A New Era: Arlington Dance Academy
Jeanette Aylward and Laura Gates have over 20 years of teaching experience at McDonald Dance Academy. In 2022, they purchased the studio from the previous owner and founder Linda McDonald.
Arlington Dance Academy provides a fresh front to a well established business and will continue to be a studio dedicated to teaching correct dance technique, theory, and terminology for beginning through advanced students.
Meet the Owners
Jeanette Aylward
Jeanette studied ballet at the University of Illinois while earning her BS in Actuarial Sciences. After graduation, she continued her training under Avnun Yakabov while maintaining her consulting career. Jeanette was asked to teach dance part-time for one year and it was clear where her true passions lie. She swiftly transitioned from the business world to the dance community and hasn’t looked back once! Jeanette has performed with the Full Body Poetry Ensemble, Reverse Live and Enidsmithdance. Jeanette has collaborated with the late Richard Fammeree for the Pont Des Arts Ensemble and Saint Cloud in Chicago. She has worked as a teacher and choreographer in Chicago and the Northwest Suburbs for over 20 years. Jeanette is excited to continue sharing her love of dance with her students as she enters this next chapter as co-owner of Arlington Dance Academy.
Laura Gates
Laura grew up in Palatine. She holds degrees in Dance and Psychology from the University of Iowa where she was privileged to train with many gifted artists. Professionally, she danced with Swallow Cliff Dance Company, Concert Dance, Inc., and several independent choreographers before joining Thodos Dance Chicago. During her six-year tenure as a TDC dancer, she performed locally, nationally, and internationally and worked with many renowned artists including Broadway icon Ann Reinking. After retiring from performing, Laura went on to serve TDC for twelve more years as Rehearsal Director, Ballet Mistress, Artistic Associate, and New Dances Project Manager. Laura teaches throughout the Chicago area and has served on the faculty of many intensive programs including TDC, CNADM, Dance Masters of Wisconsin, Inaside Chicago Dance, Gus Giordano Dance School, the Illinois State Dance Festival, and the Midwest Cecchetti Council Ballet Workshop. She has been a guest artist at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Riverside Brookfield High School, Evanston Township High School, Kansas State University, and the University of Kansas. A proud member of the Chicago dance community for over 20 years, Laura is passionately committed to the art of dance and furthering dance education. She is the co-owner of D&G Dancewear Inc. and looks forward to continuing to share her love of dance with the Arlington Heights community as co-owner of Arlington Dance Academy.
Jeanette Aylward
Jeanette studied ballet at the University of Illinois while earning her BS in Actuarial Sciences. After graduation, she continued her training under Avnun Yakabov while maintaining her consulting career. Jeanette was asked to teach dance part-time for one year and it was clear where her true passions lie. She swiftly transitioned from the business world to the dance community and hasn’t looked back once! Jeanette has performed with the Full Body Poetry Ensemble, Reverse Live and Enidsmithdance. Jeanette has collaborated with the late Richard Fammeree for the Pont Des Arts Ensemble and Saint Cloud in Chicago. She has worked as a teacher and choreographer in Chicago and the Northwest Suburbs for over 20 years. Jeanette is excited to continue sharing her love of dance with her students as she enters this next chapter as co-owner of Arlington Dance Academy.
Laura Gates
Laura grew up in Palatine. She holds degrees in Dance and Psychology from the University of Iowa where she was privileged to train with many gifted artists. Professionally, she danced with Swallow Cliff Dance Company, Concert Dance, Inc., and several independent choreographers before joining Thodos Dance Chicago. During her six-year tenure as a TDC dancer, she performed locally, nationally, and internationally and worked with many renowned artists including Broadway icon Ann Reinking. After retiring from performing, Laura went on to serve TDC for twelve more years as Rehearsal Director, Ballet Mistress, Artistic Associate, and New Dances Project Manager. Laura teaches throughout the Chicago area and has served on the faculty of many intensive programs including TDC, CNADM, Dance Masters of Wisconsin, Inaside Chicago Dance, Gus Giordano Dance School, the Illinois State Dance Festival, and the Midwest Cecchetti Council Ballet Workshop. She has been a guest artist at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Riverside Brookfield High School, Evanston Township High School, Kansas State University, and the University of Kansas. A proud member of the Chicago dance community for over 20 years, Laura is passionately committed to the art of dance and furthering dance education. She is the co-owner of D&G Dancewear Inc. and looks forward to continuing to share her love of dance with the Arlington Heights community as co-owner of Arlington Dance Academy.