New Leader Keeps Studio Dancing on Air During 50th Anniversary

By David A. F. Sweet Back in 2017, Haley Bhardwaj launched Simantikos Dance Studio in Chicago. She emphasized social-emotional learning among her students while also teaching technical dance skills. In her spare time, she served as a dance instructor at the Chicago Public Schools. So what brought a young mother who has performed on international stages north this fall to become Program Supervisor at the Lake Forest Dance Academy (LFDA)?

“I think we have a really healthy mindset about how to foster a love for dance while recognizing that everyone has their unique differences,” says Haley Bhardwaj (above) about the Lake Forest Dance Academy. Photo by Brian Cooper “When you start a studio, you imagine your kids growing up in this space with older children taking care of them,” Bhardwaj said. “In moving to the suburbs, I wanted to replicate that opportunity for my kids while still being close to home. “It’s been really great. Being part of the Parks & Recreation Department is so nice. You realize how many people behind the scenes want to provide for the community. At a private dance studio, you’re trying to make ends meet.”

Celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, LFDA is burning up the dance floor, so to speak. For the first time, many members of the LFDA performance companies, led by Hannah Liddicoat, took the stage at Walt Disney World in Orlando (Liddicoat herself danced at LFDA growing up). Other recent alumnae are enjoying professional dance careers in Chicago, New York City and beyond. Bhardwaj discussed what sets the Dance Academy apart. “I think we have a really healthy mindset about how to foster a love for dance while recognizing that everyone has their unique differences,” she said. “Other places stress everyone looking the same. We want them to do better every day while being themselves.” The youngest dancers at LFDA are the 2-year-olds in the Tiny Tots program. Student classes go through high school, and there are adult classes as well. Need-based scholarships are available. About 200 have signed up for offerings that include ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, acro, Irish, and tap. “We have a lot of tappers,” Bhardwaj said. “It’s not easy. It takes focus and grit to get through. You’re a dancer and a musician at the same time.” The tap program is led by Jenna Jozefowski, an expert in the discipline. Last year, LFDA alumna Chloe Fournier performed Rhythms of Passion: A Tap Dance Experience at Gorton Center. Her own production drew tap dancers from across the area. Because Fournier had experienced the effort tap dancers exhibited at competitions without the rewards, she “wanted to create a safe space for dancers, where all they are doing is performing because they want to and love to, without having to leave brokenhearted,” she told Lake Forest Love. As a 4-year-old, Bhardwaj got involved with dance at Debbie Werbrouck’s School of Dance in South Bend, Ind., “because my mom just wanted to see me in a tutu,” she noted. She danced consistently but recreationally as a child, and in middle school, she realized it was what she wanted to make a career out of. Eventually, after graduating from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology and dance, Bhardwaj moved to Chicago to dance professionally. She has performed in Italy, among other countries.

LFDA dancers, shown here in November, are a staple of the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony in Market Square. Photo by Valerie Gonzalez. Bhardwaj is excited about new LFDA classes on the horizon. She has slated pop-ups to test the popularity of Folklorico Mexican dancing, ballroom dancing and aerial silks. She also pointed out how classes can keep youngsters away from scrolling on their cellphones. “It’s such a creative outlet where there’s not a screen nearby,” she said. “They’re being social with their friends.” And don’t think Bhardwaj has forgotten about Chicago, where the studio she founded is still thriving. “I’d like to give students more opportunities to perform in the city and give them access to diverse styles,” she said. “I’m really grateful for what has been built here. This marks 50 years of wonderful programming fostered by past directors Sandy Ragdale and Valerie Gonzalez. I hope to continue growing the amazing studio they’ve created." For more information, visit lakeforestdance.com.