Why, the nMotion Dance Center, of course!

@The Next Step Dance Academy Serving dancers ages 18 months through adult for going on 13 years!

I'd have to say Moore Than Dance, where you can dance, sing and act! Where else can you not only perform in a Spring Recital, but also in a full-length musical each Winter?

N'Motion is my favorite! Not only did they teach me to dance, they often volunteer and participate in community events.

Moore Than Dance has everything a budding performer needs to become a triple threat: singing, dancing and acting. The instructors are trained professionals who nurture the artist in every student, child to adult!

My kids have grown up at The Next Step Dance Academy. It has provided more than just a place to dance. It is a family all of whom enjoy the love of dance and each other.

The Next Step Dance Academy

Love 'nMotion Dance Center! Both my daughter and I take regular classes and love them.

n'Motion Dance Studio! They do incredible work with the children as well as strive to be as involved as possible in making the Fridley community a better place for all. They're more than just a great business; they're a great example for the business community.

I LOVE nMotion Dance Center! They offer a variety of different classes for all ages, they have an amazing staff, and much much more!

Moore Than Dance...a studio that offers 'more' than dance...my kids are take acting, singing, musical theatre, broadway jazz, and hip hop. Love that all of these classes are in one place. Teaching staff is amazing!

The Next Step Dance Academy is my choice. They have taught dancers that are now in New York performing in companies as well as they offer scholorship programs to children who are unable to afford dance because everyone should be able to dance regardless of income.

Plus I forgot to mention that their staff has made the Fridley dance team a winning team that attends state!

nMotion Dance!

The next step dance academy!!!

'nMotion because we are like one big growing family who can't wait for new people to come and dance with us!

'nMotion Dance Center has my vote!

N'motion dance center all the way!

'nMotion is like my second home!

'nMotion dance! They are very active in the community, from parades to supporting local non profits. Great member of the business community!

nMotion Dance Center!

Great to see all the love for dance! In my opinion, places to dance may be one of those things that don't lend themselves to ranking. But if a best-of contest gives everyone a chance to say what they like and why, it's probably all good, right?

nMotion - love that they're so active in the community.

I love the nMotion dance studio its a great way to learn awesome dance moves and make friends without the presure of a competitive studio

Definately n'Motion! They have great classes for all ages and all types of dance!

The 'nMotion Dance Center!!

'nMotion Dance Center is so welcoming and makes me feel at home. It not only has taught me the fundamentals of dance, but it's taught me about community, teamwork and that being the best isn't everything instead it's how hard you've tried and how much you've improved. I've made so many new friends and have learned to dance along the way. I love 'nMotion Dance!!

The Next Step Dance Academy!!! They have an excellent staff team and offers many different classes for ages 18mos-Adult and they also offer competitive groups. I have grown up at this studio and am now a teacher wouldn't go anywhere else.

The 'nMotion dance center is the best dance studio in Fridley. I've been dancing there every since its opened and ive loved it! The staff is very nice and always there to help, You always feel welcome when you walk in the studio, And the classes are alot of fun!

'nMotion Dance Center!

Sarah, you expressed very well what I was trying to say about ranking dance organizations and opportunities. Let's be glad there are so many! For example, is it a coincidence that three public high schools drawing students from the city of Fridley have state-tournament-level dance teams?

Have to put a shout out for Fridley Just For Kix!! Fridley is lucky to have so many quality varieties and options for dancers!!

I am going to say... Just for kix Fridley AND The next step dance academy!

What's up ladies?!?!

Anything but n'motion...

Next step dance academy

The 'nMotion dance center is the best! It has taught me so much more than just dance. We are one big family and are always welcoming to anyone who wants to start dancing.

The 'nMotion Dance Center is amazing!

The 'nMotion Dance Center has an amazing staff and a very talented group of dancers. Their hard wrk really pays off at their annual recital.

