Welcome to Rootz
Announcements
Sign up for 2025/2026 Dance & Cheer Company Auditions
Download the Spring and Summer Brochures
Register Now for Spring and Summer Programming
Pre-order Recital Flowers & Gifts
Vernon Hills Studio Opening This Summer
Important Dates
May 18: Rootz Closed | Releve Recital
May 19-22: Dance Company Auditions
May 26: Rootz Closed
May 27: Cheer Company Auditions
May 30: Spring Session Ends
Helpful Information
Why Rootz?
Our dedicated staff aim to make a positive impact on your child’s life, fostering self-confidence, and ensuring they have fun along the way. Together, we provide your children with the “Rootz to grow and Wings to fly”
The Rootz Difference
As the heart of the community for Chicago’s North Shore families, Rootz values unique enrichment and fine arts education. With classes seven days a week, parents can find convenient opportunities for multiple children in the same facility.
Rootz is a true community. Being part of a family owned business where the owners are incredibly involved helps to set the tone. Our staff are truly incredible and support the Rootz vision to nurture and support all of the children in our programs. We are incredibly grateful to create a home for so many North Shore families, and we are confident you will notice what makes us unique.
Meet our Amazing Team
Our team is dedicated to the highest quality programming and customer service so you and your family have the best possible experience:
Our Facility
Three convenient locations that serve the North Shore and northern suburbs of Chicago.
Rootz Vernon Hills – COMING FALL 2025
656 Hawthorn Center | Vernon Hills | Illinois
224-269-0004 | VernonHills@getrootz.com
What Our Customers Have to Say
My daughters absolutely love Rootz! The staff is so welcoming, and they do a great job tailoring their classes for each age group. My 3 year old daughter has done Mom & Tot dance classes and now does drop off classes. The Rootz staff was so supportive and caring in transitioning her to drop off classes. She is so excited to go to Rootz each week!
Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to provide a review. We're thrilled to hear that your daughters love Rootz and that you appreciate our welcoming staff. We take pride in tailoring our programs to meet each child's needs, and we're delighted that your family has had a positive experience. We look forward to seeing your daughters continue to grow and thrive at Rootz!
We have been going to Rootz for the past 3 years and my daughters love their theater and dance classes! The instructors are wonderful, attentive, skilled and caring! They have special bonds with Miss Jordyn, Miss Lisa, and Miss Shameeka. They truly have so much fun!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing. We are happy to hear that your daughters are having a great experience. We are excited to watch them on the big stage as they grow into our musical theater and dance company programs!
I began taking my son to Rootz classes in 2021. From Planes/Trains/Automobiles to hip hop performance, and Broadway Stars, my children have taken dozens of classes at Rootz (and, we can't forget ninja!). They handled COVID protocols extremely well, and they also handled their facility move very well. Every instructor has been absolutely fabulous; they care deeply about the kids in the classes & programs and work hard to ensure each kid feels special and loved. The educational programming has ultimately helped my children with self-confidence as well. I highly recommend all of the classes that Rootz offers, especially dance and theater! We hope to be a part of the Rootz family for many years to come!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words. We're truly grateful for the opportunity to provide these experiences and opportunities for your family and the community!
My kids have been part of the Rootz family since parent tot classes. They've been so caring, with staff who are so good with kids as well as really great dancers themselves! They set such a good example for my daughter and we love watching her develop as a dancer with Releve Dance Studio.
Response from the owner:Thank you for being a loyal customer. We are grateful to have your family as part of our dance company!
We love rootz! I have been taking my kids to rootz classes for over 3 years now. The classes are organized, clean and safe! The teachers are kind and engaging. We always look forward to our class and it’s a great way to meet other moms in the area!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing. We are grateful to have your family as part of the Rootz community!
We love Rootz! So much fun and very interactive my daughter loves it! Also very flexible if you need to switch days one week!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing Kaylee! We look forward to watching your daughter grow as she progresses through the different dance programs.
I have been so impressed by Rootz and Relevé. The teachers have such a sense of children and their needs, build self confidence and make dancing fun.
Response from the owner:Thank you Carrie! We strive to empower and inspire children while helping them blossom into healthy, happy, and successful adults.
