MomenTum Dance Academy Chosen for 2025 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

PCDC has selected MomenTum Dance Academy for the 2025 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, Business of the Year.

The business will be honored at PCDC’s Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, October 29, at the Holdrege Country Club.

“It means a lot to me to have the work we're doing recognized in this way,” Schany said. “I'm just incredibly thankful for this community and all of the opportunities that a small town has to offer. I honestly don't know if I would have had the courage to do this in a bigger city.”

Madeline Schany opened the MomenTum Dance Academy in Holdrege in the fall of 2021. She was a professional dancer in Kansas City before moving to Holdrege. In 2024, she invested in a larger downtown location at 702 4th Ave. 

Shany said that since moving to the new location, she has hired six teachers and can have multiple classes happening at the same time. It has given other teachers in the community a chance to share their love of dance with a younger generation. And the new downtown location has been positive.

“Our location on a main corner in downtown Holdrege has also been great exposure for the studio and brings families downtown,” she said.

She teaches more than 130 dancers, and her students travel from as far away as Elwood, Alma, Minden, and towns in between. 

“When parents have 45 minutes to an hour while their child is in class, they have an opportunity to shop, grab a coffee, or run an errand locally,” she said. “I love that the studio can play a small part in helping support the other businesses around us.”

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

Schany has a passion for helping people of all ages with fitness and also offers adult classes including barre, HIIT, and strength and stretch classes. 

PCDC board members noted MomenTum Dance Academy’s s growth, innovation, and unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in the Holdrege community. 

“What began as a business venture has grown into an inspiring organization that empowers young people to discover their talents, build confidence, and pursue excellence both on and off the stage,” PCDC Board President Jared Engelbert said. “Through dedicated instruction, encouragement, and mentorship, MomenTum Dance Academy inspires its students to believe in themselves, embrace challenges, and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives. This commitment to nurturing the next generation reflects the very essence of entrepreneurial leadership: creating opportunities that inspire growth and lasting impact.”

Hall of Fame Banquet tickets are $50 if purchased by Oct. 20 and $60 after Oct. 20. Tables of eight may be reserved for $375 by Oct. 20 and $450 after Oct. 20. RSVP and purchase tickets by calling PCDC at (308) 995-4148 or by emailing Stacy@PhelpsCountyNE.com.