By Alli Walbolt, Icon Intern

On Main Street in Ada, among the many shops and restaurants, sits a dance studio called Rhythm in Motion Dance Centre. With its beautiful awning, it stands out from the other store fronts. Upon walking in, one may notice that the inside is very open and inviting with the dance floor immediately following the waiting area.

During observation, the owner, Darcey Schneider, shows an encouraging, warm and dedicated demeanor while working with 7-9 year olds, who are learning tap.

Darcey grew up in Lima and started dancing at the age of 3. She knows and teaches 8 different styles of dance, including, tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, pointe, lyrical, ballroom and gymnastics.

She is very passionate about dance and cares very much for her students. She says, the thing she loves most about dance is, “seeing the children smile.” Darcey goes on to talk about a student, who has been homeschooled and how she loves to watch the student interact with the other kids while she’s having fun learning to dance.

There are about 97 students enrolled in her dance classes this season; some as young as 18 months.

“We teach [18-month-olds] basic movements in tap and ballet, but it’s mostly about social skills.” She says, adding that for the younger kids dance classes are really about the basics such as flexibility, but it’s also to teach them how to socialize, listen to direction, and develop life skills.

Every year dancers from Darcey’s studio participate in pregame shows for the Cleveland Cavaliers and in addition this year, she will be sending a group of dancers ranging from 18 months to 18 years to the Outback bowl to perform during the pregame and halftime shows.

Darcey is not only the owner for Rhythm in Motion Dance Centre, but she is the director and head choreographer. She finds that being a business owner in a small town is “a struggle.”

Since she came from a bigger city, her ideas and teaching style are often misunderstood. She feels as though parents may think her expectations are too high or that she should be less strict. She asserts that “their children are just as talented as the big people” and they should have the same privileges as them.

In addition, as the business owner she works many hours to keep up with the never ending paperwork. She says she works from 7:45 a.m. until 11 p.m., six days a week and the work load never ends.

Darcey is very dedicated to dance, the studio, and the students who she teaches. She shows a passion for them that is vital to teaching the art of dance and keeping a small business up and running.