Kicks! School of Dance

Kicks! School of Dance opened in August 2017 under the direction of Lauren Swedberg, a dancer and educator with deep roots in both performance and teaching. Swedberg began her own dance training at age 3, studying primarily ballet, tap, and jazz, and later trained intensively at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She holds a bachelor's degree in dance from Brooklyn College and studied modern dance in college with a focus on Graham technique. Before opening Kicks!, she spent 8 years teaching recreational and competitive dance in New York and 8 years as a dance teacher in the Lee County School District, where she directed an after-school dance company and choreographed school musicals including Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Seussical, and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

The studio's mission centres on creating a warm environment where students develop a love of dance and grow in confidence. Classes span multiple disciplines and ability levels across the week. Young children start with Pre-Ballet (ages 3–4) and Creative Movement, while primary-age students progress through Beginner and Intermediate classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Acro. Teenagers and older children access Intermediate and Advanced offerings in Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Broadway Dance, and Acro. The studio also operates Kicks! Dance Company, a competitive or performance-focused programme for grades 2–12 with separate technique classes and age-grouped rehearsals.

Adult classes meet on Wednesday mornings (Adult Tap, 9:30–10:30 am) and Thursday mornings (Adult Ballet/Contemporary, 9:00–10:00 am). Adult Tap welcomes all levels and teaches basic tap steps with increasing complexity, finishing each session with a combination adjusted for different abilities. Adult Ballet/Contemporary covers technique at the barre and centre, improving flexibility, balance, and agility, with choreography and combinations taught on mats and across the floor.

Specialised acro and tumbling instruction is available: Beginner Acro/Tumbling (Saturday mornings, ages 3–6), Aerials and Handsprings (Saturday mornings, intermediate acro skills required), and private or semi-private tumbling lessons by arrangement. The studio notes that summer schedules adjust for camps and vacation; prospective students should call or email for summer class times.

Registration opens through a parent portal, and the 2026/2027 schedule is subject to change. The studio's approach emphasises building strong technique, creativity, and performance ability alongside friendships and enjoyment.

You'll find a structured class suited to your age and level, from Pre-Ballet for toddlers to Advanced Contemporary for teens. Classes typically run 30 minutes to an hour and include technique work (at the barre and centre for ballet), combinations across the floor, and often a final choreographed routine. Adult classes are mixed-level and focus on technique, flexibility, and fun.

Lauren Swedberg, the owner and director, leads the studio. She trained at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, holds a bachelor's degree in dance from Brooklyn College, and brings 8 years of teaching experience from the Lee County School District and 8 years of recreational and competitive teaching in New York.

Yes; Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement classes start from age 3, and many intermediate and beginner classes welcome newcomers; Adult Tap is described as welcoming all levels.