What Stepping Out Dance Studio does

Stepping Out Dance Studio is a privately held, single-location dance instruction business founded in 1973 and currently owned by Katelan Kranz, who acquired the studio in May 2014 after 15+ years as a member of its competitive company. Headquartered at 231 Cedarcrest Drive in Lexington, South Carolina, the studio operates a renovated facility completed in Summer 2022 with four spacious dance rooms equipped with professional flooring, sound systems, and storage amenities. The studio serves ages 12 months through adult in the Lexington catchment area, offering recreational classes in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, acro, and pointe, plus combination classes for young beginners, audition-based competitive teams (Full Competitive, Rising Star, Broadway Baby), themed summer dance camps, summer technique intensives, and private lessons.

The business generates revenue through multiple streams: monthly recurring tuition tiered from $50 (0.5 weekly hours) to $235 (unlimited 6+ hours), a $45 non-refundable family registration fee, $85 costume deposits per class, recital fees of $110 for the first dancer and $90 per additional dancer, private lessons from $25 minimum, summer technique class passes ($150-$395), and themed summer dance camps ($65-$85 per camp). Pricing models are mixed — monthly subscription for ongoing instruction, unit pricing for camps and private lessons, and one-time fees for registration, costume, and recital — producing a hybrid recurring-plus-seasonal revenue mix typical of independent dance studios.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: families register through the Jackrabbit Class online platform or visit the Lexington studio, with awareness driven by 5 consecutive years of Lexington's Best Dance Studio recognition (2022-2026), Facebook and Instagram presence, email newsletters, and community word-of-mouth. The studio has no public funding, no institutional ownership, no app, no API, no patents, and no disclosed partnerships — operations run on a lean staff of 11-50 employees (12+ named instructors across disciplines plus receptionist). The competitive moat is grounded in 54 years of brand history, professional teaching staff with pedigrees from Joffrey Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, and professional ballet companies, and award-winning competitive teams including 2017 Dance Machine Grand National Champions.

Name

Stepping Out Dance Studio

Legal name

Stepping Out Dance Studio

Website

https://steppingoutsc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stepping Out Dance Studio is a privately held, single-location dance studio in Lexington, SC, founded in 1973, offering recreational and competitive instruction in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, acro, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, and pointe for ages 12 months through adult, plus themed summer camps and intensives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dance Instruction Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance & Movement (Ballroom, Contemporary, Social Dance) (EDAAAGAD), Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Dance instruction services
• Competitive dance teams
• Children's dance classes
• Dance summer camps
• Dance studio tuition

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Monthly Tuition: All classes tuition is payable monthly based on weekly hours of instruction, ranging from $50/month for 0.5 hours to $235/month for 6+ hours (unlimited).
2. Registration Fees: $45 registration fee per family (non-refundable).
3. Costume Fees: $85 deposit due October 1 per class, includes tights, accessories, and hairpiece. Balance due upon receipt.
4. Recital Fees: $110 for first dancer (split into two $55 payments), $90 for each additional dancer. Includes recital wristbands, award, program, and t-shirt.
5. Private Lessons: Thirty minute sessions, $25 minimum, varies by teacher.
6. Summer Technique Class Passes: 10 class pass for $150, 20 class pass for $275, 30 class pass for $350, unlimited pass for $395, single class for $18.
7. Summer Dance Camps: $85 for first camp, $75 for each additional camp or siblings. 3-day camps for ages 2-12 at $65 each.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stepping Out Dance Studio provides year-round group dance instruction in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theater, acro, and pointe for ages 12 months through adult. The studio also operates award-winning competitive dance teams, themed summer dance camps, intensive summer technique classes, specialized clinics (jump/turn/acro), and an annual spring recital. Private lessons and Friday summer sessions round out the offering.

