49 Ford Street, Martinsville, Virginia 24112   
Creative Movement   |   Ballet   |   Pointe   |   Tap   |   Jazz   |   Modern   |   Lyrical

About Us

The Ray Hollingsworth Dance and Arts Studio

Proudly serving Martinsville, Henry County, and surrounding areas for over 60 years, our studio has long been a leader in high-quality dance education. Founded by the late Ray Hollingsworth and operated by Ray and Cindy Hollingsworth, both nationally recognized for their outstanding contributions to dance, the studio has produced numerous professional dancers and educators.

In keeping with the legacy, the studio was passed down to longtime student Felecia Calaman Childress, who had been part of the studio since its early days. In 2019, leadership transitioned to Mandy Gordon, another dedicated former student of Ray and Cindy’s, continuing the tradition of excellence in this community.

Our program helps students of all ages build strong technique, physical awareness, and poise. Our professional instructors—many with backgrounds in performance, education, and dance degrees—are skilled in both early childhood movement and advanced dance training.

While many students have gone on to professional careers, we welcome all dancers—whether recreational or aspiring professionals. Our curriculum promotes coordination, posture, rhythm, motivation, musical phrasing, and self-discipline—all within a joyful, supportive environment.


RHDAS Staff

When I think of RHDAS, I think of home. A place where I could be free and escape from the realities of life. It’s a studio that wants you to express yourself in movement and grow, not only as a dancer but as an individual as well. One of the biggest things I learned from my instructors was how to have grace and elegance in everything I do, two true representatives of what defines a dancer. I also had the privilege of gaining a second family. Monday nights ended up being what I looked forward to every week, and summers felt incomplete without dancing next to my best friends for a few weeks. The people that I still keep in touch with after heading to college are my friends from RHDAS, proving that the experiences, memories, and friendships will last a lifetime. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was graduate and leave Ray Hollingsworth, and I would do anything to dance in that studio again.
-Morgan Clemons, Class of 2018