Visceral Dance Center

I Love visceral ! Only been to a couple of hip hop classes but i’ve had a blast with both instructors. Plus the groupon makes the prices really low ($ 4 a class if you buy 10). I wish they had a location in the suburbs because I have to drive 45 minutes to get there. but it’s worth it !

I would say this is one of the top training centers in the city! It’s the best training you can get for ballet, contemporary, and modern dance in this city. I love Visceral and have been taking classes on and off over the past couple years. Laura Wade, Melinda Myers, and Nick Pupillo are some of my favorites. All of the faculty are professionals who have danced with the most highly regarded companies in Chicago. They share many instructors with Hubbard Street’s Lou Conte Dance Studio. Not only are the instructors highly skilled in their areas of expertise, but they are also good at TEACHING and giving specific, individualized corrections, along with helping students realize artistic concepts related to expression, vision, movement quality, etc — not everyone who is a phenomenal dancer is phenomenal at teaching dance, but at Visceral the instructors are great at both. Visceral also brings in top-​notch master class instructors. I love this studio and hope that it continues to prosper and develop the next generation of Chicago’s dancers!

Loved my first class at Visceral!!! Did hip hop w/​Khris — he was AMAZING– such a good dancer. loved the studio and the price:) will definitely be back and will tell friends!

First time ever taking a dance class and I’m so impressed! My girlfriend and I decided to take one because her best friend has been part of a dance group for years and we’ve always been going to her shows just watching in awe. I think one day my girlfriend decided that it was time that we make an attempt to learn how to dance like her.
After getting some tips, we decided on Visceral based on both the price of the beginner’s hip hop class and quality of instructors. The studio there was large and clean. The hip hop class was composed of about 15 or so people with just one other male who looked like his girlfriend might have brought him there too. Our experience there was crazy as the substitute instructor Charlie Guyton taught us an intermediate level dance. He was both fun and charismatic, keeping the class engaged while providing supportive words to newcomers like myself. I had a huge amount of difficulty learning the steps but was given ample time to try and replicate the moves. It was a great atmosphere with newbies and people who looked like they had a decent amount of experience just based on their movements.
By the end I was breathing pretty hard from the workout I just got and partially from the nerves from having to had perform the dance at the class’s finish. My girlfriend and I both agreed that we would be back though, and at just $ 10 a class taught by highly experienced instructors, I doubt that there’s a better value out there.

Great place for a professional dancer! Fantastic, well know teachers that are diverse and knowledgable. They have somehow managed to create a non-​competitive, no drama environment amongst the advanced classes that is extremely refreshing and much needed in the professional Chicago dance scene. Lots of free parking on the street and a discounted class price for current working professionals. The floor has a little too much traction so you might not turn as well as you’re used to but other than that, no complaints. I have read a few posts complaining about how all the classes are too advanced but if a schedule clearly states the level as advanced/​professional it is going to be just that. Those classes are not for the recreational dancer, but for people who make their living as a professional dancer and are there to maintain and enhance their skills, not learn them for the first time. I highly recommend Visceral for any visiting professionals or touring companies who need to rent reasonably prices rehearsal space.

I am from Michigan, so on weekends and summer breaks I use to come to visceral and take their drop-​in adult classes. The drop-​in classes really made it easy to come and take class whenever I wanted since they have no contracts, no class minimum purchase, no reservation, etc. Also, dance summer intensives are always so expensive, so what I use to do is come to the city for a week/​weekend and take several dance classes over a few days from all the different drop-​in studios in Chicago. Visceral was always, hands down, my favorite place out of the couple studios I went to. I always felt welcome even though I only would come a couple times a year. Also, there is such a great variety here, that I think there is a teacher that every dancer can consider to teach «their style.» Whether you live near or far from Visceral, I highly recommend dropping in for class! (Also, if you love it and want to come more often, they have class cards you can buy that gives you a discount on the classes!)

I was searching for the best place to take a basic Jazz dancing class. I’m very happy I went with Visceral. I was a bit skeptical– as the exterior of the building doesn’t look too notable/​inviting. Don’t judge a book by its cover! The studio is so inviting, clean and surprisingly spacious! I have not taken any other classes here yet, as their beginner class offerings are limited, but I am very happy with my instructor, Sean. I am very pleased that although this studio is very pro/​advanced focused, their beginner classes are appropriately beginner (quite refreshing!), but Sean knows how to give us the ‘just-​right’ challenge. I will definitely take more classes here if they work in my schedule. I gave them 4 stars instead of 5, because I wish they would post their schedule a little ahead of time, and I dropped a star because I wish they had a better selection of basic/​beginner classes. Great place, highly recommended!

Every time I come to take classes at Visceral I am always greeted at the desk by their wonderful staff. Everyone that takes the classes is always really friendly and makes me feel welcome. One of my favorite classes to take are Michael Rioux’s modern class on Tuesday’s at noon. I really enjoy his teaching style. He is a very friendly teacher and I never feel intimidated if I need to ask a question about his combinations or warm up.
I will definitely be coming back to take class!

I’ve been taking beginning hip hop classes here for a few months off and on with martel jackson and am enjoying them immensely. i always feel very challenged by his choreography.
The staff at Visceral is always attentive, encouraging and friendly. The space is always clean and inviting. I always look forward to spending time/​learning at Visceral.

