Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Horrigan.
Hi Katherine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story really begins in the dance studio. I spent over two decades as a professional dancer, performing with companies like Ailey II and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, and those experiences shaped both my artistry and my discipline.
After retiring from the stage due to knee injuries, I transitioned to leadership of a dance school, while earning my masters, running a non-profit dance company, and starting a family. In 2020, everything changed. The school I was directing closed suddenly during COVID, and at the same time I was navigating a divorce and figuring out how to support my family as a single mother. During a time of great uncertainty in my life, I took the challenge into my own hands and launched my company.
I founded Dance Academy of Virginia from the ground up with a month to market and convert customers before the season began. In the beginning, I did many of the roles myself. I was the teacher, the administrator, the marketer, and even the bookkeeper. What carried me through was the belief that dance could still be a place of stability and joy for families during an uncertain time. Looking back, I recognize that the challenges and momentum helped us practice the values we stand by now. Maintaining trust with our customers, creative problem solving, growth and improvement oriented, and building a proud community were fundamental aspects of our success.
Today, we serve over 1,500 students across two locations (the first in Mclean and the second in Del Ray), and what started as a leap of faith has grown into a thriving organization and I’ve had the privilege to build an incredible team that cares as much as I do about the impact we are leaving on our students and in our community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a dance school in the middle of a global pandemic came with constant uncertainty. In the first year, I battled fear, doubt, stress and every decision felt like a life or death call. On a personal level, I was rebuilding my life at the same time as I built the company. For two years, it required long hours and no days off with my daughter spending her nights and weekends at the studio.
As the business grew, new challenges emerged. I had to figure out how to protect the culture while scaling. Growth is exciting, but it requires intentional leadership to ensure that the values that mattered at the beginning remain at the center. Community will always be our driving force and we are very intentional about everyone who we bring onto our team to make sure that community stays front and center. Scaling quickly also reveals what no longer is sustainable and requires honest open willingness to invest in change. I’ve had hires not work out, customer challenges, and facility emergencies, but through it all we keep the bigger vision in sight and rely on a good sense of humor on the hard days.
I also believe in setting big, scary goals. Most recently we produced our very first full length performance of The Nutcracker at Capital One Hall in Tysons Corner. Not only did our team and our dancers do an incredible job with a beautiful performance, we actually sold out Capital One Hall! I am so incredibly proud of our team, our dancers and our community that truly rallied together.
Looking back, those challenges shaped the resilience and clarity I lead with now.
We’ve been impressed with Dance Academy of Virginia, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At its core, Dance Academy of Virginia is about much more than dance training. We provide high-level technical instruction, but equally important, we create an environment where students feel supported, confident, and seen.
We offer programs for all ages and levels, from young beginners to pre-professional dancers in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, musical theatre and more. What sets us apart is the balance between excellence and care. Families know they are receiving top-tier training, but also that their children are in a positive, structured, and encouraging environment.
We offer multiple pathways for dancers to find joy and success in both classes and camps. We guide our families to the best fit for their level of commitment, from pre-school and youth tracks with many class options and styles, to our audition-based Ensemble performance group, competitive tracks and the pre-professional Academy track.
I am especially proud of the culture we have built and the team behind it. I believe strongly in professional development for our team with growth paths and we have created a group of educators who are not only talented but deeply invested in our students.
Our nonprofit arm is another important part of our work. Through full-length productions like The Nutcracker, we give students the opportunity to perform at a professional level, a truly transformative and memorable experience.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am a life long learner and prioritize my health to make sure I am at my best for my company, team, and family. Sleep, nutrition, exercise and mindfulness practices such as meditation have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth.
Some of my favorite Books:
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself- Joe Dispenza
Good to Great- Jim Collins
The Infinite Game- Simon Sinek
Hidden Potential- Adam Grant
10x is Easier than 2x- Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
The Big Leap – Gay Hendricks
Born to Shine- Kendra Scott
The Psychology of Money- Morgan Housel
My Favorite Podcasts:
School of Greatness- Lewis Howes
On Purpose- Jay Shetty
Big Deal – Codie Sanchez
David Ghiyam Podcast
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.danceacademyva.com/
- Instagram: @kathorrigan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danceacademyva/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-horrigan-3698191b/
