Dancers of All Abilities Belong (and Thrive!) at The Habitat Performing Arts Center

Be You. Be Us. Belong is Not Just a Tagline at The Habitat Performing Arts Center

It’s just human nature to want to fit in.

Whether it’s with friends or in extracurricular activities and sports, feeling like you belong helps give you the confidence to thrive and grow.

We are a dance family with four girls who have found their perfect dance “home” near Lansing. When you stumble upon the right fit like we did with our studio, you just know.

I love seeing their enthusiasm to attend their classes, their pride in what they have learned, and the growth of so many new friendships.

The Habitat Performing Arts Center in Kalamazoo recognizes the value of belonging for its dancers as well. They prioritize a healthy environment first, and exquisite training as a close second.

Stressing the importance of a safe and healthy environment for its dancers, The Habitat strives to be a place where training and technique collide with passion and creativity.

At The Habitat, children and adults can choose from an array of competitive and non-competitive dance and tumble classes.

They also offer Adaptive Dance for both children and adults who are differently abled.

The Habitat Believes that Dance is for Everyone

Technique is our roots and creativity is our wings. Training is our focus and competing is our play. Bonding is our food- self-expression is our water. The Habitat is our place to thrive and belong.

The instructors at The Habitat live and breathe this mentality and are invested in creating a space for dancers to express themselves without judgment. They believe that a sense of belonging creates a humble confidence.

Dancers can study dance and train their bodies at any dance studio, but what sets The Habitat apart is the passion for helping individuals feel their most self in order to achieve their true growth potential.

Winning isn’t everything at this dance studio either; they compete to learn, grow, and be inspired. In fact, to be in the competitive company there are no tryouts!

The team at The Habitat knows that if a dancer is willing to commit to the hours it takes to be part of the competition team, they will thrive under the training of Erica Maurer and her qualified staff.

The Habitat’s Classes Cater to All Skill Levels & Interests

The Habitat offers a variety of classes for children starting at two years old. There are even daytime classes for little ones for families who want an earlier-in-the-day option.

Levels are based on age and not necessarily skill level, ensuring kids experience dance and create bonds with their peers.

The non-competitive PAC dancers are included in all of the team bonding events throughout the year.

The regular dance season runs from September through June at which time all dancers (recreational, competitive, and Adaptive) perform in a year-end recital.

There is also a short summer session for recreational dancers to explore which classes they like.

Adaptive Dance

The Adaptive Dance program is one of its kind in Kalamazoo, providing dance instruction to people who are differently abled.

Adaptive Dance students explore and experience the joy of movement, work on gross motor skills, and make new friends.

These unique classes are designed for people of all abilities including but not limited to those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, and people facing other cognitive and physical challenges.

The Adaptive Dance Classes include a variety of dance styles, and the instructors use a flexible approach to accommodate each dancer’s needs.

The PAC Competitive Team

The competitive team at The Habitat, known as The PAC, is a group of skilled and disciplined dancers who train at a high level under passionate and qualified instructors.

The PAC dancers at The Habitat compete to learn, grow, and be inspired:

Training is our focus and competing is our play

There are no auditions to be part of The PAC. Instead of tryouts, the only requirement of The PAC dancers is to work hard and to be kind humans.

These competitive dancers are at the studio 4-6 days per week during in-season training.

The Peanut Program

The Habitat also offers competitive dance for younger students aged 4-7 who want to grow their love and knowledge of dance.

This program is a less intense program for little ones to experience a positive first year or two of competitive dance.

The Peanut program trains 3-4 days weekly in fun, yet challenging classes:

The Peanuts are welcomed by the older PAC dancers, congruent with the “everyone belongs” mentality at the studio.

Peanuts are included in all of the team bonding events including an annual PAC beach day, a Halloween lock-in, and an end-of-the-season family cookout.

PAC classes are also open to those looking for the healthy environment and intense training without the desire to compete on stage.

Make Yourself at Home at The Habitat

The Habitat Performing Arts Center’s physical space matches its welcoming vibe.

The Habitat boasts three studio spaces, a gathering area lovingly known as The Den, a parent room, multiple stall bathrooms, and a kitchen.

Want to learn more? You can visit virtually with a video tour on their website: