It’s a fact that JENNIFER GRAPES CROUGHAN is a former professional dancer (most notably with the Milwaukee Ballet). And it’s also true that she is founder and Artistic Director of Hinsdale Dance Academy (HDA). What is not so obvious is what is at the heart of Croughan’s mission in working with young dancers. “I do not teach dance lessons, I teach life lessons,” she says. “The lessons that create successful professional dancers also create successful, responsible, and employable young adults.” The vehicle she happens to use to instill these lessons is dance.” Croughan credits her late mother-in-law, Janet Saxton-Croughan, as her role model. “She was one of the kindest and gentlest human beings I’ve ever known,” she says. “She also had her own successful business in the city, and I learned a lot about business from her. I strive to be as caring, calm, and compassionate as she was everyday.” Croughan explains that learning to pay attention to detail is one of the most important tools that a good dance education teaches, and one that will make someone “stand out in the boardroom.” As a premier academy for classical dance instruction, HDA offers a ballet curriculum that includes classes in pointe, variations, and pas de deux. “My goal is to help create a generation of well-rounded, critical thinkers who can operate individually or on a team, who aren’t afraid to think outside of the box, and who have a deep appreciation for the arts and can recognize it’s contribution to our society, our planet, and our well-being.” Brava!

Hinsdale Dance Academy is located at 645 Blackhawk Drive in Westmont. For more information, call 630-484-3241 or visit hinsdaledanceacademy.com.