article by Hannah Olson | Photos by Arica Lipp

Ballroom arrived in Billings the way music fills a quiet room: soft at first, then undeniable. Ask dance educator and community builder Arica Lipp how it began for her, and she’ll tell you about a choice that changed everything: “I changed my college choice to attend a college that had a ballroom dance program so I could learn. It was that powerful… it was like a siren call.” Today, Arica is one of the clearest voices inviting our city to the floor, shaping welcoming rooms where beginners feel brave, seasoned dancers feel challenged, and everyone feels seen.

“I’ve seen young children learn to be brave and confident, and I’ve seen teenagers love themselves for the first time.” She’s witnessed the neurological benefits too: “I’ve had people come to me who are suffering from MS… dance helps power their brain.” For many, she adds, “It is the greatest form of activity you can do to fight dementia… more than reading, more than all these other things.”

Arica’s classes and coaching meet people where they are: solo, partnered, young, seasoned, joyful, heart-sore. “People who have been heartbroken… found an outlet and discovered joy for themselves,” she says. That empathy animates programs like Step Together: “leading, communicating, and following, and how to apply that into your relationship,” and the deeper-dive coaching of Dance Your Way Back: “for couples who are really struggling… this may be a game changer.”

Her youth offerings plant hopeful seeds. “I’m offering six-week social dance classes for kids… planting seeds for the future generation,” she says. And the immediate payoff? “Knowing how to dance at prom changes everything.”

Arica teaches progress over perfection. The goal isn’t to outshine your neighbor; it’s to feel your own courage growing under your feet. She’s taught for more than two decades, and her approach steadily builds confidence: simple patterns become fluent conversations; first steps become first performances. “Time and time again, I’m convinced there is something about it for everyone at every age and stage,” she says. The emphasis on craft, kindness, and consistency makes the studio feel less like a class and more like a community, one where applause is shared generously and small victories matter.

That spirit shows up beautifully in En Fuego Dance Troupe, a community performance group Arica helps lead and love. She didn’t create En Fuego, and that is exactly the point: its heartbeat belongs to the members, and Arica is thrilled to help make the troupe what they want it to be: collaborative, inclusive, and joy-forward. “Auditions are a soft audition (no one gets cut). It just helps us know your commitment,” she says. The group is growing fast. It is gloriously diverse: “We counted nine countries represented in our group… men and women, moms, single young people, grandparents; all the ages.”

“What I love the most has been watching people transform— what dance has given them in unique ways.”

-ARICA LIPP

On performance day, En Fuego feels like Billings in motion: neighbors and new friends learning one another’s music. “When you learn someone’s music and dance to it, it bonds you,” Arica says. She’s emphatic about sharing the spotlight: “I want [the members] to have credit.” And she’s always scouting for leaders and teachers: “I’m always looking for more instructors… if you’re in the woodwork, this is your sign; come find me.”

Ballroom’s renaissance here isn’t the work of one studio. It is a weave of many threads. Arica happily points to other teachers, troupes, and spaces that keep our dance ecosystem thriving. “People want to know where to go and what to do; there are socials, salsa, Lindy Hop, country, line dancing, and more starting up,” she says. She cheers for fitness and fusion spaces too: “Pura Vida offers Zumba… Maribel Parman and Ty teach and perform as well; keep them on your radar.” And she champions the musicians who make our feet itch to move: “We want to see the bands supported so they keep bringing us the great music we love.” The invitation is bigger than any one calendar. It is a culture of participation, where shining your shoes and showing up is how you strengthen community.

What if we treated the dance floor like a neighborhood? Arica’s work suggests we can. In her rooms, respect looks like good frame and better listening; inclusion looks like choosing line dances that welcome beginners and performance pieces that celebrate many cultures and ages; generosity looks like teaching a nervous newcomer the basic step before the music starts. If you’re organizing an event, she’s ready to help make the room braver: “If you have an event with dancing, we’re a great opening act; perform, inspire, and invite people onto the floor.”

And if you’re on the fence? Consider this your nudge. Nobody needs to be ready to begin; they only need to begin. The first step is the bravest one you’ll take today, and Billings will meet you with a smile and an outstretched hand.

So come as you are. Bring your partner, parents, neighbors, and kids. Try a beginner class. Drop into a social. Cheer for En Fuego. Support the bands. Say yes when someone asks you to dance, and ask someone else in return. In Billings, ballroom isn’t a niche; it’s a gathering place, a shared language, and a little light we can choose together. As Arica puts it, dance has a way of helping people “discover joy for themselves.” The floor is open. The music’s on. We’ll see you there.

Originally printed in the October 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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