Academy of Dance Arts

Academy of Dance Arts is a dance school in Columbia, SC. The studio offers instruction for students pursuing dance as a professional career or as an enriching extracurricular activity, delivering focused classes that aim to meet each dancer’s personal goals. With a rating of 4.90 based on ten customer reviews, the school serves the Columbia area and surrounding neighborhoods, welcoming beginners through advanced performers.

The school is directed by Debra Bricker, whose career includes performances with national ballet companies in the United States and Canada. Trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts, the National Ballet of Canada, and the American Ballet Theater on full scholarship, she has appeared in televised productions of ballets such as Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Firebird. Bricker has danced with the Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, and several other regional companies, and she was a principal dancer and ballet mistress for Columbia City Ballet. Her teaching experience spans USC, the SC Summer Dance Institute, Tri‑District Arts Consortium, and Columbia College, and she has choreographed local theater productions including West Side Story. This extensive background informs the studio’s curriculum and mentorship.

Academy of Dance Arts is located on Jaybird Ln, a short walk from Hard Scrabble Road (about 0.1 mile) and Clemson Road (about 0.2 mile). The studio sits near the Timbervale neighborhood and Crane Creek, and it is within a mile of the Sandhills Post Office, placing it conveniently within the local community.

The academy enjoys a solid reputation among the customers it has served, a standing reflected in its high rating and consistent positive feedback.

With expert leadership and a trusted local reputation, Academy of Dance Arts stands out as a respected dance school for Columbia’s aspiring dancers.