Business Details
Your Premier Dance School in Summerville, SC
At Kelly's Dance, we cultivate a dynamic environment where students from tots to teens develop artistic expression through structured dance education. Our mission extends beyond technical training, fostering personal growth through commitment, patience, and practice. With a team of dedicated instructors, we offer individualized instruction in ballet, hip hop, tap, jazz, modern, and pointe, ensuring each student achieves their personal best. Our curriculum emphasizes proper technique, vocabulary, and creative expression while maintaining a joyful, non-competitive atmosphere.Located in Summerville, we prioritize creating a welcoming space where students build confidence, classroom etiquette, and lifelong skills. Our leadership combines advanced degrees in education with decades of dance experience to deliver a unique blend of artistic and developmental instruction. From introductory PBT classes to advanced hip hop programs, we cater to all experience levels, ensuring accessibility and engagement for every young dancer.
Services
Ballet
Pointe
Tap
Jazz
Modern
Hip Hop
PBT Classes
PBT Advanced
Jr. Jam
Swag & Ads
Highlights and features
- We offer 7+ dance styles with age-appropriate programs for children 2-18
- Our instructors combine advanced education degrees with professional dance experience
- We provide individualized instruction in small class settings
- Non-competitive environment prioritizes personal growth and confidence building
- Proven track record developing students' technical skills and creative expression
Services
Ballet
Our ballet program develops technical precision through barre exercises, floor work, and across-the-floor combinations. Students learn proper positioning, stretching techniques, and classical vocabulary while building foundational skills for advanced dance forms like pointe. The curriculum balances discipline with creative expression.
Hip Hop
This energetic program focuses on upper/lower body conditioning, freestyle movement, and performance energy. Students master fast-paced choreography while developing strength and stamina through upbeat tempos and contemporary urban styles in a supportive environment.
PBT Classes
Designed for children aged 2-4, our Pre-Ballet & Tap program introduces foundational movements in a fun, small-class setting. Students develop gross motor skills, classroom etiquette, and basic dance vocabulary through age-appropriate activities without requiring prior experience.
Modern Dance
This expressive style blends ballet fundamentals with creative freedom, emphasizing emotional connection to music. Students explore improvisation, floor work, and unique movement combinations that encourage personal interpretation while maintaining technical discipline.
Jr. Jam
A developmental program for ages 2-4 using Christopher Tyler's music to teach directionality and body isolation. Students build motor skills through energetic hip hop beats while learning foundational dance concepts in a playful, non-competitive environment.
People
Kelly Lax
Owner
Career educator with advanced degrees in early childhood development and curriculum instruction. Creates structured, individualized dance programs emphasizing personal growth and non-competitive learning in a joyful environment that builds lifelong skills.
Paris Jones
Director
20-year dance professional with expertise in contemporary, modern, and jazz styles. Focuses on student progression and making dance education fun and exciting while serving as Assistant Studio Director for the past five years.
Peyton Taylor
Instructor
4-year instructor teaching diverse styles from Littles to Hip Hop Advanced. Specializes in jazz and hip hop, creating engaging classes that have expanded the program's offerings through student-centered teaching methods.
Jessica Meriam
Instructor
Summerville native and 10-year studio veteran who transitioned from student to instructor. Focuses on jazz instruction, emphasizing stage presence and technical excellence while sharing her lifelong passion for dance expression.
Amanda Beniash
Instructor
First-year instructor teaching Pre Ballet/Tap with experience in contemporary and lyrical styles. Emphasizes trust-building and peer connections while creating joyful learning experiences for young dancers in a family-oriented environment.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We offer ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and specialized programs for younger children including PBT and Jr. Jam classes.
What age groups do you teach?
Our programs serve children aged 2-18 with developmentally appropriate instruction from introductory to advanced levels.
Do you require prior dance experience?
No prior experience is required for most classes. Our PBT program introduces fundamentals to children aged 2-4 with no prerequisites.
What makes your studio unique?
We combine structured curriculum with individualized instruction in a non-competitive environment, emphasizing both technical excellence and personal growth.
Reviews (5)
Jessica Creason
Jul 17, 2020
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One of my daughters has wanted to be a ballerina her whole life. Unfortunately, her first year at another local studio was a disaster. Then we were lucky enough to find Kelly's dance and it has been a wonderful experience. Upon registering, they were very helpful and easy to reach during the online process. They even had a meet the teacher night, at which you could also order shoes etc... Our first class we forgot her dance bag and they were insistent it was fine and let us borrow a pair of school shoes. Class was enjoyable, I even got to watch on a TV. Both my other girls decided to sign up as
Kristen Head
Oct 16, 2019
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As someone who use to work at the studio and sees it all behind the scenes. The management is awful. Very rude and thinks they can just boss everyone around as they please. Children get frowny faces if they have to go to the bathroom more than once ( thats what we were told to do). Its honestly a joke. Go to any dance studio but here if you want a fun and real experience for the love of dance. Ive danced my whole life and have never witnessed a place as bad as this. Theres no real fun the children are made to learn skills that they barely can even do because most of them are BABIES
Nancy Shaw
Dec 17, 2017
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Great dance studio for little ones! Mrs. Kelly is a retired elementary school teacher, so she knows how to make learning fun and how to keep her classes organized. Students learn the basics of dance in a fun, supportive environment with wonderful instructors--my daughter loved Miss Megan. Parents can watch every lesson on TV screens in the waiting room. Classes are small so that each child gets individualized instruction.
Shanna Coomber
Oct 30, 2016
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Kelly's Dance Studio has been wonderful to my little girl. My daughter is autistic and they have all been extremely patient and understanding with her. I wanted her to be in a structured but fun environment, that's exactly what this is.
A. C.
Aug 20, 2016
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My niece takes classes here and she loves it! The teachers are amazing with the kids and so is the staff! The dance recital Kelly's Dance put on was very cute and well organized!! I would recommend Kelly's Dance Studio any day!!
