DLD Dance Celebrates Second Anniversary, New Location

Dyanna Daniels had a dream. She wanted to dance and open her own studio. She didn’t wait to get her business going. She founded her own dance company while still in college, laying the groundwork to open her own studio.

Now, Daniels is celebrating the second anniversary of her Downers Grove dance studio, DLD (Diva La Dance) Dance Center. And, as she celebrates two years in business on June 14, she is doing it in a new studio space at 454 W. 75th St.

Over the last two years Daniels’ has shared her love of dance with about 200 students, while also offering opportunities for others unaffiliated with the dance school to kick up their heels and share their love of dance in what could be called “flash dance” mobs.

Daniels, 28, began dreaming of opening her own studio during college at Western Illinois University. She studied business and marketing, but began dancing and became part of a dance team while at Western.

While still attending the university, Daniels started her DLD Dance Company. Her father is a singer, and the group performed as his back up dancers.

After college she began teaching at the Darien Park District, after a few years Daniels decided to take the leap and open her own dance school. She chose Downers Grove for the business because it is her hometown.

“It was smart to open in a place I was familiar with,” she said. “I did a lot of performing locally.”

The school offers classes for those 3 years old to adult. Classes range from Hip Hop to ballet. The studio has five teachers, including Daniels, who also teaches a number of classes. The studio also employs male teachers. A limited number of studios have male teachers and DLD has gained a number of boys seeking to learn how to dance Hip Hop style, Daniels said.

The teachers and Daniels are more like a family than a business staff, she said. They have a close-knit working relationship. And, because they know each other so well, her teachers know how to provide students with a quality dance education and a professional learning environment, she said.

Another element to the studio is its “flash mobs.” Daniels choreographs and plans flash mobs, which draw locals and those from as far away as Iowa and Wisconsin, she said.

The flash mobs participants have performed at Navy Pier, been hired for weddings, engagement proposals and participated in events in downtown Downers Grove, she said.

Anyone is welcome to participate in the events, which are posted on Meetup and more than 600 people are members. To participate the members of the group must attend two practice sessions, practice on their own and commit to attend the event.

Her mother Joyce Daniels had the idea for the flash mobs and has helped to plan and organize the flash mobs.

When she isn’t teaching and managing her studio, Daniels is busy choreographing for the flash mobs and her DLD Dance Company, which puts on a professional showcase every year.

When she set out to start her own studio, she anticipated needing to work another job, but the business has gone better than expected, she said. Her days are often long and some nights she only gets a few hours of sleep, but Daniels doesn’t mind.

“I love to dance, which is No. 1. If I didn’t love it, I probably shouldn’t be doing it [teaching]. Watching students learn and grow, seeing my work when its put on stage, seeing the end product is very rewarding,” Daniels said.

DLD Dance Center will be holding a re-grand opening and open house Friday, June 14 from noon to 8 p.m. The studio is located at 454 W. 75th St. in Downers Grove. Learn more online, email them at info@dlddancecenter.com or call 630-67-DANCE.