Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Burgess.
Hi Lindsay, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Lindsay Burgess and I am 22 years old. I have been dancing since the age of 2 and dancing competitively since the age of 7. As soon as I graduated high school in 2022, I began teaching and choreographing for dance studios in Georgia. In April 2024, God placed a desire in my heart to open my own studio. I began researching all of the requirements to starting a studio. I began talking and meeting with local studio owners to get advice and tips on how to start a studio. At the time, I was an assistant Kindergarten teacher at a school in Macon, Ga. One of my students’ mother, Katie Whitley, owned the studio, Simply Dance, that was located in Forsyth, Ga. June of 2024, she announced that Simply Dance was closing. I reached out to her to see if she had any advice or encouragement for me as I started my new studio. From there, it just clicked for the both of us. Katie and I immediately set up a meeting and discussed me taking over Simply Dance. On June 19, 2024, we announced that I would be taking over Simply Dance and rebranding the studio as Legacy Dance Studio. Opening a business at only 20 years old was scary and came with challenges, but the support I have seen from my students, families and community has been amazing! Our first season was wonderful! We had our first Showcase in May of 2025 with around 1,000 people in the audience. Over the summer, we began our competition team, the Legacy Dance Company. We have 16 incredible dance company members who are practicing hard each week getting ready for the competitions we are going to in spring of 2026. This season, we have a total of 9 incredibly talented, well trained, and experienced teachers who are truly helping us create a legacy in Forsyth, Ga and surrounding areas. At Legacy Dance Studio, our goal is to create a nurturing and positive environment for all of our dancers. We aspire to provide our students with an exceptional dance education while uplifting them and encouraging them to reach their full potential. We believe in establishing a balanced dance education by incorporating enjoyable, entertaining and engaging instructional aspects into their training while also motivating the dancers to accomplish all of their goals. We are creating a legacy one dancer at a time in Forsyth, Ga!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not always been smooth. Every business, new or old, sees its challenges. I believe that you learn from the obstacles. I learn something from every challenge I face. I always do my best to keep a positive attitude when obstacles or challenges arise. I try to remember that God has a plan and a purpose for everything!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Legacy Dance Studio offers an arrangement of dance genres for ages 12 months to 19 years old. This season we are currently offering ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, acro and musical theatre.
My goal this season with Legacy Dance Studio was to bring in highly qualified and experienced instructors who can help grow and develop our studio. I am so thankful for all of our instructors. They all bring so much to the studio. I have seen our dancers’ skill levels increase so much this season because of our fabulous faculty!
Out of everything, I am most proud of my students. Dance is not always easy. Just like any other sport, it comes with challenges and hard days. My students work so hard every week in class, but most importantly they are kind to each other. They cheer for each other and support each other and I am so proud of them. Legacy Dance Studio’s teachers and students welcome everyone with open arms. I am proud of the environment we have created here.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have had so many people supporting me along the way. My mom, dad, family members, dance mentors, and students have been so encouraging to me and I am so thankful for their support.
My grandma, Linda Jones, has been one of my biggest supporters. My grandma has owned her own business, Jones Glass, for over 50 years. She has helped me so much with the business side of things. I truly appreciate how much she has taught me and helped me with opening my studio.
Katie Whitley, the previous owner, has also helped me tremendously. In the beginning, we would meet at the studio frequently and she would teach me how to use our studio software program. She is always there for me whenever I need advice, encouragement or just someone to talk to. I know that I can always call her and she will answer ready to help me with whatever I need help with. I am so thankful for her mentorship and friendship.
One of the greatest dance mentors I have ever had is Kyle Kahn. Kyle Kahn is the owner of Kyle Kahn Studios in Newnan, Ga. I took dance at Kyle Kahn Studios and competed with the Kyle Kahn Dance Company when I was in high school. When my senior year was approaching and I was met with the question, “What are your plans after high school?” I only had one answer, and that was that I wanted to teach dance and eventually own my own studio. A lot of people had opinions about this choice. Mr. Kyle was always so encouraging and he was one of the first people to tell me that I am more than capable of opening my own studio and that I should do it! He also is the first person who hired me after high school to teach dance at Kyle Kahn Studios and choreograph the Mini Competition Team routine for the Kyle Kahn Dance Company. Mr. Kyle’s continued support has helped me so much with owning my studio and I am immensely grateful for him!
Pricing:
- •45 min classes once a week are $55/month
- •1 hr classes once a week are $65/month
- •1.5 hour classes once a week are $85/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.legacydancestudioga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacydancestudio.ga?igsh=MThrZ3dkaWZoYnFlZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FsJGV6nwd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Brooke Thompson Photography
