Buckeye Dance Festival

Insights from Kimberley Mitchell & Dave Getty

One of the things we LOVE about being traveling coaches is getting to experience those amazing “AHA!” moments with dancers. 💡💃🕺

Sometimes a student has been working on something for months or even years and then suddenly, a different coach comes in and says essentially the same thing, but in a slightly different way… and BOOM! 💥

It clicks.

That’s one of the beautiful things about teaching. It’s not always about having a completely new idea. Sometimes it’s about finding the right words, analogy, exercise, or way of communicating that allows a student to finally see or feel something differently.

And honestly, those moments are just as exciting for us as coaches as they are for the students!

Traveling and working with so many different people also teaches us a tremendous amount. Every person learns differently, communicates differently, and responds to different teaching tools. The more people we meet, the more we learn about how to connect, how to communicate, and how to expand our own teaching toolbox. 🧰

So while we may travel to share our knowledge, we always come home having learned something too.

And that’s what makes coaching such a rewarding journey we’re all learning from each other. ❤️

What’s been your biggest “AHA!” moment in your dancing? And was it something completely new or was it something you’d heard before, just said in a way that finally made it click?

Tell us in the comments! 👇

What kind of theme would you prefer?

💃 BALLROOM WORKSHOPS ARE COMING TO THE BUCKEYE DANCE FESTIVAL! 🕺

And yes — beginners are absolutely welcome.

One of the biggest goals of the Buckeye Dance Festival is EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE. We want to give you the opportunity to try something new, improve what you already know, ask questions, and learn from some of the best instructors in the dance world.

We’re bringing in nationally and world-renowned professionals — the same coaches who train dancers at the highest levels of ballroom, country, and West Coast Swing.

But you don’t have to be an advanced dancer to learn from them.

That’s the point.

We want to make access to incredible coaching affordable and attainable for the everyday dancer. Come take a beginner-friendly workshop, meet these instructors, ask questions, and experience coaching that might normally be outside the average person’s budget — all under one roof.

🔥 Workshops will include:
Ballroom • West Coast Swing • Country • Salsa • Bachata • Kizomba • Tai Chi • Yoga • Acro Yoga • and MORE!

And we still have additional instructors, specialty workshops, and a few surprises to announce. 👀

The Buckeye Dance Festival isn’t just about watching great dancing.

Come learn it. Try it. Experience it.

You might walk into a workshop having never tried that style before and walk out having discovered something you absolutely love.

📅 February 25–28, 2027
📍 Columbus, Ohio

🎟️ Tickets going on sale soon!

Four days. Incredible instructors. Multiple styles. One place to explore just how much the world of dance has to offer.

Education. Practice. Interaction. Competition.
That’s the Buckeye Dance Festival experience. ❤️

💃 Dancing is more than learning steps—it’s learning how to connect. 🕺

Kimberley and I are excited about what we’re building through Inspiring Elevated Habits: social dancing, education, connection, and a safe place to simply TRY.

Never danced before? Perfect. Come out.

Already a dancer? Come relearn something, sharpen your connection, or step outside your comfort zone and try a style you don’t normally dance.

We’re not sticking to just one kind of dance. Country Swing, West Coast Swing, Two-Step, Waltz, Cha-Cha, and more—we’re mixing it up, revisiting what we’ve already taught, and continually introducing something new.

The goal isn’t to turn everyone into a competitive dancer.

The goal is to open a door.

A door to movement.
A door to connection.
A door to meeting people.
A door to discovering a dance you didn’t even know you’d love.

Come learn. Come relearn. Come connect. Come explore.

And hey… the price is right, and so are your instructors. 😉

See you on the dance floor!