Peoria Academy of Dance and Art

Wow! A huge thank you to WMBD for this beautiful feature on the Academy! We are incredibly grateful to our amazing students, families, and everyone behind the scenes who helps make this dream a reality every day.

*A side note to clear up a slight mix-up in the segment—while I did attend Bradley University for a bit, I didn’t actually graduate from there. I ultimately chose to step away from traditional higher education. As a homeschool alum, I realized that pursuing mentorship and an independent path of study was the best fit for my goals of becoming a working artist 😊—Kyla

Everybody’s Got a Story: Peoria Academy of Dance and Art Kyla Cadwell has launched the Peoria Academy of Dance and Art to offer affordable arts opportunities to the Peoria community, including art, dance, drama, improv, vocal technique, speech, and debat…

First Friday Process Art: Botanical Printing

Join us tomorrow from 5:30–6:30 PM for a process art class. We’ll be exploring botanical beauty through freeform printing, using ink and fresh spring plants to experiment with composition and dimension.

To celebrate First Friday and the spring season this class is free for all current punch card holders. If you don’t have a card, you can drop in for $15 or purchase a new punch card to take advantage of the offer.

Pre-registration required for all participants at https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/art

It’s going to be a great evening of creative exploration—we hope to see you there!

We’re excited to celebrate the spring season with a brand-new lineup of Process Art classes inspired by nature. New classes added weekly!

Come get creative with us for just $15 per person—or grab a punch card for the best value!
Check out the full schedule and register at https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/art

-Saturday, April 25th-9:30-10:30 am-Flower Pounding-Spring Violet Art
-No Process Art on Sunday, April 26th-Closed for Goldilocks Performance!
-Thursday, April 30th-11:00-12:00 pm-Flower Pounding-Spring Violet Art
-Friday, May 1st-5:30-6:30 pm-Ink and Nature-Spring Plant Printmaking
-Saturday, May 2nd-9:00-10:00 am-Ink and Nature-Spring Plant Printmaking
-Sunday, May 3rd-3:00-4:00 pm-Ink and Nature-Spring Plant Printmaking
-Thursday, May 7th-11:00-12:00 pm-Ink and Nature-Spring Plant Printmaking

We are thrilled to be a part of this event showcasing so many historic treasures , including our very own Mill!

Our friends at the Peoria Historical Society are debuting one of the coolest weekends of the year — Hidden Peoria.

May 2–3 (11AM–5PM), they’re unlocking the doors to some of Peoria’s coolest buildings — giving you rare, behind-the-scenes access to spots you’ve probably driven past a hundred times but never stepped inside. Move at your own pace, pop into guided or self-guided tours, and explore downtown in a whole new way.

Here’s what you’ll get to check out:

Converse Marketing, Inc. — A modern creative agency inside a historic downtown space. Old bones, fresh ideas.
Distillery Labs — Startup hub meets innovation playground. A glimpse at where Peoria’s next big ideas are being built. (Saturday only)
416 Main — Downtown living, leveled up. Clean, renovated apartments inside a classic building.
Peoria's GAR Hall - The Greenhut Memorial — A Civil War-era landmark packed with history and character.
Janssen Law Center — Historic architecture reimagined for today — another great example of downtown reinvestment.
The Mill — Industrial past turned modern space in the heart of the Warehouse District.
Murray Building — Home base for the weekend. Start here, grab your wristband and map, then go explore.
Peoria City Hall (City of Peoria Illinois - Government) — Step inside the city’s home base. Bonus: this one’s free. (Saturday only)
Pop-A-Shot — Yes, that Pop-A-Shot. Headquartered in Peoria and still making buckets worldwide.
Creve Coeur Club of Peoria — One of the oldest private clubs in the country. Classic, elegant, and rarely open to the public.
Sacred Heart Church — Stunning architecture and one of the most beautiful interiors in the city.
Sealtest Building — Another Warehouse District transformation — from industrial roots to modern use.
University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria — A behind-the-scenes look at one of the region’s biggest drivers of healthcare and innovation. (Saturday only)

Start your tour at Murray Place (100 Walnut St), check in, grab your wristband, and go wherever the day takes you.

This is one of those “you didn’t know Peoria had this?” kind of weekends. Grab your tickets here: https://309tix.com/events/hidden-peoria-2026-5-3-2026.

Have a kid that likes to act out? Come and join our drama!

