Jennifer VanEekeren is a Chicago native who fell in love with ballet at a young age. She studied at The Boitsov School of Classical Ballet, Ruth Page, Ballet Chicago and The Joel Hall Dance Center. After being sidelined by knee injuries, Jennifer shifted her focus to Pilates and fitness. While earning her B.A. in Communications at Loyola University Chicago  she taught dance and exercise classes to students and faculty and later taught classes to undergraduate students at The George Washington University in DC. She completed Pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute as well as Barre certification through Fletcher Pilates and personal training through ACE. Jennifer taught in various clubs in Chicago and DC before starting her family. Jen lives with her children in Roscoe Village. She has been home for the past 14 years and is thrilled to return to teaching again. She is honored to teach  at Ballet Chicago not only because she is an alum but also two of her children are current students.