About Embody Dance

Our Mission

Embody offers its dancers high quality dance instruction through a codified dance program that embraces the value of technique and performance. Our mission is to develop strong technical dancers that are capable of performing with strong artistry.

What Is The Collective?

Embody Dance Collective is our class based school training program. It is open to dancers ages 3-18 from a variety of dance levels. There is no audition to join the Collective — every dancer who wants to train is welcome.

Why Embody Exists

After 12 years of teaching, Miss JacLyn Allott set out to build something different: a place where dancers are trained with technique, artistry, and confidence through individualized attention.

Embody Dance Collective was created to deliver dance education the way it should be — thoughtful, empowering, and built for long-term growth.

Who We Are

Embody is built for dancers across the full range — from recreational to pre-professional. A dancer who takes one class a week for the joy of it and a dancer training six days a week for a college audition both belong here, and both get the same quality of instruction.

Our program has helped nourish a lifelong love of dance. Students have carried their training into musical theatre, high school and collegiate dance teams, and professional-track college programs.

For dancers who want to take their training further, we have Embody Dance Company — an audition-based performance and competition group that trains and competes at a regional and national level. Company dancers come from the Collective.

Embody Dance Collective is where students learn. Embody Dance Company is where the most dedicated dancers train for the future. 

Embody Dance Company alumni have gone on to train at:

• The Juilliard School

• University of Arizona

• Florida State University

• Western Michigan University

• Fordham University / The Ailey School

  School of American Ballet

Meet Our Founder

JacLyn Allott grew up in Plainfield, IL. As a competition dancer, JacLyn received multiple regional and national titles, such as Starbound’s Miss Star of Hope and Starbound’s National Duet Champion for Widows of War. In addition, she received numerous scholarships from Co. Dance, KAR, and Hollywood Vibe. She had the honor to be a Hollywood Vibe’s LA Agency Finalist in 2013.

JacLyn graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northern Illinois University with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance. She studied ballet, pointe,  contemporary, jazz, Horton technique, post modern, musical theater, tap, and improvisation. Her roles at N.I.U. performances include classical ballets such as Les Sylphides, Swan Lake (Big Swan) and Raymonda (Soloist). In addition to her ballet training, she had featured musical theatre roles in Fosse’s Steam Heat and Mexican Breakfast. Also, she had solo roles in the modern pieces such as A Joy that Kills, Silly Love Songs and Voices in Light. In 2015, JacLyn was selected to perform the world renowned choreographer Bill T. Jones’ piece Spent Days Out Yonder. In the past summers, JacLyn had trained with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, River North Dance Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago performing works by world renowned choreographers, such as Gus Giordano, Ivan Perez, Adam Burrach, Sherry Zunker, and Becca Lemme.

In addition to her performance experience, JacLyn choreographs around the Chicago area. Her  dance work United We Stand was selected to perform for the American College Dance Association. She was selected to choreograph for Inaside's Choreographic Scholarship Event in 2018. 

Throughout 2021 and 2025, JacLyn choreographed multiple solo and group pieces that placed first at competitions such as YAGP, Universal Ballet Competition, NYCDA, and NUVO.  In 2025, JacLyn was awarded the “Best Choreography” Award at Universal Ballet Competition’s regional event.

Every piece JacLyn creates is intentionally crafted around the individual dancer—prioritizing growth, artistry, and long-term development. Working with JacLyn offers a truly personalized training experience.

As a teacher, JacLyn has 11 years of experience. She has worked at multiple schools such as The Dance Artist Prep, Elise Flagg Academy of Dance, Dreams Dance Academy, and Dream Contemporary Dance. Her coaching grew with the creation of Embody Dance Company in 2020.

In addition to her BFA in Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University, she furthered her training as a teacher by receiving her American Ballet Theatre teaching certification for Levels Pre-Primary through Level 3.

In 2024, JacLyn received the Outstanding Contemporary Coaching Awards from the Universal Ballet Competition.

JacLyn hopes to instill positivity, work ethic, and passion in her students as young dancers and young individuals.