Martin brings passion for dance back home
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Ryann Martin appears ready to welcome dancers to her new Ryann’s Dance Academy at 121 N. Taylor in Mount Ayr.
A vacant building in downtown Mount Ayr will soon ring with music and dance thanks to a dream by Ryann Martin.
Ryann’s Dance Academy is scheduled to open August 25 in the building that formerly housed Mitchell Drug and Forget-Me-Not Flowers at the corner of Taylor and Adams streets.
The Dance Academy will be a full-service studio offering instruction in several dance styles, including tumbling, lyrical, ballet, clog, hip-hop, tap, contemporary and pom.
“I have a passion for tumbling,” she said, noting tumbling is where she began her dance career and is a personal favorite to teach.
The Dance Academy will be open to girls and boys ages 2-18, with full class instruction offered in age appropriate groups of 2-3 year-olds, 3-5 year-olds, 6-8 year-olds, 9-12 year-olds, middle school, and high school.
Competition groups and solo/duets/trios will be offered along with private lessons.
What prompted Ryann to take the plunge and open her own studio?
“I decided I wanted to keep teaching and inspiring kids to love dance as much as I do,” she said. “I have so much passion for dance and love to see their eyes light up when they achieve a skill they have been working so hard on.”
Martin brings a lifetime of dance performance and instruction to her new studio.
A 2019 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School, Martin began her dance career at age 3. She then joined Leslie’s Dance and Tumbling and stayed for the next 15 years as a competitor and dance instructor.
Martin was a four-year member of the MACHS Sparks Drill Team, serving as team captain her junior and senior years.
During her time with the team, the Sparks twice placed first in the pom division at the state drill team competition.
She was also chosen for the all-Iowa dance team for three years.
Nationally, Martin at age 14 and partner Haylea England placed first with their contemporary duet at the National Competition in Chicago, Martin has also collected multiple duet/trio, group and individual trophies at competitions throughout Iowa. Martin has many first-place trophies in the Acro Division at Dance Masters of America conventions.
At present Martin is holding classes in the Ringgold Outdoor Alliance building, but come August 25, all classes will move to Ryann’s Dance Academy’s new location.
Plans are to hold classes Monday through Thursday.
Fridays and Sundays will be reserved for private lessons.
For now, Saturdays will be Ryann’s day off, although the schedule will be available for make-up classes and special events.
Registration for fall classes will take place Tuesday, August 3 from 4-7 p.m. at the new studio location.
For more information, check www.ryannsdanceacademy.com for a full schedule of events and announcements.
