As Nebraska Dance wraps up its 25th year in Omaha, founder Stephanie Pearson is reflecting on how far they’ve come. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but I definitely could never have imagined being where we are now,” Pearson said.
When she opened the doors of the first Nebraska Dance location in 2001, Pearson had one studio and three staff members. Fast forward 25 years, the business has won awards and grown into three locations across Omaha (in the Central, West and Old Mill neighborhoods), bringing exceptional dance instruction to students of all dance levels, from toddlers to adults.
Starting small and staying local
After growing up as a dancer in Omaha, Pearson returned home after college and saw a space in the dance education community she knew she could fill.
“Dancing at high levels really enriched my life, so I wanted to create a place for kids to be able to excel in dance,” she said. “But I also wanted to create opportunities that introduced different varieties of dance to kids at all levels.”
It was clear the demand was there: The Omaha dance studio grew from one studio to 11 by 2012, expanding to additional locations in 2019 and 2023. “It was a constant redoing and reinventing systems to manage the growth. But my focus always remained on quality dance lessons and growing well,” Pearson said.
That quality translated to commitment, bringing many dancers who grew up as students back as teachers. “The first 15 years I taught a lot and hired people I knew and trusted to teach, but this next generation of instructors has been the students we raised up in our studio,” Pearson said. “That’s a really special, sweet part about it.”
Sharing the power of dance
Pearson believes strongly in the power of dance to help kids grow into well-rounded adults. “What I love is that dance is such a great vehicle to grow physically and emotionally. It teaches discipline, respect for classmates, goal setting, resilience and so many other qualities. Plus it’s fun, and it’s good exercise,” she said. “Kids need those vehicles, and there are many to choose from, but dance is a really great one.”
Offerings at Nebraska Dance include classes for kids as young as 18 months, with both recreational dance classes and competitive dance programs. “You can do one hour a week or four days a week and go to competitions,” Pearson said. “We’ve tried to create every opportunity under the sun.”
Registration is open now for the upcoming season, and families can expect some updates and renovations at the Central location when they return in the fall. Pearson will be there, continuing to revel in the joy of the dancers. “I’d like to thank the community for their support and give all glory to God for what He has built here,” she said.
To learn more, visit nebraskadance.com.
