BY TAWNY SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Twinkle lights and tiny dance shoes took center stage Saturday in Inez as The Inez Dance Academy brought its annual Christmas Showcase to the Collier Center.

The 2025 performance was equal parts tradition and celebration — a chance for young dancers to trade classroom mirrors for a real stage and share the kind of joy that can only be measured in smiles, sparkles and new Christmas memories.

Instructor Abbie Crowe Fitch founded The Inez Dance Academy in 2022 after moving to Martin County and realizing something was missing.

“I taught dance for seven years before moving to Inez and had always hoped to have a studio of my own,” Fitch said. “When I moved here in 2022, there was not a dance studio in town, and it was the perfect opportunity to set this dream into motion!”

Fitch brings a lifelong background in dance to her work in Inez. She trained at the Yvonne DeKay School of Dance in Ironton, Ohio. She went on to study dance at Morehead State University, performing in the annual MSU Gala and as a member of the Morehead Dance Ensemble.

After college, she returned home to teach at Yvonne DeKay, working with students ages 2 to 18 and choreographing award-winning solos and duets that earned platinum ratings and special honors at local and national competitions. She has also served as a choreographer for the Ironton High School drama department, helping stage productions such as “Annie Jr.” and “Grease: School Edition,” as well as musical revues featuring classic and modern numbers.

Since opening, the studio has grown into a small-town hub where beginners learn first positions and big dreams take shape in small steps. As of fall 2025, the academy offered intro to dance for ages 3-5 and ballet & jazz combo and tap for ages 6-8 and 9-and-up.

Fitch also offers private lessons.

The Christmas Showcase highlighted the youngest performers, who sometimes arrive at their first class gripping a parent’s hand, to older dancers learning to move with confidence and control.

“Sometimes when the youngest dancers start taking class, they have a hard time even leaving their parents’ side, so to see them perform onstage in front of 100-plus people is such an accomplishment,” Fitch said.

For families in the crowd, the show was a holiday memory in motion — a little laughter, a little awe, and the kind of proud applause that feels like wrapping paper around a child’s bravery.

Fitch said she hopes dance offers more than choreography.

“My hope is that dance teaches kids to express themselves, and that they learn to exude grace and poise in everything they do,” she said.

The academy’s performances and community involvement have extended beyond December’s spotlight. The Inez Dance Academy has participated in local events, including performing at Christmas in the Mountains and the Appalachian Artist Festival. The studio, housed in the Collier Center, also hosts an annual spring recital.

In 2025, one dancer helped represent the studio beyond the county line. Kyleigh Hinkle, a student at Martin County Middle School, participated in the Tri-State Dance Alliance competition in Ironton, Ohio, in March. Fitch said the academy hopes to take more dancers to participate next year.

For Fitch that growth connects back to why she opened the studio in the first place — to create access, build confidence and keep the arts within reach in a rural community.

“Even as a teenager, I felt passionate about offering dance classes to children who may not have the opportunity to dance otherwise,” she said. “Establishing my studio in Martin County has given me the chance to make that dream a reality. The dancers and parents who have been with me from the beginning are what keep me going. I couldn’t do this without them.”

And when it comes time to step under the lights, Fitch keeps her message simple — a traditional wish, followed by the one thing she wants every dancer to carry with them.

“Of course, I tell them to ‘break a leg,’ but the most important thing is that they enjoy themselves and feel proud of the work they have done!” she said.

For information on class registration and future events, visit The Inez Dance Academy Facebook page.