Our classes provide a nurturing, fun, and safe environment for students to step out of their comfort zone and into the spotlight. Come unleash your creativity, make friends, and find your voice. Register today for a drop in session!

Beginning Drama-Thursday: 6:15-7:15
Intro to improv-
Thursday 7:15-7:45

https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/dramavocalspeechanddebate

There's still time to join us for Spring Break Pottery and Art Camp! Come for one day or all five!

April 6-10
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Ages 5 and up
$60/day or $250 for the whole week

Visit https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/specialevents for more information and to register

There is still time to register for our Spring Break Pottery and Art Camp. Come for one day or all five!
April 6th-10th
$60/day or $250 for all 5 days
Sign up at https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/specialevents

Can't make it to camp? Come experience art making at one of our upcoming classes!

Process Art: Squeegee Painting-Eggs and Bunnies!
Thursday, April 2nd-11:00-12:00
Saturday, April 4rd-9:30-10:30 am
Sunday, April 5th-3:00-4:00 pm

Process Art: Cyanotypes-Printing with the Sun!
Thursday, April 9th-11:00-12:00
Friday, April 10th-4:00-5:00 pm
Saturday, April 11th-9:30-10:30 am
Sunday, April 12th-3:00-4:00 pm

Handbuilding 101-Pinch Pot Carved Eggs:
Saturday, April 4th-10:30-12:00 pm
Sunday, April 5th-4:00-5:30 pm

Red-Iron Oxide Classes-Paint with Rust:
Saturday, April 4th-12:00-1:30 pm
Sunday, April 5th-5:30-7:00 pm
Friday, April 10th-6:30-8:00 pm
Saturday, April 11th-12:00-1:30 pm
Sunday, April 12th-5:30-7:00 pm

Find out more and register at
https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/art

Unleash your creativity at our Red Iron Oxide Painting Workshops.
Learn Kyla’s signature method for transforming simple ceramic surfaces into earthy works of art using actual rust. You’ll paint two flat slabs during the session, which can be turned into custom ornaments or magnets to take home. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or have never touched a brush, this unique process is the perfect way to dive into a new medium.

Saturday, March 28th-7:00-8:30 pm

Sunday, March 29th-1:30-3:00 pm

Saturday, April 4th-12:00-1:30 pm

Sunday, April 5th-5:30-7:00 pm

Friday, April 10th-6:30-8:00 pm

Saturday, April 11th-12:00-1:30 pm

Sunday, April 12th-5:30-7:00 pm

Price: $22/participant or 1 & 1/2 punches on your punch card (best value) See our pricing page for more information on our punch card system

Pre-registration required

Find out more and register at https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/art

Spring Break Pottery and Art Camp!!

Join the Peoria Academy of Dance and Art for an exciting Spring Break Art Camp at Wheel Art Pottery Studios!

Students receive quality art instruction in a relaxed and supportive environment, exploring various mediums and techniques, making art to celebrate the season.

Ages Welcome: 5–17 years old-all experience levels(Younger students accepted on a case-by-case basis-please reach out with questions)

Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm daily (3-4:00 add-on available)
Location: Wheel Art Pottery Studios

Dates & Pricing:

You may register for individual days or for the entire session:
Monday, April 6th
Tuesday, April 7th
Wednesday, April 8th
Thursday, April 9th
Friday, April 10th

Cost:
$60 per day
$250 if registering for all five days (a $50 savings)

What to Expect:
Each day of the camp offers a dynamic schedule of creative exploration:

Ceramic Arts: Each day students will either learn to throw on the pottery wheels or hand build with clay, covering the basics of ceramic art and receiving demonstrations of fun seasonal projects.

Diverse Art Forms: In addition to pottery, each day introduces another exciting art form, such as drawing, painting, fiber arts, or repurposed art projects.

Expert Guidance: All students, especially those with previous camp experience, are encouraged to explore their own creative paths within the mediums, supported by expert guidance from professional artists.

Register at https://www.peoriaacademyofdanceandart.com/specialevents

The Peoria Academy of Dance and Art is a proud member of the Peoria RiverFront Association/Visit Downtown Peoria. We are thrilled to participate in our very first neighborhood event: the Bunny Hop Scavenger Hunt this Saturday! We invite you to explore our studios and discover the other fantastic businesses throughout our historic Warehouse District. Pre-registration required for this fun free event!