Inspired Dance

Inspired Dance is a studio in Meridian, Idaho run by Amy Merrill, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education from Brigham Young University (2002). The studio's mission is to train dancers to embody the heart of a dancer: hard working, dedicated, kind, respectful, flexible, humble, and technically strong. Classes are taught in a modest, uplifting, supportive environment, with an emphasis on modesty in costumes, music and movement.

The studio offers both production and non-production classes. Production classes run September to May and culminate in a May production at the Nampa Civic Center, with a costume fee, t-shirt fee, and show tickets. Non-production classes include daytime homeschool options and some evening classes, with in-class parent performances in December and April instead. Classes start at age 2–3 with Mom & Me classes, and the studio accepts children around 3 or 3.5 years old (must be potty trained and able to separate from a parent).

Taught styles include ballet (Primary Ballet through Ballet 3/4, with pointe by invitation), jazz (levels 1–4), hip-hop (levels 1–4), and musical theatre. Specialists in certain areas are available: Hannah Gibbs (trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and tap; 5-time state champion with Skyview's Varsity Dance Team in Nampa); Whitney Jensen (trained in contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop; participated in Centennial High School's Sweet Liberty Dance Team, which won state and national competitions 2005–2008); Hannah Haberkorn (trained in ballet, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary and lyrical; was captain of Inspired Dance's competitive team); Angela Giles (trained in ballet, contemporary, modern and lyrical, with a B.S. in Psychology and Modern Dance Minor; worked under choreographers from Cirque du Soleil, Grey Matters and Martha Graham Dance Company); and Kimberly Johnson (ABT Certified Teacher with over a decade of teaching, classical ballet foundation, certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and American Barre Technique, and founder of the Gem State Ballet Ensemble, which has been featured in The Potato Movie documentary).

Classes include warm-up, stretching, technique specific to the style, center and across-the-floor work, choreography, and cool down or reverence. A free trial is available. Classes run on a semester commitment basis (September–December or January–April minimum for non-production; September–May for production). Dropping out before the session ends incurs a cancellation fee of at least one month's tuition, up to half of what is owed for the remaining semester.

Your first visit includes a free trial. Classes follow a structure of warm-up, stretching, technique specific to the style, center and across-the-floor work, choreography, and cool down or reverence. The studio emphasizes a modest, uplifting and supportive environment.

Amy Merrill is the founder and director. Other instructors include Hannah Gibbs (5-time state champion with Skyview's Varsity Dance Team and College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagle dancer), Whitney Jensen (Centennial High School Sweet Liberty Dance Team, state and national champion 2005–2008), Hannah Haberkorn (trained since age 8 at Inspired Dance; award-winning competitive team captain), Angela Giles (B.S. Psychology and Modern Dance Minor; trained under choreographers from Cirque du Soleil, Grey Matters and Martha Graham), Kimberly Johnson (ABT Certified Teacher, founder of Gem State Ballet Ensemble featured in The Potato Movie documentary), and Andrea Sosine (over two decades in dance and gymnastics coaching and instruction).

The studio welcomes children from age 2–3 with Mom & Me classes; children around 3 or 3.5 years old can start regular classes (must be potty trained and able to separate from a parent).