Like many other girls who grew up in Naperville, Lindsey Gapen began dancing at age 4, in the Park District’s recital dance program. She still remembers the tutus and how special she felt wearing the angel costume with wings. Dance was one activity among many for Lindsey, including all kinds of sports that she enjoyed, but not a season went by without dancing. As time pressure and commitments increased in high school, Lindsey had to choose between traveling soccer and dance. She chose dance.

“I always kept dancing,” said Lindsey in a recent interview with Melissa Sallée, artistic director for the Naperville Park District’s Élan Dance Company (formerly the Concert Dance Ensemble). “And I liked the people in our dance program.  We are like a family; everyone is genuine. There’s a lot less drama here,” she said.

Lindsey is a 2011 graduate of Neuqua Valley High School and has been a member of Élan Dance Company for four years. When Lindsey joined, the dance company was divided into two groups: ballet and jazz. At the same time, Melissa Sallée came to the Park District to direct the ballet company. Lindsey preferred jazz and was in the jazz group. The following year, Sallée assumed leadership of the entire Company and combined the ballet and jazz companies. When she had the opportunity to work with Lindsey on the eel dance for SOS Trouble in the Trench, Sallée noticed that Lindsey learned quickly. “I saw that Lindsey was a sponge,” said Melissa. She also saw that Lindsey would be able to grow quickly as an artist with individualized attention and more instruction in classical ballet.

Lindsey took a ballet class from Sallée in the summer and began to absorb not only the technique, but also the philosophy of learning that guides Sallée’s instruction and artistic direction in the Élan Dance Company.

“The instructors in our dance program focus on the individual, to help them become the best they can be,” said Sallée. “We do this through offering diverse dance styles, just as our dancers are diverse, and through informal but intentional mentoring,” she explained. 

Lindsey flourished as a dancer under Sallée’s mentorship, progressing in her dance technique and artistic expression. “Our dance company isn’t competitive,” said Lindsey. “I like it that way. In school, they teach dance as a sport, but here it’s an art,” she said. 

As she approached her senior year, Lindsey wanted to explore the role of choreographer in addition to dancer. Lindsey and another dancer had an idea for a piece and brought it to Sallée.  They worked on the piece and held auditions for the roles.  It was performed in the 2011 Spring Showcase, entitled, “Contagious”, and was set to “Us” by Regina Spektor.

The challenge of choreographing a piece and directing others to perform it was another growing experience for Lindsey. “There’s a difference between choreography and dance— choreography is harder; you have to be in charge of the rehearsals. You realize how difficult people can be unintentionally.  It was a really good experience for me,” she reflected. 

Although her senior year in Élan has ended, Lindsey’s involvement with dance continues. This summer she is teaching two pre-ballet classes and a pre-tap class in the Park District’s Dance Academy.  In the fall, she will attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she hopes to include dance as a part of her life.

Lindsey Gapen. Photo by Melissa Sallée.

Lindsey Gapen and Melissa Sallée

Looking back on her experience over the past four years in Élan Dance Company, Lindsey‘s favorite memories came from being more involved during her senior year.  “Having the dancers tell me that they liked our piece, ‘Contagious’, made me happy.  Melissa has faith in us.  We work hard on things like lifts, and Melissa makes us do it until we get it,” said Lindsey. “ It feels so good!”

From Melissa’s perspective, she is thrilled to see students like Lindsey transition from receiving instruction to becoming a role model themselves. 

“It’s therapeutic to have a single focus, such as dance,” said Melissa.  “Kids live complicated lives.  In dance, they are fully present.”

Photo by Jessica James.