Backstage Dance Center

Backstage Dance Center has been serving Meridian for over 30 years, built on a legacy of professional excellence and inclusive teaching. The studio was founded by Eric Coffman, who danced with the San Francisco Ballet, Robert Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the Royal Danish Ballet before establishing this school. Though Eric passed away in 2008, his vision remains at the heart of the studio today.

The physical space reflects serious investment in dancer safety and comfort. Three spacious dance studios each have sprung, raised floors designed as shock absorbers to reduce impact on joints during jumps and movement. Every studio includes observation windows so families can watch classes. Two conveniently located restrooms serve the studio, with one connected directly to the Pre-K and Kindergarten–1st Grade studio. A dedicated playroom lets siblings play while parents watch, and a welcoming lobby with observation windows provides additional viewing space.

Classes run year-round across a wide range of styles and levels. The studio teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, acrobatic, and pointe. Offerings span from Ballet/Tap Combo for 3–4 year-olds (45 minutes, once weekly) through advanced teen and adult classes. Specific classes include Teen Ballet, Intermediate Adult Tap, Adult Beginning/Intermediate Ballet, Hip Hop for ages 6–10 and 11–14, Contemporary with teacher approval required, Acro 1 and 2, Lyrical I–IV, and Pointe (for students at least 12 years old, by instructor selection). Adult classes are tailored for beginners and those returning after years away, with no previous dance experience required for beginner tracks.

The studio operates two nationally ranked competition teams: the Junior Company for less experienced and younger dancers with lower time commitment, and the Company for elite, experienced older teens requiring greater commitment. All groups train in ballet, lyrical, jazz, and hip hop with one weekly practice plus additional rehearsals for soloists. Backstage remains affordable despite this competitive standing.

First-time students receive a free trial class. The studio accepts cash, checks, Venmo, credit cards, and online payments. Tuition is based on four-week sessions and scales with hours per week: 45 minutes weekly costs $45 per month; one hour weekly is $50; longer commitments scale accordingly up to $150 per month for seven hours weekly. Registration fees apply—$10 annually for returning students, $15 for new students—though no fee is charged for summer sessions. Family discounts and tuition assistance are available.

Your first class is free. You'll work with experienced instructors in a clean, well-equipped studio with sprung floors and observation windows. Classes are age-appropriate and welcoming to complete beginners.

Anne Sakolsky-Basquill, Director/Owner, has trained ballet since childhood at Miami City Ballet School and danced professionally in the US and Germany; she has taught ballet at Backstage since 1995. Emily Misner teaches intermediate adult tap and has danced with Idaho Dance Theater. Alexa Bouvier teaches young combo and acro classes and holds the Module One Acrobatic ArtsTeacher Certificate. Lisaun Whittingham, formerly Ballet Director at Huntington Beach Ballet, teaches adult tap. Lydia Sakolsky-Basquill teaches advanced contemporary and jazz and has performed and choreographed for Ballet Idaho, Boise Dance Co-op, and Idaho Dance Theatre. Ellie Sullivan teaches hip hop and tap. Gabby Marquez, trained at Pacific Arts Complex in Santa Cruz, teaches jazz, lyrical, and turns & leaps.

The studio explicitly welcomes all ages and abilities, offers free trial classes, and provides beginner-level classes in every style with no prior experience required.