Peoria Academy of Dance and Art

06/15/2026

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

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…

04/30/2026

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!

04/25/2026

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

04/20/2026

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.

04/14/2026

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

04/06/2026

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