FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2026

Nokesville Dance Studio Celebrates 25 Seasons by Bringing Local Kids Together on November School Days Off

Prince William Dance Academy will host children's yoga and movement programs November 3 and 11, continuing a community tradition that has welcomed generations of families from across Prince William County.

NOKESVILLE, VA (October 30, 2026) — For generations of families across Prince William County, the red doors of Prince William Dance Academy have been part of growing up.

Since opening the Nokesville studio in 2002, founder Kim Teachout Thomas, better known to her dancers as Ms. Kim, has welcomed children through those doors for their first dance classes, friendships, performances and countless milestones along the way.

Now celebrating its 25th season, Prince William Dance Academy (PWDA) is continuing that tradition with two morning programs for children on upcoming days when Prince William County Public Schools are closed.

On Tuesday, November 3, children can participate in Zen Zone: Yoga for Kids, offered in partnership with Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga. On Wednesday, November 11, PWDA will host Let's Move!, a morning of dance, games and creative movement.

Both programs take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the studio on Fitzwater Drive in Nokesville.

While the events offer local families activities during school closures, they are also part of a much larger story about a small-town dance studio that has helped shape generations of local children.

Twenty-Five Seasons, Generations of Families and One Familiar Red Door

When Ms. Kim opened Prince William Dance Academy in 2002, she began building a place where children could discover a love for dance while growing in confidence, character and friendship.

More than two decades later, PWDA remains a familiar part of life for families in Nokesville and throughout the surrounding region.

Some families live just minutes from the studio. Others make the drive from Bristow, Gainesville, Manassas, Woodbridge, Haymarket, Bealeton, Centreville and neighboring communities.

For many, PWDA has become more than an extracurricular activity.

It is where children take their first steps into a dance classroom, where friendships grow over years of rehearsals and performances, and where familiar teachers celebrate milestones alongside the families who have entrusted their children to the studio.

The studio's commitment to belonging has remained central to Ms. Kim's work throughout its history.

Her philosophy is reflected in PWDA's guiding message: "Every dancer has a home here."

Today, that commitment reaches beyond weekly dance classes. Through community celebrations, school partnerships and special children's programs, PWDA continues creating opportunities for young people to connect, explore their interests and feel welcome.

And in some cases, the children who once grew up at PWDA have returned to help shape its future.

A Full-Circle Nokesville Story: From PWDA Student to Studio Leader

For Gwen Fletcher, known throughout PWDA as Ms. Gwen, the studio's 25th season has a particularly personal meaning.

A Nokesville native, Gwen grew up dancing at Prince William Dance Academy and graduated from the studio in 2009.

She continued her dance education in Boston and Washington, DC, before pursuing yoga teacher certification and returning to her hometown.

Today, she serves as PWDA's Director of Studio Operations and Enrollment, helping welcome and support a new generation of dancers and families at the same studio where she grew up.

She is also the founder of Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga, bringing her yoga training and experience back to the community that helped shape her.

Her involvement extends beyond the studio. Gwen serves on the board of the Nokesville Business Association and volunteers with local organizations.

Her journey reflects the lasting relationships PWDA has built over the years: children who grow up inside the studio, discover their passions and find ways to contribute to the community as adults.

The November 3 yoga program brings that journey full circle.

Through the partnership between Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga and Prince William Dance Academy, Gwen is introducing local children to yoga and mindful movement in the same familiar space where her own dance education began.

November 3: Zen Zone Introduces Kids to Yoga and Mindful Movement

With Prince William County Public Schools closed to students on Tuesday, November 3, for a teacher workday, PWDA will host Zen Zone: Yoga for Kids from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

The program welcomes children ages 6–16 for a morning of age-appropriate yoga, stretching, mindful breathing, creative activities and movement.

Presented in partnership with Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga, Zen Zone is designed to help children explore yoga in a welcoming, playful setting.

No prior yoga experience is necessary.

For Ms. Gwen, the program is another opportunity to share her love of movement with children in her hometown while expanding the experiences available to families at PWDA.

November 11: Let's Move! Brings Dance, Games and Creativity to a Day Off School

On Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day, Prince William County Public Schools will again be closed.

That morning, PWDA will host Let's Move!, a mini camp for children ages 5–12 featuring dance, music, acrobatics, movement games, stretching and creative activities.

The program gives participating children a chance to try new activities, enjoy time with friends and explore movement in a setting where having fun comes first.

Let's Move! also reflects PWDA's growing work with local schools, including partnerships that extend the studio's approach to creative movement beyond its regular dance classes.

The November 11 program is open to all children ages 5–12, including those not currently enrolled at PWDA.

A Community Tradition That Continues to Grow

As PWDA celebrates its 25th season, Ms. Kim's focus remains on the children and families who have made the studio part of their lives.

From first dance classes and recitals to school partnerships, community celebrations and new programs like children's yoga, the studio continues to create opportunities for young people to learn, grow and make memories.

For Gwen, that story has come full circle. For Ms. Kim, it represents the kind of lasting community connection she has spent more than two decades building.

And for the next generation of children walking through PWDA's familiar red doors, their own stories are just beginning.

November Mini Camp Details

Zen Zone: Yoga for Kids
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Ages 6–16 | $35 per child
Presented in partnership with Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga

Let's Move! Mini Camp
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Ages 5–12 | $35 per child
Open to all children ages 5–12, including those not currently enrolled at PWDA.

Location for both events:
Prince William Dance Academy
12926 Fitzwater Drive
Nokesville, VA 20181

Event details and registration information are available at:

https://princewilliamdance.com/events

Information about PWDA's school partnerships and youth programs is available at:

https://princewilliamdance.com/after-school-programs

About Prince William Dance Academy

Founded in 2002 by Kim Teachout Thomas, Prince William Dance Academy is a community-centered dance studio in Nokesville, Virginia, celebrating its 25th season in 2026–2027.

Serving generations of families from Nokesville, Bristow, Gainesville, Manassas, Haymarket and surrounding communities, PWDA provides recreational and competitive dance education, school partnerships, special events and creative movement opportunities for children and adults.

Guided by its belief that "Every dancer has a home here," PWDA remains committed to nurturing belonging, integrity, friendship and community through dance.

About Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga

Founded by Nokesville native and certified yoga instructor Gwen Fletcher, Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga offers welcoming, community-centered yoga experiences for children and adults. After completing her yoga teacher training at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Gwen brought her passion for mindful movement back to her hometown. Through its partnership with Prince William Dance Academy, Alternative Energy Hatha Yoga offers classes and special programs that encourage movement, connection and personal growth for students of all experience levels.

Learn more: https://princewilliamdance.com/yoga-classes-nokesville-va

Media Contact
Gwen Fletcher
Director of Studio Operations and Enrollment
Prince William Dance Academy
12926 Fitzwater Drive
Nokesville, VA 20181
Phone: 571-568-8877
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://princewilliamdance.com

###