Business Details
8 Years
experience
Your Trusted Dance Studio in Iowa City
At Life's Your Stage, we are dedicated to enriching lives through dance education that fosters personal growth, physical health, and artistic expression. Our mission is to provide high-quality instruction tailored to individual needs, helping students of all ages develop technical proficiency and confidence. With a focus on safety and innovation, we utilize floating dance floors to protect students' joints while offering personalized attention from experienced instructors. Our curriculum emphasizes life skills such as responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance, ensuring lessons extend beyond the studio. Since opening in 2018, we have prioritized creating a supportive environment where creativity thrives and students gain tools for success in all aspects of life. Our team of qualified professionals brings decades of combined experience in dance education and performance, including Broadway-trained faculty and award-winning choreographers.We offer multiple performance opportunities annually, allowing students to showcase their progress and build stage presence. Our facility features a 900 sq ft floating dance floor with adjustable mirrors and barres, complemented by a waiting area with observation capabilities. Committed to mental and physical well-being, we maintain strict classroom etiquette standards while fostering positive attitudes and professional work ethics. Through structured programs from September to May, we help dancers achieve both artistic and personal milestones while maintaining accessibility for the Iowa City community.
Services
Ballet Classes
Jazz Instruction
Hip-Hop Workshops
Tumbling Training
Musical Theater
Pom Classes
Adult Dance Fitness
Competition Prep
Summer Intensives
Details
- Year established: 2018
Highlights and features
- We offer personalized dance instruction from Broadway-trained faculty
- Our floating dance floors protect students' joints during training
- We provide multiple annual performance opportunities for skill development
- Our instructors have decades of combined competition and performance experience
- We emphasize life skills like responsibility and teamwork through dance education
Services
Ballet Classes
Our ballet program develops proper technique and grace through structured training. Students learn foundational positions, barre work, and center combinations while building strength and flexibility. Classes emphasize posture, musicality, and artistic expression for ages 3 to adult.
Tumbling Training
Specialized tumbling instruction focuses on safe progression of cartwheels, handsprings, and advanced aerial skills. Certified instructors use proper spotting techniques while building core strength and spatial awareness for dancers and athletes.
Competition Prep
We prepare students for competitive dance environments through choreography coaching, performance technique, and rehearsal practice. Our award-winning faculty develops routines that highlight individual strengths while maintaining technical precision for competition success.
Musical Theater
This program combines dance with acting and singing fundamentals. Students learn Broadway-style choreography while developing stage presence and storytelling abilities through musical numbers from popular productions and original works.
Summer Intensives
Our summer programs offer concentrated dance training with master classes in multiple styles. These week-long sessions include technique workshops, choreography sessions, and performance opportunities to maintain skills during school breaks.
People
Liz Kinney Berger
Owner/Director
Liz founded Life's Your Stage after graduating from Oklahoma City University's American Dance Pedagogy program. With 15+ years teaching experience and Broadway training, she brings professional expertise to Iowa City's dance community.
Emme Keith
Tumbling Instructor
Emme teaches advanced tumbling with expertise from competitive gymnastics and collegiate cheerleading. Her experience includes national competition placements and All-American athletic recognition at the University of Iowa.
Elizabeth Maine
Musical Theater Instructor
Elizabeth brings competitive dance experience from state and national competitions. As former high school varsity captain and All-Iowa Honor Dance Team member, she specializes in musical theater and pom instruction.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We provide ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tumbling, musical theater, pom, and adult fitness classes with experienced instructors.
Are there performance opportunities?
Yes! We offer annual recitals, dress rehearsals, and multiple performance events throughout our September-May session.
What safety features do you have?
Our studio features a floating dance floor that reduces joint impact, along with padded mirrors and barres for safe training.
Do you offer summer classes?
Yes, we have summer intensive programs starting June 15 with specialized training in various dance styles.
What are your class sizes?
We maintain small class sizes for personalized attention, with maximum student-teacher ratios based on age and skill level.
Where are you located?
We're at 1855 Lower Muscatine Rd, Iowa City, IA 52240, in the Sycamore Mall area near Panera and Petland.
