Meet Debbora Childress Kellie Nichols | Studio Owners/Dance Instructors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Debbora Childress and Kellie Nichols and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Debbora and Kellie, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
We have the good habit of “showing up!” We are where we say we’ll be, when we say we’ll be there. That is a major stepping stone to being successful in any endeavor. If we say we will put on a dance show – we do just that! And, we do it to the very best of our abilities.

Teaching dancers of every age requires forethought, dedication, consistency, commitment, reliability, working steadfastly toward a goal and so much more! It requires working way ahead of the calendar to make sure things get done in support of a performance to come….like costume ordering, music editing, program creating, venue renting, and of course, dance teaching! It means working extra hard to communicate with families, patiently explaining details that are unfamiliar to them. A dance education involves whole families…not just dancers! Working to create special moments that offer opportunities for joy and accomplishment to our students and their families are “habits” that create success and allow our studio to thrive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We are a mother/daughter team who own and operate Ms. Debbora’s School of Dance in Poway, CA. – located in Old Poway Village, an historic “village” style shopping area, mid-Poway. We have offered dance instruction here for more than 35 years – and just completed our recital #34 at the beautiful Poway Center for the Performing Arts. We, Debbora Childress and Kellie Nichols have dedicated our lifetimes to the art of dance – and to inspiring our dancers to love and support the arts.

We decided long ago to offer non-competitive dance classes to the community we serve. Many of our dancers enjoy sports, participate in theater, sing in a choir, attend Scouts, ride a horse, study Martial Arts, play in the school band and more! These active, diverse kids also love to dance. Many times we find that coaches and teachers are unwilling to bend in order for these children to participate in things they love. We bend to make it possible.

Dance class is joyful, musical, active and fun! We provide a place for our students to excel, meet friends, experience a positive stage experience with an appreciative, supportive audience. This studio space allows them to view themselves in a different light outside of school or other activities…a safe harbor where they can thrive, grow and succeed. Friendships built in this space last for years to come – there is no competitive “win” or “lose.” We are here to support each other, grow in dance, express ourselves in a safe, loving environment and shine!

Our desire to pass on to our students the amazing dance education we were so fortunate to receive ourselves, has become our mission. We offer two large performance opportunities each season – Our “Holiday Magic Nutcracker” in December and our annual Recital in June. We also aim to participate in as many community events as we can – bringing joy to Seniors, local festivals and County fairs.

In addition to our class dances, we tell a story using dance. It is something all our students look forward to and enjoy! It adds a creative, fun dimension to our annual dance show – allowing students to be an important part of a larger “story.” It requires working together to create something beautiful as a whole. This, coupled with class dances provides another chance to shine on the stage. Watching how comfortable our students become when performing is gratifying and empowering. Timing, team work, responsibility, positive work ethic, independence, creative learning and so much more happens when preparing for a performance.

We are very fortunate to have the love and support of multiple generations of families/students in our community where we have grown our “dance family” for these many years.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego has so much to offer! Our beautiful Zoo and Safari Park are two “must sees!” A trip to the beach and the Hotel Del Coronado are also a must. Seeing a musical or a play at one of our wonderful local venues is highly recommended. A concert at Humphrey’s is perfect for a summer/fall evening. If you aren’t from Southern California, you need to try some authentic Mexican cuisine too!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For each of us, inspiration to teach dance came from excellent and amazing instructors who took us under their wings along the way. Georgia Copeland, studio owner/instructor was instrumental in so many ways! She taught well into her 80’s, actively demonstrating, dancing, choreographing, creating, inspiring, supporting until the day she left this earth. The love and respect she drew from students new and old, was a testament to her ability to connect on so many levels. Georgia performed in Vaudeville as a child, was a dancer on contract in the movies, She shared her knowledge, talent and love of dance with each student who walked through her door. We have all been blessed by having Georgia in our lives. She continues to be an inspiration to us as we aspire to teach and inspire our own students.

Website: https://www.msdebborasdanceforchildren.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msdebborasschoolofdance

Image Credits
Paul Da Silva Studio Photography