The 'nMotion dance center is the best!! Everyone there is so nice and very welcoming to anyone and everyone! I feel the 'nMotion dance center teaches you so well about dance! The classes are so fun too! cause you get to meet alot of new people each year. The best part is learing the dances and getting ready for the recital cause you work so hard all year!! And then get to show what you learned while having fun. 'nMotion dance center all the way!!

Nmotion Dance Center is the best in Fridley!!

We are extremely luck to have four wonderful and involved programs in Fridley. Just for Kix offers recreational and dance team style competition options and instructs students preschool through adult. Emily is also co-head coach of the State Fridley Tigers Dance Team.

The Next Step Dance Academy has been serving the community for going on 13 years. They offer recreational classes for ages 18 months through adults. Recently their soloist Dominick Burkhardt Bixby took 9th highest score out of the Midwest Starz Nationals in Wisconsin Dells. Over 50% of their graduating students go on to work as dancers and instructors. They also have a high percentage of male dancers. Angela is co-head coach of the Fridley Dance Team whom went to State the past two years.

N'Motion is a recreational studio with a very active parade unit. Sarah has been a part of dance in Fridley for many, many years and opened her own studio in 2010 I believe. I know girls who dance here currently and truly enjoy it. :)

Moore than Dance opened in 2010 or 2011 and offers wonderful options for students who are interested in dance with a focus on theater training. The talented Angela has choreographed many high school productions and I believe works with the Fridley Community Theater.

How lucky we are to have four options to fit each dancers individual needs and desires. From a half hour class a week to multiple hours of intense training a week..one of these options has you covered!

Maybe the Patch could do a story on all four programs so that the community can best choose what fits their dancer for the upcoming season. :)

'nMotion is a community asset.

Moore Than Dance. Provides dance in musicals. Shows how they can use dance.

As the owner of Moore Than Dance, I think all of us should try and work together and get the whole community of Fridley dancing and singing! How much fun would a big flash mob be?

I also want to say that many of my former students have performed in regional theaters, commercials and even Broadway. As a professional actor/dancer myself (I was blessed to dance onstage with Paul McCartney) I know how important it is to get many types of training. So students can benefit from all of our studios.

So, hats off to all the studio owners in Fridley! I think we are in great company! I'm serious about us working together!!

I think that all the dance studios in Fridley are exeptional in their own way. All three offer unique opportunities for dancers persuing different paths. As a dancer that has danced at all three I can honestly say there is not one studio that is greater than the other, just different. But I must say I prefer Next Step Dance Academy and Moore than Dance. N'Motion is not a serious dancers cup of tea.

Having danced at all three studios I LOVE Next Step Dance Academy and Moore Than Dance. Both studios are very welcoming and have talented staff that love to teach. I think this article is innapropriate though. All studios in Fridley have something great to offer and I know many that have danced at one or more of the studios. This contest is putting the dance commnity in Fridley against each other.
THEY'RE ALL AMAZING!!!

Folks, the Fridley area dance community is so dynamic that you're way ahead of the slow and steady pace of Patch Readers' Choice. This is the time for nominations, so any place mentioned here that fits the category will be in the vote. Actual voting doesn't start until July 23—more than a month away! So let's keep making nominations if any places haven't been mentioned—but I wanted you to know it's a long time before any tallying of support will happen. And of course in the end it is not scientific, and everyone has their own opinions and preferences.

We love our Musical Theater class at Moore than Dance. Super fun birthday parties too!

Moore Than Dance! Perfect teachers, singing, dancing, acting and a winter show? How could Moore Than Dance not be the best studio? MTD! MTD! :)

MOORE THAN DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being a dancer and watching all three studios perform, I'd have to say 'nMotion is not the best studio. They don't teach their students proper technique and their choreography isn't the best either. Let's just say if you want to be a serious dancer, 'nMotion isn't the place to go... I'd suggest The Next Step Dance Academy or there are alot of other very amazing studios throughout the Twin Cities.

Moore Then Dance all the way!!!

Shelley M.
Moore Than Dance!!
It's not just for kids. They have great classes for us older people also.

Moore than Dance offers singing, dancing and acting for EVERYONE! I am going to learn hip hop & break dancing and I am in my 50's! Fun!

