708.447.0700
GO BEYOND
YOUR POTENTIAL
Our mission is to provide exceptional dance instruction for children and adults of all ages and experience levels. Our faculty of hardworking and enthusiastic professional instructors are committed to sharing their teachings in a safe and comfortable learning environment to ensure our clients not only achieve their goals, but reach beyond them.
Owner & Artistic Director of Beyond Words Dance Center,
Beyond Words Dance Company, The Kate Jablonski Statement, & Camp Kate
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Kate began her professional career training in New York City as a member of Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Program. Under the direction of Wes Veldink, this scholarship allowed Kate to work alongside some of the greatest teachers and choreographers on the East Coast.
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In 2007, Kate began using YouTube as a platform to share her choreography. What started out as a dancer keepsake quickly reached 1 million views and continued to grow. Now, Kate (or katieshmatee) has attracted over 59,000 subscribers and over 20 million views from around the world. While becoming a worldwide phenomenon, Kate had been given the opportunity to teach and choreograph internationally for dance companies in Canada, England, France, Germany, Holland, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, and Italy. Kate’s animated teaching style has allowed her to break language barriers while traveling abroad.
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In 2009, Kate received the prestigious Gold Leo’s Award through Jazz Dance World Congress. Also in 2009, she was chosen as a finalist in the Capezio A.C.E. Awards for Choreographic Excellence. As first runner-up at the event, she debuted her professional dance show, “Beyond Words,” at New World Stages in Manhattan in July of 2010.
Kate founded Beyond Words Dance Company in the fall of 2009. The program, training dancers ages 7-18, has fostered a positive learning environment while instilling values of commitment, responsibility, and work ethic. This youth company has received accolades from prestigious teachers and choreographers in the industry.
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In 2011, EMI Records produced Brit Award winner, Laura Marling’s music video “I Was Just A Card”. Alongside Brian Lipchik, Kate co-directed and choreographed the video featuring members of Beyond Words. Also in 2011, Kate was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine in Zachary Whittenburg’s article, “Piece by Piece: Tips for First-Time Choreographers”. In 2013, Kate was highlighted in Dance Teacher Magazine article, “A New Generation – Nine Studio Owners Under 40” as the youngest entrepreneur on the list. Camp Kate was founded in the summer of 2010. The annual three-day intensive brings hundreds of students from all over the world to Chicago to experience Kate’s unique teaching style. In the summer of 2013, the intensive expanded to its first international city in Liverpool for Camp Kate UK!
In 2012, The Kate Jablonski Statement, a professional company, was founded. The company has allowed continuing dancers ages 18 and up to train with Kate and experience a professional atmosphere while performing at prestigious Chicago events and in Kate’s original full-length productions. Performances by Beyond Words and The Statement earned Kate the title of Dance Chicago’s Choreographer of the Year in 2013. Dance Chicago then sponsored Kate’s production of “Tabula Rasa” at the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago in May of 2014. Due to the overwhelming response, two encore performances debuted soon after at Beyond Words Dance Center. Kate continues to inspire young dancers and choreographers around the world with movement that transcends all barriers.
Miss Mickey's Dancers
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Miss Mickey has taught thousands of tiny dancers over the past twenty years. Her greatest reward as a teacher is bringing children out of their shells and building self-esteem. Miss Mickey possesses a unique talent and ability to make even the most hesitant of children feel comfortable and at ease. She is thrilled to share her passion for dance and children with the community.
Go Beyond Performance Group
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Megan graduated summa cum laude from East Carolina University, where she received a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts. She began her dance career at the age of three and has professional experience in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and gymnastics. Megan has been a company member of The Kate Jablonski Statement for several years. In 2018, she founded her adult dance company, Peckish Rhodes.
Beyond Words Dance Company​
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For over twenty years, Karin has trained dancers of all levels in ballet at various studios throughout Chicago. Over the years, she has studied from such notable dancers at Lou Conte, Claire Bataille, Warren Conover, Biruie Bardodicaite and more. Karin’s main goals are to help students learn proper technique and body alignment as well as support and encourage them to discover their own artistry.
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