Director
Jennifer Minkin
ARCC Ballet (Art Reaching Children of Chicago) offers dance instruction, performance opportunities and workshops for children and adults. Founded in January 2005, ARCC Ballet has three locations in Chicago, two in Bucktown and one in Old Irving Park. ARCC Ballet also offers elementary school dance programs throughout the Chicagoland area.
Jennifer Minkin, ARCC Ballet's founder and Program Director, trained with the Ballet Meister of the First Category, Madame Inesse Alexandrov of the Bolshoi Ballet. Jennifer graduated with a BFA from Barat College under the direction of Rory Foster. She was Assistant Artistic Director and ballet instructor for the Ballet Russe School in Skokie, Illinois for four years, and taught ballet at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Jennifer brings the art of dance to children through her love of teaching. Prior to ARCC Ballet, Jennifer created a dance program for over 50 aspiring local children in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood (sponsored by the Chicago Park District). She also served as a volunteer ballet instructor for students at the Jewish Council for Youth Services, located in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
Staff Instructors
Brett Mills
Brett Mills, a native Chicagoan, began her training at the Chicago City Ballet School and Ruth Page. She spent several summers studying in New York at the Joffrey School, David Howard and Suzanne Farrell and Paul Mejia's summer intensive program. Brett danced professionally with BalletMet, Ballet Iowa, Ruth Page's Nutcracker and Eugene Ballet where she rose to the rank of principal dancer. Her roles have included The Firebird, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Odette in Swan Lake. Brett has been teaching ballet for the last 5 years at various schools in the pacific northwest and is excited to be back in Chicago.
Maya Tatiana: The Art Of Flamenco Dance
Internationally renowned Flamenco artist, Maya Tatiana has danced with major dance companies in Spain and across the United States. Maya is on staff at several studios and is featured through the Guest Teaching Series at ARCC Ballet. Maya performs regularly at Mason Sabica and is featured in the newly released film, "America Burqa".
Alica Warren
Alicia Warren has a BFA in dance from the University of Illinois. While at UIUC she performed in numerous works, including a re-staging Lar Lubovitch’s “North Star.” She was the recipient of the 2002 Talent Student Award because of her dedication and enthusiasm for dance. Alicia has been teaching at the Paula Aubrey School of Dance since 2004. She also was artistic director of the Junior Kankakee Kompany. Alicia made her professional performance debut in 2005 with Mordine and Company. Alicia is currently teaches dance at ARCC Ballet & Dance.
Sarah Wattles
Sarah began dancing at four in the area of traditional ballet, tap and jazz. She trained with the Dansummer Intensive Programs under the supervision of Julane Stites, Tiffany Leise, Troy and Kristen Jensen, The Kim Robards Dance Company and Cleo Parker Robinson. Sarah also performed in the Spotlight Dance Competition in Las Vegas and in California. Sarah has taught children’s classes for several years in the area of ballet, hip - hop, jazz and tap. She is currently studying dance at Columbia College.
Special program instructors
Jennifer Guglielmi, Ballet/Jazz Instructor
Katie Budris, Tap Instructor
Jane Meredith, Ballet Instructor
Emily Haines, Ballet/Tap/Jazz Instructor
Karly Strong, Ballet/Tap/Jazz Instructor
Antoinette Klimek, Ballet/Tap/Jazz Instructor
Karli Walker, Ballet/Tap/Jazz Instructor
Jennifer Dyrkowski , Ballet/Jazz Instructor
Mandy Beck, Ballet/Jazz Instructor
Jessica Zann, Hip Hop Instructor
Maggie Ednie, Ballet Instructor
Other instructors
Jamie Clausing, Nia Instructor
Emily Robinson, Yoga Instructor: Children and Adult Levels
Emily Robinson started dancing at the age of 5 growing up in the suburbs of Chicago. She studied ballet, modern and jazz before pursuing degrees in Psychology and Education. Her focus is Special Education. She has worked with Autistic children for several years.
Emily became a certified yoga instructor in 2001. She teaches yoga to children of all ages, and even incorporates yoga into her therapy with Autistic clients. Currently, Emily teaches yoga at a group home for children in Oak Park. Her passion for, and love of, yoga is reflected in her classes. Emily’s main goal is for her students to have fun and enjoy life.