Miss Andrea’s Dance Factory celebrating 35th years while stepping up the love of dance

Miss Andrea’s Dance Factory and owner Andrea Abbott are celebrating 35 years while stepping  up the love of dance. 

Abbott is a 1991 graduate of Hononegah Community High School who remains grounded in her roots. 

Abbott’s personal experience started when she was five years old after her parents encouraged her to go to dancing school. At home Miss Andrea and her family danced together many times.

She took lessons at Forest Hills Dance Academy and had the honor of learning dance from Sheri Greenfield, who was a beloved dance, flags and cheer coach at HCHS.

In high school Abbott was an Indian and a team captain. 

Before becoming a dance teacher, Abbott had initially started college to become a flight nurse. 

While in college she had a change of heart which landed  her a long career where she has followed her passion. 

After years of personal training Mueller taught dance at the Beloit YMCA in the fall of 1992. 

The dancers were moved to the WIN Center in 1998. When the WIN Center was unable to keep itself afloat Abbott opened her very first studio on Saint Lawrence Avenue in Beloit. Opening day was Oct. 1, 1999. The first competitive team started that year with six dancers. 

Currently MADF exists in two locations, on Blackhawk Blvd. In Rockton and inside the Gymnastics Academy of Rockford.  

Today MADF has had as many as 300 students in a season who learn from a staff of 15 qualified teachers. 

The studio welcomes male and female dancers starting as young as one year and half  up to adult. 

MADF is  inviting and welcoming new members into the tribe. 

Aspiring dancers are certain to benefit from Abbott’s  and her staff’s experience with being invited to  an open house at 624 N. Blackhawk Blvd. in Rockton on Aug. 20

From 4-9 p.m. those who sign up for new classes will receive special discounts, raffles for free dance classes,  a chance to choose dance attire to buy, and the one and only opportunity to purchase a MADF 35th anniversary t-shirt, plus many more surprises. 

In Miss Andrea’s studios students learn ballet, and ballet pointe, tap, jazz,  musical theater, modern/lyrical contemporary, hip/hop, Pom Pom, tumbling, plus other unique classes such as Mommy and Me, Yoga, Pilates, Senior Citizen  and Adult ballet. 

Students have a Christmas show, a spring recital and a team winter showcase, each displaying an array of talent levels, while always bringing  fun and pizzazz to the stage. 

MADF has three levels of recreational dance and six levels of team dance. Every year students go into competitions, which vary from season to season. 

Featured are soloists, duets, and different sized groups. 

MADF has a 65 member traveling competition team who just competed in Orange Beach Alabama this summer. The team brought home first place for their “All Team Production” routine

The important components of dance competitions are a strong technical base, good choreography and entertainment quality.

The  MADF tribe has experienced memorable moments together. On May 30, 2026  the tribe had the opportunity to meet Abby Lee Miller of the show Dance Moms. Abbott and Miller teamed up to host  a special regional dance workshop and technique class at Willowbrook School in South Beloit. 

Abbott said, “Meeting Abby Lee Miller was crazy. I didn’t want to do it at first because I know that not everybody agrees with the way she teaches and mentors young kids. 

It really was an amazing honor just to be in her presence and to watch and listen to how she teaches, it is very inspiring.”

MADF has upheld the tradition of giving back to the community on a consistent basis. “When we give back to the community we give kids something to do, an activity for them to get involved in that benefits them both physically and emotionally  that has awesome results, “Abbott says. 

One of the examples where MADF helping others applies is at the Old Stone Church Food Pantry. They have also made a difference in  projects and drives that are beneficial to others.  

MADF adds sparkle and pure entertainment while participating  in local parades.

MADF keeps stepping  up the love of dance with  35 years under their feet and more years of dancing to come!