Dance and Arts VA Finds New Home, New Opportunities on Water Street

Dance and Arts VA is settling into a new home in downtown Front Royal, giving owner Amy Tehovnik more room to grow a lifelong dream while making dance classes easier to reach for children, adults and families across the community.

The studio recently moved from an upstairs location on Royal Avenue to 119 Water Street, where its first-floor space offers easier access, improved parking and greater visibility. Tehovnik said the move has already made a difference as the studio continues to attract dancers from Front Royal and Warren County, as well as Strasburg and Middletown.

“The location is amazing,” Tehovnik said.

The move comes as Dance and Arts VA grows. Tehovnik said the studio spent the summer working on its “Road to 40” effort, with a goal of adding 40 dancers. At the time of the interview, she said the studio was looking for about 12 to 14 more dancers to reach that goal.

Classes are designed for a wide range of ages and experience levels. The studio’s core program serves children ages 2 through 16, with ballet, tap, jazz and other styles available.

Adults are getting more opportunities to join in, too.

Dance and Arts VA is adding Monday adult classes, including tap and country jazz. Tehovnik said the tap class is designed to welcome beginners, not just experienced dancers.

“It’s very beginner-friendly for the adults to come in and just be a part of the whole dancing, get in a little bit of fitness and fun,” she said.

The studio also incorporates hip-hop into some of its pop-up programs, giving children an opportunity to try a different style without committing to a full season.

Those shorter programs are an important part of what Tehovnik is building. Pop-up classes function much like a small dance camp or mini-session, often mixing dance with crafts, snacks, and a party-like atmosphere for younger participants.

An October pop-up will teach the dance from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The class is being offered more than once, allowing dancers to try it again or get more practice with the routine.

The studio is also preparing for performances. Its winter show is scheduled for Dec. 18 at Warren County Middle School. Tehovnik described the winter event as a more informal performance, followed later by the studio’s formal spring recital.

Beyond regular classes, Tehovnik has worked to connect Dance and Arts VA with other businesses, organizations, and activities around Warren County.

The studio has partnered with Warren County Parks and Recreation on mini-sessions. One session was held in the spring, another was wrapping up at the time of the interview, and an additional fall session was planned.

Tehovnik said the Parks and Recreation programs can give people a chance to explore dance recreationally or try a different style for a few weeks.

Local businesses have also contributed to the studio’s growth. During the Road to 40 effort, businesses provided gifts for new and returning dancers. Tehovnik mentioned community partners including Rustic Memories Photography, Sipsies, Hometown Diner and Next Bend Adventures.

For Tehovnik, those relationships are about more than growing enrollment. She sees dance as one way to encourage children and families to be active and involved in their community.

“Don’t sit at home and just get out and move,” she said.

Dance and Arts VA has also taken part in local events, including Celebrate Kids Day, where members of the studio’s performance team danced as families enjoyed activities throughout the event.

More collaborations are being explored.

Tehovnik said she has been working with Terre Jenkins at Stone Branch Center for the Arts on ideas that could combine dance with live accompaniment and additional adult programming. An African flow program is among the plans under discussion, although dates had not yet been determined.

The partnership could also allow Dance and Arts VA to offer programs at another location while regular classes are taking place at the studio.

Tehovnik is also certified to teach Zumba and said dance-fitness programs incorporating Caribbean and Latin dance could provide another option for adults looking for exercise in a less traditional setting.

Running her own studio has been a long-term goal for Tehovnik, whose dance background stretches well beyond Front Royal.

She previously taught at Imagination Stage in Bethesda and danced with VF Dance Company. Tehovnik attended the University of Maryland with VF Dance Company founder Veronika (Veronica) Farkas and said the experience introduced her to dancers who worked in different styles and media.

Through those connections, Tehovnik met Leonae Noble and later had an opportunity to travel to New York to perform.

The New York performance remains a memorable chapter in her dance career. Performers were dressed by fashion designers for a stomp routine, and Tehovnik still has the outfit — including a pair of white patent leather Dr. Marten’s boots.

“The attire is part of the experience,” she said.

Now, the focus is closer to home.

Tehovnik said opening a dance studio was a lifelong dream, but community partnerships have helped turn it into something larger than the business she originally imagined.

“My dream has become a reality,” she said. “And now, with the partnerships in the community, it has become something that the community is helping put together as well.”

With a new first-floor home, expanding classes, performances and local partnerships, Tehovnik said she is looking forward to seeing where the studio goes next.

Dance and Arts VA is located at 119 Water Street in Front Royal, near Hometown Diner and other downtown businesses.

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials who help shape Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.