inMotion Center is celebrating 20 years in Newton

The inMotion Center is celebrating its 20th year of providing dance lessons among many other services to residents in Newton and Jasper County.

inMotion is owned by Michelle O’Brien who has her own history with dance that came full circle with dancing from a young age to ending up owning a dance studio and being able to teach this art to other generations of families.

“It has always kind of been on my bucket list of things that I wanted to do,” O’Brien said. “I always knew I was going to dance. I’ve danced since I was five. That was just my thing.”

Throughout her life she went to Drake University and then wound up at Columbia College in Chicago. O’Brien stayed in Chicago for 13 years and was involved in dance throughout her time there. She was then approached to buy out Patty’s School of Dance in Newton.

“It took me about a year to decide what I wanted to do ... Things just kind of were falling into place and I bought them out,” O’Brien said.

When you own a dance studio for 20 years that means lots of recitals and classes, but also lots of children and families. O’Brien does have favorite memories and feelings from her time owning and operating inMotion in Newton.

“Seeing the growth of the kids ... I have students that have graduated and I now have their kids,” O’Brien said. “The most fun is being in the room with the kids.”

inMotion students have the opportunity to participate on the dance company competition team that goes to events like Iowa Wolves games and Drake University games. The company is currently preparing for those event. inMotion also offers tumbling and dancing among others but O’Brien said the lessons go beyond the dance steps as children learn life lessons and build self-esteem.

“It is not just about dance ... There is so much growth,” O’Brien said. “It brings them so much joy and it brings me joy.”

While the studio doesn’t really have anything planned to celebrate two decades of service to Newton, O’Brien said they did make a shirt to commemorate the recitals they have done throughout the years.

“On the back of the shirt is every single recital and the year like all meshed up together,” O’Brien said.

Spending 20 years doing the same job every day can be difficult to do, but O’Brien said it has been easy for her citing that when you are doing something it doesn’t feel like work.

“I can’t believe it’s been 20 years, like it’s gone so fast,” O’Brien said through laughter. “I think it is because I love what I do. I love my job.”

O’Brien said that inMotion currently has about 300 students throughout the classes and different age groups. The future of the studio looks to be in good hands. O’Brien also wanted to extend a special thank you to her husband and her staff that are with her and continue to be with her.

“I have been so fortunate. I have surrounded myself with good people,” O’Brien said. “We are a good place, we love what we do.”

For more information on the services the inMotion Center provides, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/inMotionCenter or its website danceinmotionnewton.com.

“It’s an affordable thing to do that is going to benefit your kids tremendously,” O’Brien said,

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com