CADA Dance Studio - Collaborative Artists for Dance Advancement

CADA Dance Studio — Collaborative Artists for Dance Advancement — serves the Treasure Valley from Meridian with structured training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Acro, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. The studio is built on a philosophy of small class sizes: the smallest classes in the valley to yield maximum personal attention and feedback each hour. Candice Andrus, the owner and director, is a 40-year dancer and dance trainer of more than 20 years who founded CADA with a deliberate focus on lower student-to-teacher ratios and individual understanding of each child.

What sets CADA apart is its integration of mental development alongside artistic training. The studio claims to be the only known dance studio that weaves mental development into the curriculum, emphasizing growth mindset, healthy relationships with challenge and failure, and praise for effort over intrinsic ability. This underpins their motto: Advancing the Art and the Artist™. All dancers, whether in recreational or competitive pathways, benefit from this approach through teacher training, how praise is given in class, and visual cues throughout the space.

The training itself spans multiple levels and pathways. Recreational, non-competitive offerings include Creative Dance (based on BrainDance methodology), combo classes that integrate ballet, jazz, tap, tumbling, and hip hop, and speciality genres like Contemporary, Lyrical, and contemporary+ movement combinations. Performance Programs are the most popular entry point — building confidence, discipline, and technical foundations with two recital performances per year. Dancers typically participate in multiple classes each week as they progress. The Competitive Program offers higher-level training, team opportunities, and the chance to compete locally and regionally. Short-term clinics, camps, and mini sessions focused on single styles or skills are also available.

Ballet is positioned as the crux of all dance training at CADA. The studio uses a proprietary CADA Ballet Curriculum designed to maximize class efficiency and thoroughness, with yearly assessments to ensure dancers are progressed safely and effectively. Classes are placed by skill level, not age. Jazz training develops strength, flexibility, confidence, power, and articulation, with dedicated Turns & Leaps classes and Jazz Progressions for advanced dancers. Acro and Tumbling are taught as safe, effective preparation for dance progression, building muscle strength, flexibility, coordination, and confidence through intricate tricks, balancing, and contortion. The studio also offers Flexibility & Conditioning classes including mUvmethod, Pilates for Dancers, and progressive stability training.

The competitive program has a track record: first year outscored top studios across the valley; year two, the only studio to earn 100% Diamond adjudications at Spotlight Dance Cup, with continued excellence every season since. Competition teams emphasise character, confidence, and belonging alongside excellence. The studio limits schedule overload, avoids major holidays when possible, and communicates early so families can plan. Families must value both excellence and character development and be ready to commit to meaningful growth.

Beyond classes, CADA offers studio rental for solo/duo/trio rehearsal, choreography, fitness classes, and other uses — available to members and the public. Rentals that include a coach must use an official CADA coach. The studio has long-standing industry relationships and provides guest artist opportunities through both in-house and out-of-studio connections. Yearly assessments offer parents and dancers formal feedback, and the administration team keeps families organised and informed.

Every dancer is unique; CADA guides you to the right starting point for your child. Most families begin in the Performance Programs. You will work with highly trained instructors in small classes where your child is known individually, challenged appropriately, and supported in a warm, encouraging environment that emphasises both technical skill and character development.

Candice Andrus is the owner and director, a 40-year dancer and dance trainer of more than 20 years. The studio mentions coaches Candice and Rachel by name in testimonials, with Rachel noted for teaching conceptually, encouraging students to think and process along with movements. Instructors are described as world-class trainers who continue to hone their craft in classics and cutting-edge work.

New students are guided to the right starting point; most families begin in Performance Programs, which build confidence and foundational technique in a warm, encouraging environment.