Our Story

In June of 2008, amidst a flood that devastated many parts of Cedar Rapids, we built a small, two-studio facility on N Center Point Road with the hopes of sharing our passion for dance with other young kids in our hometown. We were in college at the time, unmarried, and not only commuting back and forth to finish our degrees, but also working other full-time jobs to pay the bills. With the help of a small loan and willing family members, we bootstrapped the studio construction in 18 days and opened for business on June 23rd, 2008. In hindsight, it was a recipe for failure. But with the incredible support of our families and a small group of dancers and their parents who believed in us, paired with some youthful (aka blind) optimism and a work ethic that had been instilled in us by our parents and teachers/coaches growing up, we not only survived our first year in business but began to grow by leaps and bounds. 

By 2011, we had outgrown our first studio and began exploring the possibility of a relocation. Charlie left his job as a software developer in order to run the growing studio while Stephanie continued in her full-time position working in corporate finance at an insurance company. EDGE 2.0 (the “dream studio”) was built in late 2011 by Armstrong Development Co at 1550 Hawkeye Drive in Hiawatha. In January 2012, we moved into the new facility (which felt ginormous at the time!). We began focusing on expanding our program offerings, including starting our own production of The Nutcracker, growing our Company program, and developing relationships with some of the best master teachers in the country. 

Fast forward to 2023, and we’re still pinching ourselves as we utilize a studio that now spans over 30,000 sq. ft. and is one of the largest private dance studios in America. We're honored to share this beautiful space with you and the host of new opportunities it will provide.

It has been the wildest journey since 2008, one that has gone by in the blink of an eye, yet it has been filled with more joy, hard work, love, and support than we ever knew was possible. If we’ve learned anything along the way, it’s summed up by one of the greatest entrepreneurs in American history:

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of the families who have made our dream a reality. We are so humbled by the response the Cedar Rapids area has given us since 2008, and we can’t thank you enough for your support and trust in us. That trust drives us to do better and be better every single day for your kids. We can’t wait to see what the next decade will hold.