Jubilee Dance

Jubilee Dance serves Spokane and Spokane Valley with classes for ages 6 months to adult, welcoming dancers of all ages and backgrounds. Founded by Lauren Houtz, the studio grew from a 'rogue dance studio' renting space at five different locations before establishing its own home at 123 E Mission Ave in Spokane (co-located with Black Goat Fitness) and a Valley location at Jazzercise Spokane Valley. The mission is clear: to provide encouraging, non-competitive, body-positive, and Christ-centered dance opportunities for all.

Laurent Houtz began the studio after teaching dance at Spokane elementary schools and listening to parents' concerns: the pressure of competitive culture, cost barriers, the feeling that dance wasn't for them. She studied dance at Whitworth University (earning a minor and serving as Artistic Director of Jubilation Dance Ministry), trained in Brain-Compatible Dance Education through the Creative Dance Center in Seattle under Anne Green Gilbert, and earned her Master's in Education from Gonzaga University.

Classes span ballet (levels 1–5), jazz, contemporary and lyrical, hip hop, tap, art, theater and leadership, and specialized groups like Mommy and Me, Tinies and Littles classes, and the Storyline Dance Company (yearlong, by application). The Fall 2026 semester runs 14 weeks from August 31 to December 18. The studio has never turned anyone away due to financial constraints and offers scholarships by application (recipients participate in volunteer and custodial work).

The teaching team includes Lauren Houtz (founder), Lindsey Spencer (trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and hip hop; former Jubilation Hip Hop and Sacred Dance Instructor), Taylor Kuykendall (trained at Ballet Arts Academy under Dodie Askegard; danced with Theater Ballet of Spokane and studied at Houston Ballet Academy), Veronika Johnson (trained in jazz and creative kids' dance in Germany), Meghan Pierce (began at age 3 at British Dancing Academy in Kent, WA; completed Royal Academy of Dance and Imperial Society exams in modern and ballet), Jessica Fry (captain of her high school dance team; trained in jazz, hip hop, and contemporary), Carolina Bufford (studied hula in Hawaii for 5 years; trained in dance as worship), and Katriel Smit (Doctor of Physical Therapy from Whitworth University 2025; trained in classical ballet, jazz, and modern in Alaska; attended Ballet Magnificat's Summer Dance Intensive).

The studio emphasizes three core values: Connection (fostering supportive environments where dancers give and receive feedback with grace), Creativity (opportunities for free dance, individual and group choreography, and production design), and Celebration (encouraging full participation and dancing for the joy of it). A show takes place at EWU on November 14, with dress rehearsal on November 13.

You'll find a welcoming, faith-centered environment focused on the joy of movement rather than competition. Classes are structured by age and level, with experienced teachers who emphasize technique, creativity, and spiritual connection through dance.

The team includes founder Lauren Houtz (trained in Sacred Dance and Brain-Compatible Dance Education), Lindsey Spencer (ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop), Taylor Kuykendall (trained at Ballet Arts Academy and Houston Ballet Academy, danced with Theater Ballet of Spokane), Veronika Johnson (jazz and contemporary), Meghan Pierce (classical ballet, jazz, modern; Royal Academy of Dance exams), Jessica Fry (jazz, hip hop, contemporary), Carolina Bufford (hula, dance as worship), Katriel Smit (Doctor of Physical Therapy, classical ballet, jazz, modern; PointeSafe certified), and others including Laurel Jenkins.

The studio welcomes all ages and abilities and has never turned anyone away due to financial constraints; scholarships are available by application.