Five years ago, Sarah Arnold decided it was time to expand her dance business.
After operating STEPS Dance Center in Vernon for several years, she opened a second location at 114 W. Second St. in downtown Seymour.
It has grown from 70 kids in the 2014-15 season to more than 150 today, and she hopes to see even more.
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The fifth season starts the second week of September, so to celebrate that milestone, an open house and classes are planned this week to draw more youth toward dance.
“Of course, we would love more,” Arnold said. “We get the kids who really love it, and they stick, and we want to try to find more like that.”
The open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday will give boys and girls interested in dance a chance to see one of the teams in action. The Onyx youth all-star dance team, coached by Whitney Eder, will be practicing at that time. There also will be light snacks and a small bounce house.
Then Friday, classes will give youth ages 3 to 18 an opportunity to see what dance is all about.
The schedule includes Let’s Dance for ages 3 to 6 from 5 to 5:30 p.m.; pom for ages 6 to 12 from 5:30 to 6 p.m.; jazz for ages 6 to 12 from 6 to 6:30 p.m.; hip-hop for ages 6 to 12 from 6:30 to 7 p.m.; and Just Dance for ages 12 to 18 from 7 to 7:45 p.m.
The cost for each class is $5, and kids can do more than one if they wish. Advance registration is available online at danceatsteps.com or payment will be accepted at the door.
“It’s a good time for people who have never tried it before to come in, give it a shot, see if it’s something you’d enjoy,” Arnold said. “It’s a good opportunity for kids to come in and get a feel for some of the teachers and classes and things like that.”
The Seymour location offers one full travel youth all-star team, two limited travel sparkle teams for ages 6 to 14 and weekly recreational classes. Also, a tumble and dance explorer class for 2- and 3-year-olds is new this year at both STEPS locations.
“It’s important for us to try to pull in as many little ones as possible so they can hopefully grow with us,” Arnold said. “We just want kids to have a good time, we want kids to love coming to dance and we want them to love working for something.”
There also are teen classes up to age 18 in Seymour, and there is a competitive team for ages 15 to 18 that practices in Vernon.
The season runs from the second week of September to the end of May.
“I think that parents and kids a lot of times are lacking wanting to commit to something that runs that long, so we just want to attract them and get them going and show them that it is fun and it’s worth it for you to do it and stick with it,” Arnold said.
During the five-year anniversary events, Arnold wants to showcase the benefits of dance.
“We have really amazing teachers that care about their students, No. 1 — fun, enthusiastic teachers and coaches,” she said. “We pride ourselves in wanting really great quality for what we’re doing and what we’re teaching them. We push them a little bit, and I think that that helps them get better.
“Our coaches get pep talks, ‘Make sure you love your kids first and foremost, do good by them, encourage them because they are here to gain self-confidence,’” she said. “We want it to be a place where they feel like they have a second place to come to that makes them feel good and proud and happy and confident.”
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What: STEPS Dance Center five-year anniversary events
When: Open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, and classes from 5 to 7:45 p.m. Friday
Where: 114 W. Second St., Seymour
Cost: Thursday’s open house is free, but each class Friday is $5 (Let’s Dance for ages 3 to 6 from 5 to 5:30 p.m.; pom for ages 6 to 12 from 5:30 to 6 p.m.; jazz for ages 6 to 12 from 6 to 6:30 p.m.; hip-hop for ages 6 to 12 from 6:30 to 7 p.m.; and Just Dance for ages 12 to 18 from 7 to 7:45 p.m.)
Information: 812-352-1203 or danceatsteps.com
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