April Herriott and some of her youngest students share the stage. / Courtesy Photo
BY KENDALL MILLER
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
April Herriott has been dancing since she was three years old.
Going to the studio after school and practicing for hours until her mother picked her up was a way of life. That passion for movement led to joining a dance team in high school, college and then the chance to be a professional dancer for the Lakers and Kings.
After teaching popular dance classes for children at The Club at Natomas Park, Herriott decided to open her own studio on the corner of Del Paso Road and Gateway Park Drive in Natomas in 2004. Studio 18 was an overnight success with about 150 students in the first three months.
In 2008, the local economy turned.
“Parents started pulling their kids out of class one after the other,” said Herriott. “I knew things would have to change now that I had lost 25% of my business.”
Herriott kept Studio 18 alive by adding fitness classes like boot camp for adults and getting her dance company performing in the community to boost the studio’s name recognition. Herriott said this worked until her landlord decided to raise the rent.
Facing a $1,500 per month rent increase after 10 years in the same location, Herriott started to search for a new space. She made the move to a location on Northgate Boulevard prompted by friends who had successfully opened businesses in the Natomas warehouse district.
The new studio – Kids Dance and Fitness – opened in October 2014 and is going strong. Herriott said the school is growing at a rapid pace with four instructors and 150 students. The studio offers a variety of dance styles like jazz, tap, ballet, pre-point ballet, hip hop, peewee hip hop, ballet/tap combo classes, creative movement, tumbling, and contemporary jazz.
Herriott also continues to offer boot camp for adults. She can’t believe 10 years as a Natomas business owner have gone by.
“When you love what you do, it is easy to go to work every day,” she said. “We are just going to keep on dancing and enjoying what we do. I want these kids to leave here feeling healthy and prepared for their futures.”
Kids Dance and Fitness is located at 4700 Northgate Boulevard, in Suite 185. Classes are held Monday through Saturday. For more information about the studio and how to sign up, go to kidsdanceandfitness.com.
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
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