BROOKLYN, NY— A new dance studio in Prospect Heights is drawing families and young dancers by rejecting a long-standing model of ballet-first training and recitals.
Rikud Studio, located at 607A Vanderbilt Avenue, has enrolled more than 165 students within its first two months and now offers 30 weekly classes for children, teens and adults.
The studio operates without mirrors, does not teach ballet and does not hold recitals.
Founder Caila Moed said the approach reflects a broader view of dance history and education.
“Most dance studio education in the U.S. still starts with ballet and works towards recitals,” Moed said. “But historically, hundreds of distinct dance traditions emerged from cultures around the world long before ballet became the norm in European courts. Hip-hop, house, and breaking are complete dance forms with their own techniques, histories, and pedagogies.”
Rikud focuses on street and club dance styles, including breaking, hip-hop and house.
Classes emphasize foundational movement concepts such as bouncing, rocking and grooving, alongside breaking techniques like toprock, footwork, power moves and freezes.
The studio’s most popular offering is “Littles,” a caregiver-and-child class for ages 0 to 3 that introduces rhythm through clapping, stomping and guided movement.
Other classes range from early childhood programs to teen sessions and adult classes, along with open sessions and community dance events.
Moed, who previously worked at Goldman Sachs and in arts philanthropy, said her background in dance shaped her professional discipline before she shifted careers to open the studio.
Rikud’s model aligns with a growing shift in dance education that emphasizes improvisation, musicality and cultural context.
Instructors are working professional dancers, and the studio prioritizes teachers who remain active in their communities.
The studio’s master teacher, Andrew Carter, known as Dr. Ew, brings more than a decade of experience in breaking and hip-hop instruction. He has taught at institutions including the Joffrey Ballet School and Broadway Dance Center.
Rikud positions itself as a hub rather than an authority on hip-hop culture. Its location places it near neighborhoods with deep ties to the genre.
The Notorious B.I.G. grew up in nearby Clinton Hill, while Jay-Z is from Bedford-Stuyvesant. Public spaces such as Prospect Park and Fort Greene Park have long served as gathering places for dancers.
The studio is expanding its programming through a summer camp in partnership with HereNow Cultural Space in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
The program will include dance training alongside graffiti art, DJ instruction and neighborhood tours focused on local cultural history.
Rikud also hosts community events, including breaking battles and dance parties. Upcoming events include a children’s breaking competition in partnership with New York Collective and a family dance event featuring Saint James Joy.
Classes range from $25 to $45 for drop-ins, with package and series pricing available. The studio also offers free or low-cost open sessions to broaden access, including a free hip-hop session and a $5 house session with a live DJ.
Find out more about Rikud Studio here.
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