The Center for the Arts at the Wilmette Park District offers a well-rounded curriculum including dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Through classes, workshops, intensives and special events, the Center for the Arts provides ample opportunity for individuals to express ideas and emotions that cannot be communicated with language alone.

Come explore your creative side at the Center for the Arts, located in the Community Recreation Center at 3000 Glenview Road, Wilmette.

Birthday Parties

Got a birthday? If you are interested in a Dance or Art party, click here.

Art, Dance, Theatre & Music Department Information

  • Art Department Staff

    Jessica Van Swol: ceramics, painting, crafting, sculpture

    Cassandra Schifano

    Paige Garland

  • Age, Attire and Attendance Requirements

    The Dance Department strives to provide high quality training for dancers of all ages and experience levels. To maintain the integrity of the classes, we ask that parents do not request age overrides. All requirements, both attire, attendance and age, are set to benefit the children and make instruction more consistent for the program leaders. In some instances, the requirements have been set for the child's safety.

    Required Dance Attire

    The attire indicated below are required so instructors may properly observe and teach muscular movement. For all classes, hair must be up and off the neck in a ponytail or bun. Unacceptable attire includes jeans, ripped clothing (including tights), sweatpants, crop or half tops showing the midriff, and jewelry.

    Girls Attire:

    • Creative Dance, Pre Ballet: leotard, tights, pink ballet shoes. Skirts or tutus optional.
    • Ballet and Pointe Prep classes: solid color leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes. Dancers age 9 and higher may also wear black dance shorts-no other cover ups.
    • Pre Ballet/Tap and Ballet/Tap classes: leotard, tights, pink ballet shoes, black tap shoes. Skirts, tutus, or black dance shorts optional.
    • Tap and Jazz classes ages 7 and higher: leotard, tights, black tap shoes or tan slip on jazz shoes. Skirts or dance shorts optional.
    • All Hip Hop classes: comfortable athletic clothing (no jeans), black sneakers

    Boys attire:

    • Clean, fitted tee shirt, athletic shorts or pants, black ballet shoes (ballet), black tap shoes (tap), black slip on jazz shoes (jazz), black sneakers (hip hop).

    Dance Camp attire:

    • Leotard, tights, ballet shoes, jazz shoes, and tap shoes. Skirts or black dance shorts optional. Hair secured in a ponytail or bun.

    For dance class supplies, contact Allegro Dance Boutique in Evanston.

    Dance Department Staff:

    Alex Goodreau: ballet, jazz, contemporary

    Kirsten Markham: creative movement, hip hop, ballet, jazz, tap

    Anna Wetoska: Tiktok hip hop, jazz, Adult ballet barre, strength and stretch, functional mobility

    Rebecca Van Poucke

  • Theater Department Staff

    Wendy Avon: improv, scene study, monologue, theatrical studies, direction

    Kate Black: tech theater, stage management

    Benjamin Walton: musical theater for actors, piano, voice, ukulele

  • Music Department Staff

    Benjamin Walton: piano, voice, ukulele, musical theater for actors

    Paula Eatman: violin and viola

    Dan Chase: piano (all styles)

    Nick Bilski: guitar, bass and ukulele