After nearly nine years of teaching Irish dance, Daniel and Kathy Nelson are opening up their own studio.
Both are champion dancers who have been hoping to teach in Williamsburg for quite some time. They currently teach Irish dance lessons at the Virginia Regional Ballet studio in Yorktown.
While they will continue teaching at the Yorktown location, the new studio at 3715 Strawberry Plains Blvd. offers the chance to expand classes and to reach a broader audience.
Kathy said Irish dance is a beautiful form of physical expression, but one not many people know how to teach.
“Ballet is everywhere,” she said, but finding Irish dance instruction can be challenging. She and Daniel are hoping to draw from those in the Williamsburg area who do not want to make the drive down to Yorktown.
Scheduling around existing classes at the Yorktown facility, the Nelson Academy had to combine different levels of dance into one instructional period. In Williamsburg, classes can be smaller, providing more individual attention.
“In Irish dance, you really have to focus on their form and technique,” Kathy said.
The studio of the Nelson Academy’s Williamsburg location has a competition-sized dance space, larger than the Yorktown facility. (Hannah S. Ostroff/ WYDaily)
Because Kathy is a certified Irish Dance instructor (T.C.R.G.) by the World Irish Dance Association, her students can compete in addition to taking classes.
Both Kathy and Daniel have competed in Irish Dance. Kathy is qualified for the Champion level, while Daniel became a National Champion in July 2013. Originally from Doylestown, Pa., they have been in the area for more than 30 years.
The focus of the Nelson Academy is not just on competition, though. In addition to regular recitals, the school has an Irish dancing Christmas show and “Irish Mystique,” which debuted at the Kimball Theatre in 2013 and also traveled to the Weinberg Center in Frederick, Md. The shows are produced by Nelson Productions LLC, the parent company of the Nelson Academy.
These performances are a treat for the parents who love the opportunity to see their children dance and bring friends, Kathy said. They also provide an incentive for students to work hard and excel.
Kathy said the chance to dance for a paying crowd “really strengthens their resolve.”
She and Daniel encourage dancers with any level of experience — including none at all — to come out and try taking classes. There are multiple skill levels offered at both Nelson Academy locations, plus Kathy will give private lessons to adults who are interested in getting a start in Irish dance but want one-on-one attention before joining a group setting.
“There’s something for everybody,” Daniel said.
(Hannah S. Ostroff/ WYDaily)
Kathy is also excited about the ability to hold classes specifically for home school children. A former home school mom, she brings a philosophy of teaching to all her work, tailoring instruction to the strengths and needs of each student.
“I can cater more to the needs of the community,” Kathy said.
The Nelson Academy will host a grand opening event in Williamsburg from 5 to 8 p.m. today with refreshments, the chance to tour the space and to register for classes.
Classes will start in Williamsburg on Jan. 6.
To see a full schedule of classes, visit the Nelson Academy’s website. For more information, call 253-2437.