Rootz has been a blessing for my twin girls (2 years old)! They love their Parent/Child Dance classes and their Gym Jam classes!! They have learned routines and structures of being in classes, the basics of ballet, mastered the balance beam, and talk about their teachers constantly!! Everything is very well run and very organized!! We look forward to our future years here!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing Michelle. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz and look forward to watching your girls learn and grow over the coming years!
Rootz is a wonderful place for classes for children! It is easy and convenient and fun! The broadway programming is fabulous, as is the dance program. My sons also LOVED planes and trains! Shout out to Miss Lisa for always working with the parents, being incredible at her job and just wonderful to work with! Also, we love Miss Rori and Miss Jordyn -- they are super talented!!
Response from the owner:Thank you being a part of the Rootz family!
Could not rave more about Rootz! The most loving and warm environment and have yet to find a class my kids do not love! The teachers are all passionate about the programs and kids and we couldn’t be more happy to be part of the Rootz family!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing. We are happy to have you be part of the Rootz family!
We love Rootz! My girls have done dance, theater, and tumbling and every teacher has been a gem! Always our first place to look for extra activities!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing! We are grateful to have your family at Rootz.
My three daughters have been taking dance classes at Rootz for the past 7 years. Each stage has been better than the next! From mom and tot, to early childhood, recital, performance, and compete - there is something for every dancer at every level. At the compete level my daughter has learned and grown so much. The Releve teachers have been so encouraging for my daughters. They foster confidence, teamwork and fun while really teaching these kids how to dance. Miss Jordyn runs an unbelievable program. I would recommend Releve to anyone looking for an encouraging environment where they will learn, grow and shine as themselves and grow tremendously as dancers!
Response from the owner:Thanks for sharing your experiences and for being a loyal client!
We love Rootz. My girls have attended since they opened and they are both on their competition teams. They love Rootz! It’s a great environment and the teachers are amazing. We love it there!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience and for being a loyal customer. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
My daughter has danced here for years and loves it. The positive attitude of the wonderful teachers permeates down to the students providing a safe and energized place for learning the art of dance. Their choreography is exciting and fun and the halls are filled with music and the positive reinforcement of teamwork, hardwork, and positive body image. I love this studio for how it is helping shape my daughter.
Response from the owner:Thanks for your review. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
Rootz has been a dynamic enrichment center from day one. Whether taking art, fashion, or dance, the experiences have been transformative for both of my children. The classes and instructors are creative, nurturing, and fun. The other families that send their children to Rootz are exceptionally kind and supportive. Lifelong friendships are being made at both the kid and parent levels.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words. We are grateful to have you at Rootz!
My daughter has been dancing at Rootz for the past ten years. The staff and teachers at Rootz work hard to make the environment supportive, fun, and creative! She has learned so much over the years and always felt like her teachers cared about her and wanted her to succeed! Rootz feels like a second home. I highly recommend the program at Rootz, and you will not find better teachers anywhere else in the area!
Response from the owner:Thank you Alayna. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
Rootz has been such a special place for both my almost four year old and one year old. They both love the dance classes and gym jam classes! Tori and Jordyn are our favorite people! Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback. We hope that your family will continue to have a great experience!
My girls absolutely love all the classes they’ve done at Rootz - and we’ve basically done them all. The teachers are wonderful.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
This place and the people who work there are the BEST!!! My daughter has been taking a wide range of classes here since she was 3 and has continued to grow each and every year. She currently is in Tumbling III and Hip Hop Compete this year and can’t wait to do more Performance Hip Hop stuff next year! She continues to get better and can’t wait to perform at the Bulls game again in a few short weeks….her ultimate fav🥰. We wouldn’t go anywhere else.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
Rootz has completely exceeded my expectations. My 8yo loves it. It is her happy place. She not only signs up for classes with friends from school but has made friendships with kids from other schools and she adores the instructors. This past year I was nervous as her competition dance practices are longer she could get burned out but she has so much fun. She has never asked to miss and its sometimes hard to pull her away from her team at pick up. I’m grateful for the environment the instructors have created there.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
The teachers and staff are best in class. My daughter has been with the core staff going on 10 years and she has not only grown in skill, but in confidence and maturity as well. The owners and management foster a creative & compassionate environment at Rootz. From age 2 to age 12; we have relationships with teachers who take pride in their craft and in their students. Extra curriculars for our kids come and go; yet Rootz is somewhere you’ll want to grow with and stay. I look forward to watching her shine at Rootz for years to come.
