Ms. Jennifer Grapes is a celebrated former principal ballerina, master instructor, and visionary founder of the award-winning Hinsdale Dance Academy (HDA) in Chicago, Illinois. Under her leadership, HDA grew into the largest dance-designated facility in Chicagoland and earned a national reputation as one of the region’s premier ballet academies.

Ms. Grapes distinguished performance career includes engagements with elite professional companies such as Milwaukee Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Albany Berkshire Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, and Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Theatre. Her breadth of experience across classical and contemporary genres has deeply informed her innovative teaching and artistic direction.

During her tenure at HDA, Ms. Grapes mentored hundreds of young dancers to success at the highest levels of competition and training. Her students have garnered top honors at prestigious events including ADC/IBC, UBC, WBC, and Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). More than 100 of her protégés have qualified for the YAGP New York City International Finals—where over 15,000 dancers audition annually—with several placing in top ranks, even earning a coveted bronze medal.

Thanks to her expert coaching and artistic vision, her students have been accepted into elite training programs and institutions worldwide, including the American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Austin, BalletMet, Ballet West, Boston Ballet, Butler University, English National Ballet, Houston Ballet, Indiana University, Milwaukee Ballet, University of Northern Illinois Paris Opera Ballet, Point Park University, Princess Grace Academy, San Francisco Ballet, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and more. Numerous alumni have gone on to professional careers with prestigious companies such as the Albany Berkshire Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, BalletMet, Finnish National Ballet, Houston Ballet, Kentucky Ballet Theatre, Lexington Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Royal Danish Ballet, among others.

A prolific choreographer and artistic director, Ms. Grapes has staged five full-length classical ballets for HDA—The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Giselle, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Little Mermaid—as well as 43 original spring dance concert productions, demonstrating her commitment to both tradition and creative excellence.

Her exceptional contributions to the art of dance have earned her numerous accolades, including the Youth America Grand Prix Outstanding Teacher Award (2021, 2024), the Outstanding School Award (2018), and the honor of being named Power Woman of the Year by Hinsdale Living magazine in 2021.  Ms. Grapes is thrilled to return to her hometown, where she aims to elevate classical ballet and ignite a passion for the art form in Kansas City’s youth through her distinctive approach to teaching and mentorship