the exciting dance production of close to 400 dancers from throughout Chicagoland in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival! They joined an incredible procession including a grand tree lighting of one million lights, spectacular floats, helium-filled balloons, marching bands, top musical performers, appearances by Benny the Bull, Hubert the Lion and other well-known Chicago mascots and a grand finale fireworks show over the Chicago River!
The parade was broadcast on ABC 7 Chicago and was syndicated to the entire nation during the month of December!
... PAST PERFORMANCES
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VIBRANCE & RADIANCE DIRECTORS
Lauren Janney, Kyra Laster, Maria Villari, Katie Colletti
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2024-2025 VIBRANCE SENIOR PERFORMANCE TEAM DANCERS
2024-25 RADIANCE JUNIOR PERFORMANCE TEAM DANCERS
ADC Directors Kathleen, Maria & Jack Villari and selected ADC dancers representing the State of Illinois!
ADC was selected outstanding dance school of Illinois by the International Dance Festival, Dance Excellence and the only school chosen to represent the state of Illinois at the International Dance Festival in Los Angeles 1995-2023.
RADIANCE dancers were invited to be the opening number for the Italian-American Women's Association Fashion Show Gala at the Carlisle Banquets in Lombard.
VIBRANCE Performance Team dancers were featured performers
in the Joy to the World tour featuring Grammy Nominated and Billboard #1 violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.
RADIANCE & VIBRANCE dancers were performers at Six Flags Great America's Dance Fest!
They previewed production pieces that were performed at our Student Showcase, New Beginnings, and then enjoyed a beautiful day at the park!
Thank you for all that came to support us and join in the fun!
ADC SELECTED AS ILLINOIS DELEGATES AT THE INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL
Our RADIANCE Junior Performance Team was the opening act for the opening day of Market at the Park at the beautiful new venue, Centennial Park West in Orland Park!
Dancers entertained the crowd and enjoyed a fun day visiting the vendors and spending time with their ADC families! Ms. Maria even got the audience dancing where they learned a fun line dance!
Thank you to all who came out to support us!
2024-25 VIBRANCE Sr. Performance Team
2024-25 RADIANCE Jr. Performance Team
Thank you to all that joined us for our first Performance Team show of the season!
We had so much fun entertaining the crowd at the annual Boo Bash at Orland Square Mall!
Village of Orland Park's Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Festival!
ADC dancers were featured along the parade route and entertained the crowds afterwards with their special holiday performance.
They also enjoyed the spectacular lighted decor display, holiday market with crafts and treats, live entertainment, a visit from Santa and much more!
Thank you to all who helped make this another fun & successful ADC holiday event!
Our Radiance and Vibrance 2 dancers kicked off the holidays with the arrival of Santa at Orland Square Mall!
After leading the procession to the Center Court, they performed a special holiday show for Santa and all of the guests. Carolers, a hot chocolate truck, the lighting of the 30 foot tree and even live reindeer added to this special event. Thank you to all who joined us!
Thank you for all who joined us for 2 sold out showings for our In-Studio Winter Showcase featuring our Radiance and Vibrance Performance Team dancers!
Audiences got a sneak peek of works-in-progress for our upcoming performances and competitions, in an up close & personal setting!
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Congratulations to our Vibrance Senior Performance Team, and directors, Lauren Janney and Kyra Laster, who attended the Dupree Dance convention and competition Chicago tour. It was a jam-packed weekend with master classes in all styles of dance, taught by industry professionals, and 3 days of competition, spotlighting talent from throughout the Midwest.
ADC received awards for their Solo, Duo, Small Group and Large Group entries. Our 'Cry Me A River' piece, choreographed by Kyra Laster, featured all Vibrance dancers and received a Double Platinum award, Judges Choice nominee and the Commitment Award.
A special congratulations goes out to Julia J., Zoey B. and Mia R. who won half scholarships and to Grace D. who was awarded a full scholarship!
We are so proud of all of our dancers and look forward to more upcoming exciting events to share with them!
'Cry Me A River' ~ Double Platinum award - Judges Choice Nominee - Commitment Award
CONGRATULATIONS to our Radiance Junior Performance Team, Vibrance Senior Performance Team and Directors/ Choreographers:
Kyra Laster, Lauren Janney, Katie Colletti and Maria Villari on a job well done at the Artists Simply Human dance convention!
It was a busy and fun-filled weekend of master classes, performances, and the chance to showcase our new works.
We were so excited to have all of our pieces receive the selected Judge's Awards!
A big congratulations to all of our dancers who received scholarships: Zoey B., Julia J. and Khloe M.
and selected ASH Company Intensive dancers: Jazmin C., Kajal S., Carlie M., Brea W., Julia J., Grace D., Eriyan G. and Olivia J.
We are so proud of all of you!!
and... Thank you to all of the wonderful parents and families for your support and friendship throughout the weekend!
'Cry Me A River' - Choreography, Kyra Laster
STAND OUT ROUTINE AWARD
'Fever' - Choreography, Kyra Laster
ENTERTAINMENT AWARD
'Open Hands' - Choreography, Lauren Janney
JUDGES CHOICE AWARD
'Better Together' - Choreography, Katie Colletti/ Maria Villari
STAND OUT ROUTINE AWARD