Product overview

Stepping Out Dance Studio offers a comprehensive dance education program centered around recreational and competitive dance instruction. The studio provides a complete curriculum including Recreational Dance Classes (Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater, Acro, Pointe, Pom Hop, and Tot Hop for ages 12 months through adult) and Combination Classes for young beginners. Seasonal offerings include Summer Dance Camps with themed programming (Acro Beach Bash, K-pop Demon Hunters, Princess Party, Toy Story, Pop Star, Wicked camps), Summer Technique Classes for intensive skill development, Friday Summer Sessions, Summer Clinics (Jump/Turn/Acro), and 'Try Everything' Class Series. The Competitive Teams Program includes Full Competitive Teams, Rising Star Teams, and Broadway Baby Team with group placements A-E. Additional services include Private Lessons, Spring Recital performances, and studio facilities. The programs are structured around a tiered tuition system based on weekly class hours, with registration, costume, and recital fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recreational Dance Classes Weekly group dance instruction across Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater, Acro, Pointe, Pom Hop, and Tot Hop for ages 12 months through adult, with class durations from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours and multiple skill levels from beginner through advanced/pointe.
• Combination Classes Specialized multi-style combination classes for beginners including Dance With Me parent-tot (ages 12–23 months), Tutu Cute, Tap/Ballet Combination (ages 3–5), and Jazz/Hip Hop Combination (ages 3–5).
• Competitive Teams Program (Full Competitive and Rising Star) Award-winning competitive dance team program with Full Competitive Team and Rising Star Team placements (Groups A–E); requires auditions and summer technique attendance (Full Competitive Team must attend at least 20 summer classes including 4 ballet and 2 Competition Fundamentals).
• Broadway Baby Team Competitive mini-team for dancers ages 5 and under with audition-based entry and specific summer requirements released after auditions.
• Summer Dance Camps Themed 4-day camps for ages 2–12 (Acro Beach Bash, K-pop Demon Hunters Glow Dance Camp, Princess Party, Toy Story, Pop Star, Wicked) including creative movement, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, tumbling, arts and crafts, daily snacks, and end-of-camp performances; 3-day camps at $65 each.
• Summer Technique Classes Intensive summer technique session (June 22–July 22) covering jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, acro, conditioning, and flexibility for ages 5+, with class passes available (10-class $150, 20-class $275, 30-class $350, unlimited $395, single class $18).
• Friday Summer Session Six-week Friday summer session (June 5–July 24) with classes for ages 12 months–10 years including Dance With Me, Mini Movers, Tiny Tots, Tot Hop, and Combination Ballet/Tap and Jazz/Musical Theater.
• Summer Clinics (Jump, Turn, Acro) Specialized Thursday clinics in Jump, Turn, and Acro (May 28–June 11) for ages 5+; hour-long classes broken up by age group, with studio approval for placement outside age group.
• 'Try Everything' Summer Class Series Six-week summer class series (June 4–July 23, Thursdays 7:30–8:30) for ages 6–12 exploring ballet, jazz, hip hop, acro, lyrical/contemporary, musical theater, and tap to help dancers discover their preferred styles.
• Private Lessons Thirty-minute private lessons starting at $25 minimum, with rates varying by teacher; scheduled by contacting the teacher directly for availability.
• Spring Recital Annual spring recital performance where every dancer is recognized and awarded on stage; recital fee is $110 for the first dancer and $90 for each additional dancer, including 4 weekend wristbands per family, recital award, program, and t-shirt.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Dance Council of America: Industry body governing competitive ballroom and dance in the US. Adjacent participant relevant to Stepping Out's competitive team circuit, though not a direct competitor.
• Dance Masters of America: Professional association for dance teachers and studio owners. Adjacent participant shaping certification and competition standards relevant to Stepping Out's instructional quality and competitive programming.

Emerging players

• STEEZY Studio: Online dance instruction platform offering on-demand classes across hip-hop, contemporary, ballet, and more. Comparable as a multi-style dance instruction business, though delivered digitally rather than at a physical studio.
• Dance Spirit Academy: Suburban-style dance studio offering recreational and competitive programs across multiple styles for youth. Similar positioning to Stepping Out as a community-anchored multi-style studio with competitive teams serving families.
• Millennium Dance Complex: Dance studio chain known for hip-hop and commercial dance training, with physical locations and online instruction. Comparable as a multi-style dance instruction business with a strong youth/competition orientation, though oriented more toward commercial/hip-hop than Stepping Out's broader curricular mix.

Broad incumbents

• Arthur Murray Dance Studios: Long-established national dance studio franchise specializing in ballroom and social dance instruction. Comparable as a multi-location dance instruction business, though oriented toward adult social dance rather than the youth/competitive focus of Stepping Out.
• Broadway Dance Center: Major urban dance studio in New York providing recreational and professional training across multiple styles. Comparable in style breadth (tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary) but operates at a much larger scale and serves a more professional/aspirational clientele.
• Fred Astaire Dance Studios: National franchise chain of dance studios offering group and private lessons across multiple dance styles. Comparable to Stepping Out as a multi-style dance instruction business, but operates at franchise scale rather than a single community-rooted location.

Regional players

• The Dancers' Studio: Regional dance studio offering youth recreational and competitive programs. Comparable in target customer (children/families) and style mix, but operates in a different geographic market.
• Columbia City Ballet: Professional ballet company based in Columbia, SC. Comparable as a South Carolina-based dance organization with overlapping staff (Ballet Director Dini Tetrick performed there), though oriented toward professional performance rather than youth instruction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/665306803
• Instagraminstagram.com/steppingoutsc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stepping-out-dance-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stepping Out Dance Studio