Response from the owner:Thanks for your kind words. We appreciate having your family at Rootz!
We are incredibly grateful to have discovered Rootz. After relocating to the area in 2020, my cousin recommended Rootz, and it has been a game-changer for us. We've explored a variety of their offerings- recital dance, dance performance, boys hip hop, camps, theater, improv, and the fitness ninja classes. Both my daughter and son have grown remarkably in each program- in skill and confidence- and have felt nurtured by the kind, fun teachers at Rootz. We love Rootz!
Response from the owner:Thanks for your kind words. We are grateful to have you at Rootz!
This place has been amazing for our family! Madison runs weekly Ninja class which both of my sons attend. My oldest is Autistic and Madison is simply amazingly inclusive. We tell everyone who will listen (and some who don't) how wonderful Rootz is! how wonderful Madison is!
Response from the owner:Thank you for you kind words. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
The best theater and dance classes!!
Response from the owner:Thank you Jacqueline. We are grateful to have your family as customers!
Classes at Rootz are the highlight of my daughter's week!! This year she was enrolled in two classes and one turned out to be not a great fit because all the other dancers were much younger than her. So the team at Rootz helped us find a better fit for her and now she's thriving in both the classes she's taking. Her teachers are kind, fun, patient and always guide her with new & challenging but achievable goals. She has made new friends and is always proud of the what she's working on in class. Could not ask for a better dance studio!
Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to post a review. We appreciate your feedback and more importantly we appreciate having your family at Rootz!
My children love their dance and broadway classes at Rootz! We have been taking classes there for years and have always had wonderful, caring, and creative teachers!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words. We appreciate having your family at Rootz!
My children love going to her classes here. The staff is all so friendly and they have so many classes available.
Response from the owner:Thank you Stephanie! We are grateful to have your family at Rootz.
My kids have been taking classes at Rootz since it opened its doors. There is a wide variety of class options - my kids often joke that they live there! Rootz is a nurturing, encouraging and happy environment! The staff is very approachable and accommodating. I’m so happy we have this wonderful facility in our community.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much Dayna. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
My kids love Rootz and all the wonderful classes they take there! Dance, sewing, yoga, they always are excited to go and have the best time.
Response from the owner:Thank you Rebecca. We are grateful to have you and your family at Rootz!
Rootz has great programs geared to all ages! We have loved a variety of classes over the years, and the caring teachers have kept us dancing there!
Response from the owner:Thank you. We appreciate having your family at Rootz!
Every kid should come to Rootz for a magical experience! From their dance to yoga to theater classes - they have it all! The staff and instructors are incredible and really connect with your child! You won’t be disappointed! So many class options and times for the kids!
Response from the owner:Thank you! We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
We've had such a wonderful experience at Rootz over the last few years. The instructors and staff are amazing and talented, and they've created such a warm and welcoming environment for our children. Lisa, Jordyn, and Rory are a big reason why my daughters love it there so much! They have a great variety of classes depending upon your interests, and my three girls have taken various dance classes, as well as Broadway and Mommy & Me classes. If you live anywhere on the North Shore, I highly recommend checking it out!
Response from the owner:We are grateful to have your family with us the past few years and look forward to many more!
We love Rootz! Our children have taken a variety of classes here throughout the last several years and we've had a wonderful experience. Lisa is very helpful, friendly, and has great communication. Miss Jordyn is a true gem and has taught dance to our daughters since they could walk. She is a teacher like no other and has brought such joy to our girls and our entire family through dance. She is kind, calm, patient, and devoted to her dancers. We have also had a great experience with Miss Robin's yoga classes as she has helped our children learn to calm themselves as well as challenge themselves to try new things. Overall, we have had great experiences at Rootz and encourage others to try it out!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words. We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
From dancing to acting, Rootz has been the perfect after-school activity center for my 5 year old daughter. She absolutely loves Broadway Bound and she has become so confident and outgoing from the experience and staff at Rootz. I highly recommend this class! Rootz also offers several dance classes and this is also a weekly favorite!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback. We are grateful to have you and your family as a customer!
