Y’s North Suburban School of Dance honored with "Class Act" Award

August 2024: The North Suburban YMCA’s, North Suburban School of Dance (NSSOD) Company ended a great season receiving many awards and performing at a variety of competitions and performances including Six Flags Dance Fest, Glenview Holiday Parade, and their own “Home Show” at the Loyola Academy McGrath Family Performing Arts Center.

This year the Inspired, Momentum and Competitive Company dancers took part in four competitions this past spring/summer across the Chicagoland area. Earning high Gold and Platinum awards along with receiving multiple special judges' awards and placement in the top overalls for several of their categories.

The highlight of the dance season was earning the “Class Act” award at the Revolution Dance Competition. The “Class Act” was presented to the NSSOD studio for displaying good sportsmanship, spirit and attitude during the competition.

The NSSOD Competitive Company dancers also had an exciting opportunity to perform with Thwack Dance this summer at a free community event in Chicago. Val Lober, the NSYMCA and NSSOD’s Performing Arts Director, dances and serves on the board of Thwack Dance, a Chicago based professional dance company, and was honored with a Chicago Neighborhood Cultural Spotlight award. This award features people, places and organizations nominated by Chicagoans for their cultural contribution to their neighborhood’s vitality.

Thwack Dance will be featured this year in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Welcome Center along with seven other 2024 award winners. Located in Chase Park in Uptown, Thwack aims to serve under-resourced neighborhoods on Chicago's North and Northwest sides. The organization’s mission is to offer free, professional dance concerts to public parks in the city, as well as low-cost dance lessons for adults.

“I perform and chose to be on the Board of Thwack Dance because their values closely resemble our mission here at the NSYMCA,” exclaims Val Lober, NSYMCA Performing Arts Director. “I am also honored that the Y’s NSSOD dancers were asked to open and perform for this company and look forward to collaborating with them again in the future,” continues Lober. “Opportunities like these educate our youth that the performing arts should be made available to all, regardless of ability to pay, where someone lives or even age.”

Lober, has been the Y’s Performing Arts Director for over 2 years after serving as a program coordinator. She found her love for teaching dance while earning her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Western Michigan University. Lober has spent the past 16 + years mentoring youth through her artistry and passion for dance and currently dances for both Thwack Dance and Lucid Banter Project in Chicago.

“I found my dream job here at the Y where I feel like I pay it forward every day, through teaching expression, confidence, leadership, resilience and lifelong friendships to name a few, ” says Lober. “The Y is such a wonderfully inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment for youth to learn, grow, and find their passion. I am so proud to be part of this organization and contribute to our mission in serving our community.”

The North Suburban School of Dance (NSSOD) offers a multitude of performing arts classes from preschool to adult including ballet, ballet: pointe, contemporary modern, jazz, tap, Poms, musical theatre, hip hop, adult tap and ballet and much more. For more information about the NSSOD and the NSYMCA please visit nsymca.org or email Val Lober, Performing Arts Director at vlober@nsymca.org.

About the North Suburban YMCA:

The North Suburban YMCA services Northbrook and 14 surrounding communities with programs and tools that help its residents become healthier, more connected, and confident, ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, income, or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. The NSYMCA focuses on Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility and is a charitable organization, inclusive and welcoming to all in our community.