Specialties
My instructional style centers joy, self expression, and growth. I really believe that dance is about having fun, so I focus on doing that over technique (though I’m happy to help you improve yours, if that’s your goal)!
You can catch me teaching around town at my events (currently at Sagebrush and Central Machine Works), mwhich draw a crowd of regulars and first timers alike with my beginner-friendly line dance and mixer partner dance lessons and occasional pard’ner dancing workshops. can also hire me for a private lesson or party, there is no number of dancers too big or too small...try me!
I also choreograph custom dances to capture someone special’s essence or to pair with your favorite song. One dance (The Molly) has been done all over town, in several states, and even internationally.
I want to book more parties, weddings, corporate events, community events, festivals, expos, etc. I also want to partner with new venues, with additional DJs / live bands / your sound guy / a good ol’ fashioned aux cable to grow my independent and new collaborative public events.
My specialty is line dancing, but I also can teach partner dancing, especially honky tonk-style two step (AKA Western swing), contra dances, and other mixers (e.g. the barn dance). My style has a country flair, but I love to dance to multiple genres, and I have a knack for pairing dances to songs. I’d love to help you learn to dance or to make your next party or event a hoot and a half.
History
Established in 2023.
It started as a joke that resulted in a dance studio rental and a donation-based dance exercise class that I hoped to recoup my costs on. I thought my dance instructor day (singular) was over, but enjoyed leading easy to pick up line dances on stage at Neon Rainbows. People started asking where they could learn, so I did another studio rental. Then, one of my friends requested a custom line dance for her birthday and BOOM! I’m a choreographer! We did The Molly at Neon Rainbows and people went wild and have done it all over town, at weddings in several states, and on a yacht in Greece. At some point, DJ Boi Orbison asked to join forces and now we host Bronco together. These line dance nights and pard’ner dance workshops grew to be wildly popular, leading to a feature on KUT and a group of regulars dancing on the stage at the Paramount!
The partnership with DJ Boi Orbison lives on and I’m also doing my own work to grow Country Fried Dance in multiple directions. So…let’s dance!
Meet the Business Owner: Nico O.
Howdy, I’m Nico (they/he): dance enthusiast and lover of people turned accidental instructor. When I’m in my element, Fons say they can feel my love for dance. One person eloquently and accurately said: “when you dance, you look happier than a golden retriever with his head out a car window”. That is to say, my passion for dance is crystal clear and I bring it to every lesson (and truly wherever I go). I have also been told “I wish I loved anything as much as you love dance” and one of those people actually started coming to my lessons and now I can see their love for it too. I create inclusive and welcoming learning environments where guests of all experience levels can have fun and grow. If left to my own devices, my lessons are silly and playful, but I’m happy to tone it down for the introverts or your straight-laced boss. When I’m not doing my day job or teaching an evening dance class there, is a good chance I’m dancing in the wild, so save me a dance (lead or follow)!