Rootz has been amazing for our kids! It continues to provide them with confidence, imagination and friendships.
Response from the owner:Thank you! We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
Both of my kids have taken classes here and absolutely love it! It’s our favorite place for after (or before) school activities!!
Response from the owner:Thank you! We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
Amazing teachers and friendly environment for both parents and students.
It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm of the students!
We had my daughter's 8th birthday party yesterday at Rootz. It was awesome. Completely turn key from booking to day of they took care of everything. The dance party was fantastic - they asked for a list of songs in advance and played them all. I highly recommend Rootz for any party or occasion. The facility is BEAUTIFUL and the people are great to work with.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much Lisa!
The BEST of the BEST! Lindsay & the entire staff are AMAZING! My boys absolutely love it (us too) CHELLO is one of a kind!
Staff was very helpful and friendly. Kids had so much fun!
Response from the owner:Alisa: Thanks for the great review. We're glad the kids all had fun!
The birthday party I threw here with the dance teachers was wonderful! I let them know that it was a princess themed party and the teacher, Jen, had very cute, princess oriented activities and songs. She went above and beyond. My 4 year old daughter loved it and so did her friends!
Response from the owner:Antonia: Thanks for the nice review. We're glad you and your daughter were happy!
We love it here, the staff is very friendly and there are so many options of different classes you can take!
What an amazing job the ROOTZ staff did with our group of 8 and 9 year olds! They are the most accepting, nurturing activity leaders around. They make every kid feel special, and draw out individualized talents. HOORAY!
Response from the owner:Thank you! We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
We love Rootz as the improved reincarnation of Starland. Between the two, my daughter has been taking musical theater classes there for four years and she absolutely loves it!
We find the instruction to be top notch but also incredibly nurturing. The facilities at Rootz are much improved over those at Starland. It has a gorgeous theater, complete with light and sound.
We find the instruction to be top notch but also incredibly nurturing. The facilities at Rootz are much improved over those at Starland. It has a gorgeous theater, complete with light and sound.
Response from the owner:Thanks for your support Andrea. We love having you and your family!
Rootz has the most amazing theater program for kids. My daughter can’t wait for the days she has Rootz. From the warm greeting you receive walking into Rootz to the huge smiles my daughter and her friends have after class warms my heart.
Response from the owner:Thank you! We are grateful to have your family at Rootz!
Great place and space! Here for We Got This networking group.
Everyone is so wonderful and easy to work with.
I hosted a joint birthday party for my 4 year old and 2 year old at Rootz. The party was perfect! Rootz made the entire process seamless, organized and easy. Rootz took care of coordinating the dj, balloon person and the food. Day of the party the Rootz staff was there at every turn to make sure everything ran smoothly including helping with set up, clean up and serving lunch and dessert! I was able to just focus on enjoying the party and both of my kids had the best time! I highly recommend Rootz as a party venue!
I had my daughter's 4th birthday party at rootz and it couldn't have been more perfect. My daughter wanted a dj party for her birthday and it was everything she was hoping for. The staff at Rootz went above and beyond. From helping me set up all of my decorations that I brought to offering to cut the cake, to making sure everything was perfect. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone that wants to be taken care of fully and would have another party here in a heartbeat!
Had an amazing birthday party at Rootz today! �
Beautiful venue with great and professional staff. We very much enjoyed to providing Photo Magnets for all guests. Please feel free to check out the pictures from this fun event: On The Spot Photo Magnets for ALL Events!
I have two very happy ballerinas who are so excited to be dancing at Rootz! The space is beautiful, the staff is caring and all of the kids running around have smiles on their faces. Thanks for bringing this great facility to the area!
Love the staff and facility! Great classes and my daughter loves it!
What an amazing facility with a kind and nurturing staff!! So excited to have my daughter there!
This place is so amazing and we are so excited to be part of it this fall. Looking forward to growing our kids with Rootz! Thank you Matt and Lindsay for doing all this for the community.
