Supporting Local: Morgan McNabb’s Story of Dance, Business, and Community

I’m talking with Morgan McNabb, the owner of Spotlight Dance and Acrobatics, to discuss her journey as a business owner and her passion for dance. Morgan is someone who lives and breathes dance. It’s not just a job for her; it’s a way of life. She owns two locations, one in Saint Albans and the other in Charleston.

Morgan’s enthusiasm for dance is palpable as she talks about how she went to college specifically for dance, earning her degree from West Virginia University in 2018. But it’s not just her background that makes her studio special. Today, something different is happening at her studio. They’re hosting a vendor event and it’s more than just about signing up students. It’s about supporting other small businesses in the community.

Morgan explains that the idea for the event came from one of the dance moms at her studio, who is also a small business owner. This mom suggested hosting a vendor event at the studio, and Morgan thought it was a fantastic idea. They decided to do it during registration to bring in people for both purposes: signing up for classes and supporting local vendors. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

As Morgan talks about the event, I can see how important community is to her. She mentions how they have over 20 vendors set up, along with a food truck, inflatables for kids, and even a local radio station, Electric 102.7, to add to the festivities. The turnout has been great, and she’s thrilled with how everything has come together.

I ask Morgan how long she’s been in business for herself. She tells me that the Saint Albans location has been running for 15 years, and they just opened the Charleston location in February of 2024. But her connection to the studio goes back even further. Before Morgan took over, her mom owned the studio. Dance is in her blood, and it’s a family affair, with her sister also being a dance graduate. Morgan’s passion for dance is clear as she talks about how she used to dance every single day, whether it was in classes or performing at football and basketball games as part of the WVU dance team.

Morgan’s story takes a turn when she tells me about how she had plans to pursue professional dance after college, but those plans were cut short when she tore both of her hamstrings. It was a setback that brought her back home to West Virginia, but she doesn’t dwell on it as a loss. Instead, she sees it as a blessing in disguise. She’s now focused on running the business and raising her two daughters.

I’m impressed by how Morgan has turned what could have been a major disappointment into an opportunity. I point out how important it is to be adaptable and to find new plans when the original ones fall through. It’s a sentiment that I think resonates with a lot of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

As we near the end of our conversation, I ask Morgan if she has any final thoughts she’d like to share with our audience. She reiterates the importance of supporting local businesses and gives a bit of advice for parents looking for a dance studio for their children. She suggests finding a studio with instructors who are certified and have formal training because it makes a big difference in the quality of instruction. I also ask if she’s planning to hold more events like this in the future. Morgan is excited about the possibility and mentions that they’re thinking of doing another vendor event during their next registration in January. She’s enthusiastic about continuing to support local businesses and sees this as something they might start doing more regularly.