MomenTum Dance Planning Move to Downtown Holdrege

MomenTum Dance Academy will soon have a new more visible home in downtown Holdrege.

Owner Mady Thelen said she purchased the building at 702 4th Avenue “so we could grow and offer more for our dancers". She hopes to open the new studio by the time classes start in August.

“I hope that the exposure of being on a main street in town will bring awareness to the studio and gain even more students,” Thelen said. “There's plenty of things to do for the parents during their student's class. With a nail salon, boutique, and coffee shop within walking distance, it is the perfect opportunity for everyone to thrive.”

Thelen, who was a professional dancer in Kansas City before moving to Holdrege, started the studio in the fall of 2021 at its current location at 118 W. 11th Avenue.

“My plan always was to rent for the first couple years and buy my own space once I knew that I could successfully run the studio,” she said. “We are currently at 130 students and the class sizes are full.”

The new location will be remodeled to house two classrooms, which will allow Thelen to double the amount of classes offered and to offer two classes at the same time.

“We can hold fitness classes for the parents during their dancers' class,” Thelen said “It's a great use of time rather than sitting in the lobby scrolling social media.”

She offers dance classes for children ages 2-18, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, clogging and lyrical. She also offers adult fitness classes including barre, HIIT, and strength and stretch classes. She teaches a competition team that travels to Omaha and Kansas City in the spring. In addition to a spring dance recital, Thelen’s students also perform The Nutcracker each December at The Tassel in Holdrege.

Her students travel from as far away as Elwood, Alma, Minden, and towns in between.

Thelen said she currently employs three part-time dance teachers and will add two more with the new studio. The employees teach dance and fitness classes, do choreography and assist with recitals and competitions.

The studio’s new entrance will be on the west side of the building and will open into a modern waiting room. After renovated, the new studio will have two bathrooms and a dressing room for young students to change into their dance attire. There will be two classrooms with barres built into the walls, 100 feet of mirrors, and high ceilings. A large storage closet will be included in one of the studios to store mats, fitness equipment and props. Thelen will have her office in the basement, along with more storage for miscellaneous recital décor and costumes.

PCDC is assisting this project with multiple grant opportunities.

“I am amazed with how much they can offer small businesses,” Thelen said. “Ron and Sally are such a delight to work with!”

For an overview of PCDC’s GO! Business grants and programs, visit the PCDC website.