Kim York Dance Academy plans to open in the HUB Sports Center, at 19619 E. Cataldo, in Liberty Lake in January.

Business owner Kim York, 47, is from Spokane originally and recently moved back to the area with plans to open a new studio.

“My mother owned a studio here in Spokane, and I started dancing at age 3,” she says. “As an adult, I’ve owned three dance studios, and when I was considering moving back, I realized Liberty Lake didn’t yet have a dance studio. One thing led to another and here we are.”

York says the new studio, which is set to open Jan. 1, will offer classes for all ages including tumbling and simple gymnastics, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and hip-hop.

The studio also will give students the chance to participate in one of two competitive dance teams; the Divas team for ages 6 to 9 and the Edge team for ages 10 to 15.  York says an adult mom’s class will also be available. 

To start, York will be the studio’s only employee, although she plans to have at least two classroom assistants. 

York says the studio will occupy three existing dance classrooms at the HUB, one with gymnastics mats and a sponge-like floor and two more traditional, mirrored dance rooms.

In starting this new studio, York says she also hopes to be able to continue her family’s legacy of competitive dance.

“People in this community who know me or my mom, they understand I’m competitive,” she says. “I believe in dance, and I feel that competitive work ethic is important for kids to experience as they grow.”

York says people interested in signing up for dance classes at the new studio can register online or attend a registration event planned for Dec. 27 at the HUB Sports Center.