Ground Floor: Dance studio opens in southeast side of Cedar Rapids

Jen Shebetka's new business fills a void she observed on Cedar Rapids' southeast side.

'There was nothing for dancers on the southeast side of town,' Shebetka said. 'Most of the other dance studios seem to be concentrated on the northeast side or in Hiawatha or Marion.'

Last month, Shebetka celebrated the grand opening of Extensions Dance Academy on Mount Vernon Road SE. Her familiarity with the Cedar Rapids dance scene goes back to childhood. She began dancing in first grade and started teaching dance at a local studio during high school. Her teaching career has spanned 21 years and multiple disciplines, including tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop.

Teaching dance always had been a second job for Shebetka, who most recently was a stay-at-home mom. But with her two youngest children now in dance themselves, the timing was right for Shebetka to bring a dance studio to an underserved part of the city.

Shebetka's husband was the one who found the site — an old tire shop on Mount Vernon Road SE.

'When I saw it from the parking lot, I wasn't so sure,' she said. 'But then I walked inside and the space was almost perfect.'

While the location may have been ideal, it took some work to convert the building into a workable dance studio. The truck bays in back became two large dance rooms, but first the sloped floors had to be leveled, the garage doors covered and an HVAC system installed. Work was completed over the summer.

The dance rooms are equipped with floating floors that rest on high-density, shock-absorbing foam and are covered with a non-slip vinyl and rubber composite surface. Shebetka said this type of floor, which is used by many professional dance organizations, will help protect dancers from slips and falls and overuse injuries.

Classes at Extensions Dance Academy include recreational classes in multiple disciplines for children ages 3 and up as well as competitive dance teams. Classes are taught by Shebetka and eight other instructors.

'I've danced so long in the area that I was able to reach out to people I knew,' she said of the staffing process. 'All of our instructors have danced all their lives and have previous teaching experience. Some are school teachers. Most are moms.'

Shebetka said she and her entire staff were excited to begin classes on Aug. 31.

'Our goal for the studio is to create a positive, uplifting experience for kids,' she said. 'Dance at the competitive level can get stressful, overwhelming and demanding, but we are steering clear of that. We want to provide a fun and healthy environment where students can gain confidence and reach their full potential.'

• Know a company or manager who has been in business for less than a year that would be ideal for 'Ground Floor'? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com

At a glance

• Owner: Jen Shebetka

• Business: Extensions Dance Academy

• Address: 3108 Mount Vernon Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids

• Telephone: (319) 360-6884

• Website: www.extensionsdanceacademy.com