LEBANON, VA – November 9, 2022 – Expanding opportunities for students from six months and older to learn to dance or to dance competitively is the goal of Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., in Lebanon, according to owner Jasmine Adams.
Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., was a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant.
“Elite Motion Dance Company, Inc., provides many opportunities for Southwest Virginia families to explore the field of dance and fitness, while at the same time creating jobs,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The new business projects three full-time employees and five part-time employees within five years.”
Adams currently has as many as 60 regular students who range in age from six months to 18 years and just recently started an adult fitness and conditioning group. Additionally, she manages a competitive dance team which competes March to May in several age divisions. Training for the competitive teams, however, she said is a year-round initiative.
In opening the studio, Adams said Elite Motion Dance Company brought a high level of dance to the area.
“It is our hope to give dancers high quality training to be used to help them get scholarships, dance on a college team, dance professionally, or even have a career as dance instructors,” Adams said. “Elite Motion Dance is a studio for dancers of all ages and abilities. Our hope is that while dancing with our studio, that our students feel welcomed and encouraged to grow both in dance and in life.”
Adams noted all instructors at Elite are highly qualified, experienced and certified. Currently there are three instructors and a director, who also oversees choreography for the competitive teams.
Classes are offered six days a week and include those in ballet, tap, jazz, hiphop and clogging. Additionally, classes are offered in acrobatic arts and tumbling. Yoga classes are offered on Saturdays and a Baby and Me class is also available. A summer camp gave area dancers additional opportunities to refine their skills.
Adams said she used the VCEDA grant to put in all new mirrors and to renovate part of the lobby area to create another studio space. The installation of new ballet barres and a spray tan booth were additional renovations made to the business location.
“Before the grant, we were a one-room studio and did not expect to grow like we did,” Adams said. “We were running out of space and getting the grant allowed me to be able to do more.”
Adams worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) in developing her application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Russell County Industrial Development Authority.
“On behalf of the Russell County IDA, I would like to thank VCEDA for their partnership on this project,” said Ernie McFaddin, Russell County IDA chairman. “We are very excited about the opportunities that Elite Motion will offer to the children in our communities. The programs offered by Elite Motion provide a great mechanism to grow the character and confidence of our younger generation. It is our hope that their business will prosper for many years to come.”
“The SBDC at Southwest Virginia Community College was honored to assist Jasmine Adams of Elite Motion Dance Company in Lebanon, in applying for the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund Grant,” said Margie Douglass, SBDC program manager at SWCC. “This business is a fantastic addition to the performing arts community of the area. The region will benefit not only economically but culturally from the unique offerings of distinct types of dance genres to a wide array of age groups.
“We are thrilled that Elite Motion Dance Company was selected as one of the recipients of the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund Grant. The region is truly privileged to have Elite Motion Dance Company and its highly trained instructors promoting and developing the love of dance within all age groups. The SBDC is excited to continue to support Elite Motion Dance Company as they continue to grow their business, their facilities and their staffing.”
The business, located at 383 Technology Park Drive in Lebanon and may be reached at 276-337-8837. It may also be found on Facebook or at www.elitemotiondance.com. Registration for classes is available online.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.