Kelly McCarthy has spent her life in motion. With 36 years of teaching and nearly 30 years as a studio owner, she’s built Ignite Dance Company into a full dance training facility serving ages 2 through adult, plus a thriving summer camp program. And she’s not slowing down. Her second location opens this February, expanding her vision into a space that will offer dance classes for children and adults while also serving as a community hub for birthday parties, glow dance events, and corporate and private celebrations.
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Her studio has recently received the ADCC Studio of Excellence Award twice, a national recognition that reflects the standard she holds herself and her dancers to every day. For Kelly, excellence isn’t about trophies. It’s about confidence, discipline, and helping young people grow into strong future leaders.
Kelly McCarthy with Ignite dancers
Before joining WPBA, Kelly says networking often felt isolating. She had been active in the community for years, but lacked the kind of referral support and collaboration that helps a small business truly thrive. That changed when she found WPBA. Today she describes it as a real support system. She sees other WPBA partners referring her business and showing up strong to support her events. WPBA partners take classes, donate to her fundraisers, and volunteer their time. They don’t just network with her. They stand behind her mission.
That support has created a ripple effect. Through the relationships she’s built, Kelly has been able to expand scholarships for underprivileged children and donate her own time to support other partners and their causes. Her goal moving forward is to collaborate with more children’s organizations so dance can reach kids who might never otherwise have the opportunity.
Kelly McCarthy is always cheerful at Ignite and WPBA events
She’s also passionate about changing perceptions of her industry. Dance can sometimes be provocative and carry misconceptions, but Kelly is firm about her standards. Every class is age appropriate and designed to protect children while building confidence and leadership skills. Safety and empowerment come first. Always.
What surprises people most about Kelly is that outside of the studio, she is a Halloween and roller coaster fanatic. High energy clearly isn’t just part of the job. It’s part of who she is.
When asked what she values most from WPBA, her answer is simple: the connections. Not just business referrals, but genuine friendships she deeply cherishes. And judging by the way her community rallies around her studio, those connections are helping Kelly do what she does best: lift others higher, one dancer at a time.
