Infinity Dance Company opens studio in Birch Bay

Birch Bay dancers now have the opportunity to groove locally with the opening of Infinity Dance Company’s newest dance studio.

The studio opened its second location at 4819 Alderson Road on February 1 after running its first studio in Lynden in 2014. Hip hop, ballet and jazz classes are offered for dancers ages 3 to preteen from 3 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“I don’t think there’s a lot for kids and dance classes in Birch Bay,” said studio owner Christie Peetoom. “The Birch Bay community likes when it feels like it’s right next to home because I think sometimes they get tired of driving to Blaine.”

Peetoom, who lives near Birch Bay, said she had wanted to open a studio in the community and couldn’t turn it down after the building owner contacted her about a potential space this
summer.

“I’ve been wanting to open up here for quite some time and the opportunity presented itself,” Peetoom said.

Peetoom started her dance career in Gig Harbor at 3 years old when she began training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern and contemporary before moving to Whatcom County at 10 years old.

She participated in Christian outreach program Youth With A Mission in New York City that allowed her to tour the U.S. in a dance performance advocating against bullying.

In Whatcom County, Peetoom had directed a worship dance team at Sonlight Community Church and coached cheerleading at Lynden High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the dance program at Western Washington University.

“Dance is the best way I can express how I feel or express what’s inside me even if I don’t know what I feel,” Peetoom said. “It’s such a creative outlet. It just makes me happy.”

To follow social distancing, Peetoom limits the number of people in the Birch Bay studio from its normal capacity of 10. She added that her Lynden studio has had in-person classes since June without any known Covid-19 cases being spread in what the state department of health classifies as a low-risk sport.

“It was exciting to be able to expand in spite of the pandemic because we can still grow and operate safely,” Peetoom said.

The Birch Bay studio is still accepting registration for spring session, running February 1 through June 19.

“With everybody who comes through here, it’s an opportunity to help them be a better version of themselves, not just in dance but in life,” Peetoom said. “That’s where my passion is, to inspire that love, energy and happiness in all of the kids.”

For more information, visit infinitydancecompany.com/birch-bay or email info@infinitydancecompany.com.