A Fairytale Ballet – Bucktown

A Fairytale Ballet is an enchanting ballet school serving children and teens across the Chicago area and Evanston, with studio locations in the Lakeview, Bucktown, and North Evanston neighborhoods. Founded in 2000 by Tanya Johns, the school was built on the principle that children learn best when they are engaged in a positive and stimulating environment, and that ballet education should encompass far more than traditional barre and center work. Over more than two decades, A Fairytale Ballet has grown into a beloved institution recognized for its innovative curriculum, which was featured in Dance Teacher Magazine and has extended its reach through partnerships with Montessori schools, Girl Scouts of America, private schools, and after-school programs throughout the region.

The school’s signature offering is its proprietary Fairytale Ballet program, a unique approach to early childhood dance education that weaves together literature, costumes, classical music, theatrical props, and ballet technique into immersive weekly classes. Each week, a cherished childhood story serves as the inspiration for that session’s ballet, and students are adorned in coordinating character costumes while learning through movement, creativity, and storytelling. This inventive method transforms the traditional dance class into a multisensory experience that reinforces literacy development, expands vocabulary, strengthens gross motor skills, and nurtures self-expression and independent thinking, all while teaching foundational ballet concepts including French terminology, correct body placement, and musical rhythms.

The Fairytale Ballet division offers classes organized by age, beginning with the Baby Ballerinas class for dancers as young as 18 months accompanied by a caregiver. This introductory class uses beloved nursery rhymes, musical instruments, scarves, and engaging props to reinforce simple creative movement while helping toddlers connect socially. The Twinkle Toes class serves two- and three-year-olds with a caregiver, encouraging body awareness and balance through imagery-rich Fairytale Ballet sessions. The Fairytale Ballerinas class accommodates children ages two and a half through five with various age groupings, introducing a naturally progressing curriculum that builds on ballet terminology, steps, and musical counting. A Pre-Ballet class for kindergarteners and first graders serves as the bridge into the school’s more structured Academy program, gradually shifting the focus toward traditional classical ballet stories.

The Academy Ballet program is designed for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and provides a comprehensive, progressive ballet education. Beginning Ballet classes for students in kindergarten through third grade combine technique instruction with the fun and engagement of classical ballet stories, dances, and props. As students advance into the 4th through 12th grade Ballet divisions, the curriculum deepens with a focus on core ballet movements, traditional barre work, group choreography, and an exploration of how ballet stories, characters, and composers come together to create a complete production. Academy students study classical ballets and their composers over focused three- to six-week units, building a well-rounded understanding of the art form. Students participate in annual performances including The Nutcracker Ballet and a June Ballet recital. For dancers seeking to broaden their skills, specialty classes are available in pointe, pre-pointe, contemporary, technique, jazz, tap, and dance medley, with private lessons also offered. The AFB Repertory Theater provides additional performance opportunities for Academy students through a student dance company that rehearses on weekends and during summer intensives, developing theatrical skills and stage comprehension at select locations.

Beyond its regular class schedule, A Fairytale Ballet offers seasonal Fairytale Camps throughout the year, including summer sessions. Twinkle Toes Mini Camps provide one-hour experiences for two- and three-year-olds with a caregiver, while longer Fairytale Ballet camps lasting one and a half to three hours are available for children ages three through six, running one to five days per week depending on the location and season. Each camp incorporates the school’s signature blend of Fairytale Ballet classes, seasonal themes, dances, and crafts. The school also hosts magical birthday party experiences for children ages two through nine, available as one-hour in-home celebrations or two-hour in-studio parties. Birthday packages accommodate up to 12 guests, feature a dedicated ballerina hostess, and include costumes, props, music, themed dances, and party favors, with customization options for crafts and additional activities. Both Fairytale Ballet and Prima Ballerina or Pop Star party themes are available depending on the age of the birthday child. Virtual private and semi-private lessons are also offered for families seeking at-home instruction. Free trial classes are available for new families interested in experiencing the program.