By: Maya Delgado, Dance Beat Editor
Published: May 10, 2024
Snyder City, Texas, has never been an obvious destination for serious dance training. With just over 11,000 residents and a two-hour haul from Lubbock or Abilene, the West Texas town built its jazz dance reputation slowly—through decades of regional competition wins, a handful of nationally touring alumni, and word-of-mouth loyalty that keeps families commuting from Midland, Odessa, and even New Mexico.
In 2024, that reputation is being tested. Post-pandemic enrollment turbulence, the TikTok-fication of jazz choreography, and rising operational costs are forcing Snyder City's four elite studios to adapt sharply or risk losing their edge. After interviewing directors, reviewing competition results, and sitting in on classes this spring, here's where each school stands—and who should walk through their doors.
The Swingin' Steps Dance Academy: The Traditional Powerhouse Under Pressure
Founded: 1997
Ages/Levels: 4–adult; recreational to pre-professional
Class Formats: Semester-based, plus summer intensives
Tuition: $185–$340/month depending on class load
Notable 2023–2024 Guest Artists: Jason Samuels Smith (tap/jazz fusion, February 2024); Isadora Loyola (commercial jazz, June 2023)
The Swingin' Steps Dance Academy still occupies the same exposed-brick building on 25th Street where founder Lila Turner opened her first studio 27 years ago. Turner, whose choreography credits include backup dancing for Lyle Lovett's 1995–1996 tour and assistant work for Debbie Allen's Hot Chocolate Nutcracker in Dallas, runs the academy with an old-school ethos: technique first, performance second, virality never.
"We're losing some kids to studios that promise viral choreography in eight weeks," Turner said. "But the colleges and companies our students audition for still want a clean double pirouette and control in your center. That doesn't change because TikTok exists."
The academy's five sprung-floor studios include one with Harlequin vinyl specifically for tap and jazz, and Turner's 2024 program adjustments reflect her response to industry pressure. She added a "Jazz History for Dancers" seminar series this spring—mandatory for competitive students—and expanded her teenager class schedule after parents complained that working families couldn't make 4:00 p.m. start times.
Swingin' Steps remains the safest bet for students aiming at BFA programs or musical theater careers. But Turner's resistance to short-form content trends has sparked debate among families. Several competitive dancers transferred to The Jazz Junction in late 2023.
The Rhythm Room: Intentionally Small, Deliberately Slow
Founded: 2014
Ages/Levels: Adult-focused; beginner to advanced
Class Formats: Drop-in and 6-week sessions; max 10 students per class
Pricing: $22/drop-in or $110 per 6-week session
Notable 2023–2024 Development: New partnership with Snyder City LGBTQ+ Center for all-gender social dance nights
If Swingin' Steps is a conservatory, The Rhythm Room is a living room with mirrors. Housed in a converted 1930s bungalow on El Paso Avenue, the boutique studio caps every class at ten students. Owner and primary instructor Devon Reeves, a former Austin-based company dancer who relocated to Snyder City during the pandemic, teaches most sessions personally.
"I know everyone's knee history here," Reeves said. "I know who needs to modify a jump landing and who's ready to try a barrel turn. That doesn't scale."
The Rhythm Room's 2024 growth has been quiet but significant. Reeves partnered with the Snyder City LGBTQ+ Center in January to host monthly all-gender Lindy Hop and jazz socials, drawing 30–50 attendees each. The studio has no competitive track, no recital pressure, and no children's program—which makes it a poor fit for families seeking a traditional studio path. For adult beginners recovering from dance trauma, or professionals wanting technical maintenance without the grind, it's become a refuge.
Roughly 35% of Reeves's regulars commute from Lubbock or Abilene. Several make the drive specifically for the studio's "Jazz for the Terrified" absolute-beginner series, which Reeves launched in 2022 and expanded to three weekly sections this year due to waitlists.
The Jazz Junction: Betting Big on Technology and Virality
Founded: 2019
Ages/Levels: 7–adult; recreational to competitive
Class Formats: Semester-based, with add-on "content labs"
Tuition: $165–
