Hi everyone! My name is Amber Saraceno and I am the proud Owner and Artistic Director of Expression Dance Studio! I have loved everything about dance since I was a little girl. I grew up dancing at studios in the Chicago suburbs, trained with numerous professional teachers and was on a competitive dance team until I was 19 years old. I began teaching dance at the age of 14 and quickly realized it was my true passion. I knew that one day I wanted to open up my own studio when I was 25 years old in 2009, I did just that. I love the community in and surrounding Hinsdale and felt it would be the perfect location to start my business. It has been a magical ride and I am so grateful that I can say I am truly living my dream and sharing my passion with my dancers, families and the community.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Family means the world to me. My family has been my strongest support system and I am so grateful for that. My mom works the front desk at the studio and my dad and brother can be found socializing or helping out with odds and ends. I feel very blessed for my family. I have a wonderful husband, John, who is a structural engineer and is the assistant varsity baseball coach at Nazareth Academy. He quickly adapted to the dance world and is my biggest supporter and fan! We have a beautiful daughter named Samantha. She joined our family in the beginning of COVID at 26 weeks. It was a scary but beautiful ride and she is now thriving and hitting all of her milestones! She will even be taking her first dance class this year. I am beyond excited! We also are thrilled to share that our second baby is due in December!
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have been teaching dance since I was 14 years old. Along the way I had many odd and end jobs to reach my final goal of opening up my own studio. I was a nanny, lifeguard, janitor and bartender to name a few! I am grateful for all of these jobs as they help mold me into the person I am today and I truly earned the value of a dollar. I learned how to save and reach my goals from these jobs.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Breakfast has always been my family meal so I love Yia Yia’s Cafe!
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I opened Expression Dance Studio 14 years ago and look forward to continuing to work with the community for many years to come!
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
It is so difficult to choose just one person. I have met so many wonderful people from the Hinsdale Community that are now a part of my EDS Family. I am grateful to know the all!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Traveling is one of my absolute favorite things to do. There is so much to see and experience it is difficult to pick one place! But if I had to choose I would love to go somewhere relaxing before baby #2 comes so I would pick Jamaica!
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
My absolute favorite TV show is The Office. I have watched every season at least 20 times and find myself constantly going back to the series when life gets a little hectic. It is my comfort show.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
My advice would be to not settle. Life is too short. Find something you LOVE to do and give it your all. We only get to experience this life once so enjoy the heck out of it.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I love checking things off of my bucket list. I would love to run a full marathon. So far I have only made it through half, so one day I want to accomplish this goal.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
My guilty pleasure is turning the radio to 104.3. I find it hilarious that this was the oldies station for me growing up and now I am jamming to the music I grew up on! If I had to pick just one band it would be The Beatles. As my mom would say. “She raised me right!”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
The first person that comes to mind is Walt Disney. His creativity and no dream is too big attitude is truly inspiring to me. We could sit and enjoy a cup of coffee at Cafe La Fortuna
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love, love, love the annual Christmas walk! This year we got to sponsor the Santa House and it was a blast seeing all of the kids so excited to meet Santa!
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I want to continue to offer a safe, welcoming dance space for the community. I hope that we continue to grow and one day find our true forever home in a larger facility that can offer more for our everyone.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I LOVE to garden! I find it so relaxing and truly enjoying making homemade salsas, pickles and veggies.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The Amalfi Coast.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
I love October! Fall has always been my favorite season, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and the best single day on the calendar is March 26th… my daughters birthday.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Noodles and Company’s Snicker Doodles
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband. Since the day we met he has unintentionally inspired me to strive to be the best version of myself.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
I love the smell of a warm sugar cookie and a pumpkin spice candle in the fall!
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, Family & Food