Visceral is saaaaweeeet!!! I dance here :) so does the awesome dance company I’m with, Design!!!

This is a great studio for a serious dancer. They have a great range of classes throughout the week and also host numerous amounts of masterclasses. Parking is pretty decent. Follow the signs and you can find a lot of free parking.
The facilty is great! It is spacious, clean, and has a nice urban/​warehouse look. Makes me feel legit when I’m busting out my hip hop skills =)

Visceral is the poo, so take a big whiff! «Bring It On» quotes, anyone? No? Ok.
I’ve been dancing since about 2003, and I’ve seen a lot of studios. Visceral is really everything you can ask for in a dance studio — spacious rooms, great location, super clean, friendly staff, and legitimate teachers. The exposed ceilings and brick give the studio a cool urban warehouse feel, but it’s definitely not old and dusty.
I would definitely recommend taking classes here if you are interested in dance. When I first moved to Chicago last year, I called the studio inquiring about hip hop classes and they were very friendly and informative. If you’re not sure what level or type of class you want to take, just give them a ring.

I can finally write a legit review, now that I’ve taken actual classes here.
First off, I’m obsessed with Nick’s ballet class. I’ve taken it at several different time slots/​different days, and he’s great. He’s very personable, he keeps the combinations interesting, and I love that he kind of picks a certain muscle group to work on and brings it back in different combos. I also love that while it isn’t mentally taxing (he doesn’t do crazy technical jump combinations that make my head hurt trying to figure out what to do), the physicality and tempo still leaves me sweating and sore the next day. It’s a very physically challenging class, which is nice.
I also took his Saturday jazz class once, and it was phenomenal as well. Unfortunately that doesn’t work in my schedule anymore. His jazz style is refreshing, and his insane warmup will kick anyone into shape.
I bought the Groupon for here, so it works out to be like $ 6/​class, which is a steal (I also bought a Lou Conte one for $ 4/​class). I’m so sad that my Groupon 10 class card is almost gone, and that I’ll have to pay $ 15/class…on my graduate student limited budget, that’s not really doable for me on a weekly or even monthly basis. I wish they had some sort of college student discount. There is a professional rate for $ 10/​class, and a professional 10-​class card that works out to $ 9/​class, but you must be in a company or an Equity member for that (I wish it applied to dance teachers who aren’t in companies. Oh well.)
The Diversey (#76) bus drops off right around the corner, which is great and super easy. I haven’t driven here since 2008, but I’m assuming there’s still plenty of street parking. It looks like it’s metered parking now, but that still works. Other people have said there’s an El nearby, and it’s right off of the interstate, so suburban commutes can be easy.

2 seconds off the highway and a quick walk from the El Visceral is located on the corner of Diversey and Elston. Street parking is available free or not, if you look. The desk staff are always super friendly and helpful. As a dance mom/​dancer I interact with a lot of front desk staff and here they not only make me feel welcome but my daughter as well. While the classes are for 13 and up they are all on the advanced level.
Nick Pupillo, the director and owner, has done a great job of creating an atmosphere all about dance and not about drama. He brings in great master teachers such as Toyko, Eddy Ocampo, Jon Lehrer, etc as well as hosting many master classes with many hip hop artists. The staff are mostly still performing artists and have the edge on what dance is now. Classes like Tue Advanced Jazz w/​Nick and Wed Contemporary w/​Kate are musts for all dancers.
The space is urban and clean clean clean. Feet are not black when leaving the studio! Very large and spacious studios sans any poles in the middle of the room. Space is also available for eating, waiting and relaxing. You can find me on the couch!
All in all Nick has done a great job creating yet another hub of dance right up there with the Conte’s and Joel Hall’s that many dancers flock to to not only take class but to rehearse their company, hold auditions, host a master class, etc. A great place to be.

I’ve only been here for a few Belly Dance workshops but I really like the facility. The floors are wonderful and the studios are big with a huge wall o’ mirrors. They also have two nice sized changing rooms for dancers. Very clean and they even have a small kitchen area to hang out at during your break. Ample street parking, although some of it is metered.

I think these studios are really nice and spacious. I like some of their teachers too.

I really like Nick who is the artistic director, but the classes skew heavily towards advanced. I keep hoping that he will add more beginning/​intermediate or intermediate classes, but it is a young studio. Also many young young kids in the studio, and frankly I feel out of place sometimes. And I’ve been going there for about a year.

Cutting-​edge studio in our burgeoning neighborhood. Makes me pine for my youth.

«Beauty captivates the flesh in order to obtain permission to pass right to the soul.» Weil Yes, I am being sentimental this time…
She’s so High She’s so High She’s so High up above She’s so High She’s so High Up above in the clouds
Save the grace and let go the gravity… I let go my earthy thoughts and immersed for half and hour in the world of beauty that comes through brutal physical pain, bought in full for 14 bucks. Yet the grace did not leave me. The voice of the instructor is still ringing in my ear and my ballet slippers calling from heaven. Angels gave me the grace to redeem myself from gravity. Heads up, tummies in, legs up high, and pointe. Through the beauty I feel the grace. She’s so high She’s so High She’s so High She’s so high up above.

Visceral Dance Chicago is fantastic. The facility is clean, cool and all-​around appealing to the eye. Nick Pupillo has done a great job creating this outlet for dancers of all ages and levels.