Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Harris.
Hi Richard, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My Nashville dance story started when I would visit the old Wildhorse Saloon. I didn’t drink, and I had health issues that made it difficult to hear conversation over the music, so I’d just get out on the dance floor and dance. A lot of the time, I’d be out there line dancing by myself, but I never minded. Before long, though, people started joining me on the floor. I’d get people moving by doing the steps myself and throwing in a few hand signals, gestures, and verbal cues along the way.
I had a couple of decades of strength and conditioning coaching, as well as group fitness instruction, under my belt, and all that experience made me comfortable leading large groups of people. By that point, I also had several years of line dancing experience. Combined, those experiences helped me infuse the people around me with energy and confidence. Before too long, I had hundreds of people joining me on the floor, following my lead, and having the time of their lives.
I was often overwhelmed by grateful patrons thanking me for leading dances and even offering to tip me as a way of showing their appreciation. One day, a light bulb went off in my head: “Can you make money teaching country dance?” I was intrigued enough to find out, so I started offering classes out of my home.
Before long, the classes became so successful that I realized I needed a larger space. I began renting studio space around town, but even then, it didn’t take long for demand to outgrow my availability. Around that time, I found one of the best, most talented, and well-trained dancers and instructors in Nashville—Nicole Young. I’d seen her teaching at Wildhorse and knew she would be a perfect fit. Bringing her on board allowed us to continue growing and serving more and more people.
Not long after, we started searching for a space of our own where we could host not only larger groups, but multiple groups at the same time. That search eventually led us to what is now Turn Their Heads Country Dance Studio.
Along the way, I was also country swing dancing with tourists around town, and I kind of stumbled into teaching some of the regulars I saw at Wildhorse each week. This was about 15 years ago, and at the time I was pretty much the only person dancing or teaching country swing in Nashville. A lot of the guys I met on the dance floor were curious about what I was doing, and I offered to show them the ropes. It started with one or two guys wanting to learn, then a couple more. We were all having a great time, but I never expected it to turn into anything bigger.
Eventually, I entered a country swing dance competition and earned 3rd- and 4th-place finishes. As a self-taught dancer, I’m incredibly proud of those accomplishments. Not long afterward, I started traveling to competitions around the country and realized that if I wanted to continue growing as a dancer at home, the entire Nashville dance community needed to grow with me. We needed more dancers, more opportunities, and a higher overall level of dancing so we could all improve together.
That’s when I decided to start offering country swing group classes.
The very first class had just four people. Today, we have a dance floor full of students every week and offer five progressive levels of country swing instruction. People love how approachable country swing is and how quickly they can gain enough confidence to hit the dance floors around town—often after just their very first class.
Over the years, we’ve expanded our offerings to include a variety of lessons and more: private individual and couples swing, public country swing, public and private line dancing, progressive line dance intensives, coached practices, social dances, workshops, competitions, showcases, and more. I truly love dance, and I deeply love teaching. My goal has always been to give people opportunities to improve their skills while having fun and becoming part of an incredible dance community.
One of the things I’m most proud of is how inclusive our studio has become. Every week, you’ll see dancers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels dancing together, both in our studio and on dance floors all around town. Nothing brings me more joy than introducing people to country dance, watching their confidence grow, and seeing them fall in love with dance.
Today, the Nashville dance community has grown so much that there are opportunities to dance—both line dancing and country swing—every night of the week.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Everyone at Turn Their Heads is passionate about teaching people how to dance. For many of our students, it’s the very first time they’ve ever felt confident dancing, and being part of that transformation is incredibly rewarding. Our passion helps us look past obstacles and focus on the positive – finding solutions for our students and guests.
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. One of our biggest early obstacles was being unable to find a consistent, conveniently located downtown space that met the standards we wanted for our students. We absolutely love our current studio! However, convincing people to leave the lights, music, and excitement of downtown for our studio—even though it’s just eight minutes away—can sometimes be a tough sell. But we’ve found that once people experience the elevated experience our facility and staff provide, they are always glad they made the short trip!
Another, and perhaps my greatest, challenge has been my personal battle with Dysautonomia, specifically Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). This (often debilitating) condition has reduced my usable energy, strength, and mental capacity to a fraction of what they once were. Before becoming ill, I was a world champion powerlifter, and physical activity had been a central part of my life for decades. Adjusting to the limitations that come with this condition has been one of the greatest and most disheartening challenges I’ve ever faced.
The reality is that my health affects the pace at which our company can grow and the number of people we can serve. Most mornings, I work in short increments from a bed in my home office before needing significant rest so that I have enough energy to teach at the studio in the evenings. While I’m incredibly grateful that I’m able to do more than many others living with this condition – and I genuinely believe dance has played a role in helping me maintain that ability – it still takes a mental and emotional toll not being able to give as much of myself to my staff and students as I would like.
As a team, we face challenges as well. Dancing and dance instruction are physically demanding professions that place significant stress on the body. The seasonal nature of the industry can be unpredictable which is hard on anyone in the industry. It’s also surprisingly difficult to find people who possess the personality, passion, skill, and drive to both educate and entertain while creating the welcoming, high-energy experience our guests deserve. However, that has given me an even deeper appreciation for the incredible team we do have. Every instructor on our staff brings something special to the studio, and I’m grateful every day for the passion, dedication, and heart they bring to our students.
As challenging as this journey can be at times, we’re all the more grateful for the life, community, and opportunities that dance has given us.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Turn Their Heads is Nashville’s premier country dance academy, specializing in beginner-friendly instruction in Line Dancing, Country Swing, and Two Step. We operate out of a 4,500-square-foot facility—the largest dedicated country dance academy in the United States—located just 8 minutes from Broadway.
What Sets Us Apart:
Fun Over Perfection
Unlike many traditional dance studios, our philosophy is simple: doing it matters more than doing it perfectly. We create a relaxed, high-energy environment where guests feel like they’re at a party, not sitting through a lecture. We believe people learn the best when they’re having fun! Our goal is to help people feel comfortable, confident, and excited to get out on the dance floor.
Specialized for Beginners
While we offer lessons and classes for dancers of all levels, we specialize in working with first-timers and people who swear they have “two left feet.” We love to joke that people “find their right foot” at Turn Their Heads—but it’s true! Drawing on more than 30 years of teaching experience, we’ve developed methods that get people dancing confidently within minutes, enabling our guests to leave the studio ready to hit the dance floor that very same day.
Unique Amenities
Our studio is BYOB-friendly and provides complimentary phone tripods so guests can capture their own memories and content. We also provide free souvenir photos and videos, making it easy to share the experience with friends, family, or on social media. Personalized messages and photos can be displayed on our digital signage, creating a customized experience for every group. Smart lighting throughout the facility helps create a lively, party-like atmosphere, while our fully stocked restrooms provide thoughtful extras ranging from mints and deodorant to hair ties and bandages—all free of charge. To keep guests comfortable year-round, our climate-controlled studio features ice-cold air conditioning during Nashville’s sweltering summers and reliable heating during the colder months. We also offer plentiful free parking with easy access for vehicles of all sizes, from personal cars to large vans, buses, and RVs. If you’ve every tried to park anywhere in Nashville then you know that ample free parking is a rarity, and we’re so pleased that we have that to offer our guests.
Real-World Application
We teach authentic Nashville dances that are danced across the country. Whether guests are heading to a honky-tonk on Broadway or returning home after their trip, they’ll have the skills and confidence to step onto any dance floor and join the fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://turntheirheads.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/turntheirheads or instagram.com/turntheirheadslocals
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/turntheirheads
