The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE, Va (VR) Nearly four decades after opening her doors, Garlynda’s Fancy Feet remains a cornerstone of the Alleghany Highlands dance community, blending technical training with an emphasis on confidence, character, and family style support for local children and teens.
Founded in 1986–87 by Garlynda Haynes, the studio has introduced generations of students to ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and clogging from its home on East Main Street in Clifton Forge. Haynes, a longtime local teacher who grew up in the area, says the studio’s mission has always been about more than perfect steps.
“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about having a good time,” she said. “It’s about the learning, getting confidence.”
Over the years, Garlynda’s Fancy Feet has taught hundreds of students, with some seasons drawing more than one hundred children into its classes. Students begin as young as 3 or 4 in creative-movement style sessions focused on basics like skipping, pointing, and following directions before progressing into tap and ballet combinations.
Older dancers can branch into jazz, hip hop, clogging and, for a dedicated few, pointe work.
Haynes said one of the most rewarding parts of her job is watching shy preschoolers transform. Many arrive clinging to parents and in tears, weeks later, they are smiling and performing steps they once found impossible.
“You can just see the joy on their faces,” she said. “What really makes my heart good is to see them 15, 20 years later, and they talk about the memories … It’s like a family. It’s not just a business.”
That family feel is echoed in the way former students and parents describe the studio.
Reviews highlight instructors who “go the extra mile,” helping children build stage presence, resilience, and self-belief while they learn choreography. Many alumni credit the studio with helping them grow into confident adults, on and off the stage.
The studio’s roots in the community run deep. Haynes was born and raised in the area, began dancing herself in the 1960s and later taught for another area studio before striking out on her own with the support of her husband and parents. Early classes were held in the “ice house” building behind the courthouse, then in the Alleghany building before moving into the historic Snead building at 500 East Main Street, where the studio has operated since the early 1990s.
Garlynda’s Fancy Feet has also carried its presence well beyond the studio walls.
Students are regulars in local parades and community events, and a competition team launched roughly 25 years ago now travels to two or three regional competitions each year. Former dancers have gone on to perform on college dance teams at schools including Radford University and North Carolina State University.
The studio’s recital history traces the evolution of performance spaces across the region from Alleghany High School to the old Clifton Forge High School, and Covington High and Middle School, even including a pandemic era outdoor recital to keep dancers performing safely.
Like many small businesses, the studio weathered challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak, shifting to virtual classes and confronting declining enrollment as more families sought other activities. Haynes said it has been difficult for her small, locally owned business, but she remains committed to keeping the doors open. “I’m not in it for the money,” she said. “I’m a kid’s person. I’ve always been a kid’s person.”
Today, Garlinda’s Fancy Feet continues to operate as a multi-generational enterprise.
Haynes’ daughter now serves as a lead choreographer, and high school assistants help in classes, passing on skills to the next wave of young dancers. The studio maintains a strong five-star reputation in the Alleghany Highlands, with families praising its clean, upbeat environment and welcoming atmosphere.
With her 39th annual recital coming up at 5:00 on May the 16th at Covington Middle School, Garlynda’s Fancy Feet continues to build confidence in our youth. Open Monday through Thursday in the late afternoon and evening, with additional weekend hours, the studio offers flexible scheduling for school-age dancers. Located at 500 East Main Street in Clifton Forge (24422), Garlynda’s Fancy Feet can be reached via Facebook or email.
After nearly 40 years, Haynes is preparing to retire from her day job as a seventh-grade teacher at Covington Middle School, a change she hopes will allow her to devote even more time to the place that has defined her life’s work.
“I never really planned to be here for almost 40 years,” she said. “But we’re still here and we’re still dancing for the community.”
