“We don’t just teach dance for the sake of performance. We really want to connect the heart to the movement,” noted Chelsea Shelton, owner/artistic director/teacher/choreographer of Bloom Dance Studio at 218 W. Fifth St. in Waynesboro.
The faith-based, God-centered organization provides an opportunity for each dancer to “bloom” into the unique dancer and artist they were created to be, according to Shelton, who recently relocated her business from Hagerstown.
“We had been looking for a new building for 2 and a half years and every option fell through,” she added. “When this space became available, it was perfect for our needs and the way that we wanted to be able to grow. This opportunity came and we felt we needed to take it.”
About Shelton
With 27 years of dance experience, Shelton of Waynesboro has training in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, pointe, Flamenco, and contemporary styles of dance. She continues to train and has been teaching and choreographing locally, including time as an adjunct professor teaching and choreographing within the modern and jazz class at Hagerstown Community College. Shelton also was the director of Gateway Ministries Church’s dance ministry, 3rd Day Anointing, where she led, choreographed, and taught for 11 years.
After graduating from high school, Shelton was accepted into Remnant Dance Co. in Tampa, Florida, with daily training in jazz and modern styles, teaching opportunities, administrative training and numerous performance opportunities. During a dance mission trip to the Philippines, she performed, taught classes and judged a dance competition.
She also was accepted into the Ingredients Dance Training Co. in Dallas, Texas, training daily in ballet, jazz, modern and contemporary. She had many performance opportunities in Dallas and traveled on a nationwide tour with Christian dance convention, Dance Revolution, where she performed, assisted classes and performed administrative duties.
Available classes
Bloom’s classes for children 18 months old through adults start Sept. 5. They include acrobatics, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, modern, pointe prep, pointe, tap and adult. The studio also offers daytime, preschool and homeschool, improv, intro to dance and mommy and me sessions.
“People are excited that there is a Christian option available,” added Shelton. “Our dance is centered around the Lord. There is prayer before and at the end of a session. The music is Christian or positive and our costumes are modest, but super cute. We make sure that no dancer is uncomfortable.
“Because we have been in business for 12 years, we have a good client base with students from Chambersburg, Hagerstown and other locations in Maryland, and West Virginia. What we do is worth the drive.”
Shelton acknowledged the assistance of Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce. “Connecting with them has been so beneficial. They’ve been amazing, letting people know who we are and that we’re in Waynesboro. And social media has been very helpful.”
Hours at Bloom are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information call 240-500-6009 or email bloomdancestudio@gmail.com or visit: bloomdancestudio.com
“We are still accepting registrations and excited about all we have to offer … a variety of dance styles and the wide range of ages that we serve as well.
“We are committed to not only training up dancers with skill and excellence,” noted Shelton, “but artists who dance with power, purpose and passion.”