NMotion Dance Center!

As a teacher at NMotion Dance Center I can not stress how proud I am of all of our students for always being so optimistic. We would never condone any negative comments about another studio because we are supportive to anyone and everyone. And may I remind everyone leaving a comment here that The Patch is simply asking for nominations of studios in Fridley. There is absolutely no reason to "bash" any other studio.
As for the comment about our studio not teaching our students proper technique, I can guarantee you that comment is completely false. We use a progressive technique that begins with our 3 year olds and is applied to all classes through adult.

I nominate 'NMotion Dance. Amazing community outreach.

Mike Schardin
MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce - Board Member

Here are the nominees so far, in the order mentioned in the comment stream:
'nMotion Dance Center
Next Step Dance Academy
Moore Than Dance
Just For Kix
Nominations are still open for others. We'll start the voting next month.

Just wanted to specifically say that I agree that negative comments are not necessary. The beauty of the Fridley dance programs is choice. Choice to find something that fits right where you are on your journey as a dancer and an artist. That will look different to each person. A wise dance teacher once told me, "There are enough dancers for all of us." It is so true! :) I do not see this as a competition but a celebration of the rich and vibrant dance community right in our own back yards.

'nMotion dance center! The teachers there are great and really help you improve on dance and technique. We treat everyone there like a family and no one is there to judge. It's a non-competitive learning environment so all we do is just have fun dancing and making new friends. The best part is recital at the end of the year.

Moore Then Dance, everyone is helpful and friendly and the studio feels like a big family.

Moore Than Dance! The studio is amazing and everyone is so helpful and supportive.

Even though this isn't a studio I would most definitely say Fridley Dance Team... I mean come on we made it to STATE and this team is really the one representing Fridley as a team and sure does not get enough credit for all they do! But all these studios above are great and there is a dancer from FDT at each of these studios which is pretty cool!

Moore Than Dance is run by my sister. My daughter went there and loved it. I may be biased, but I know my sister pours her heart into it, works extremely hard, loves dance and the kids and that shows in her teaching. I highly recommend it.

Moore Than Dance is amazing!

Moore than Dance and Next Step Dance academy all the way!!!! Professional with lots to offer!

I have danced with all three dance studios and I think they all have something different to offer. I have now danced professionally and am a Dance major at Loyola University-Chicago and I'd have to say Angela Burkhardt-Bixby from Next Step Dance Academy is the one who made that possible for me. I have been a guest instructor for several summers now at Next Step and I really enjoy the staff, they all really know their stuff. I did dance at N'motion when it was still J&L and I had to leave because it didn't offer the level of training I was looking for. It's not for dancers that are very serious, more of a recreation studio. I have also worked with Angela Manella for years and she is a very talented woman who runs a very professional studio that has a lot to offer in the areas of dance but also singing and acting. I was on the Fridley Dance Team for 5 years as well and have helped out with and attended the state wide Just for Kix camps. Just for Kix is fun and tailored towards dancers that want to be on dance teams in middle school and high school. I would definitely cast my vote for Moore than Dance and Next Step Dance Academy however they are the places to go!

Moore than dance!!!! I love that they have classes for EVERYONE .. Young or old, experienced or not ... Acting,singing and of course dancing!! ..even breakdancing!

Moore Than Dance

'nMotion dance!!!!

'nMotion dance! We are all one big family!

The next step dance academy

Angela at Moore than Dance has opened her heart, and her studio to include students with disabilities. She is the only studio I know of who offers these special stars classes during the regular dance season and features them at recital. Watching the joy these dancers expressed during their performances was priceless.

I would like to vote for Moore than Dance. It's obvious that Angela puts her heart into seeing that every student succeeds. In addition, she offers many classes to accommodate all ages and genre preferences. And besides Moore than Dance gives dancers and opportunity to showcase their talents in musical productions. I don't know a dance studio that would even close to producing the talented and family oriented atmosphere that Moore than Dance has created.

Next Step is the best!