JOHN COFFELTEditor

Any mother knows that being a dance mom is much more than sequins and bows. There are hours of driving to rehearsals, doing hair makeup, driving to shows — more hair and makeup.

It’s a lot, with that in mind, one Manchester dance mom is making things a little easier on her paternal sorority of the buns by saving them a drive to Murfreesboro or even further to purchase dance attire by opening a dance clothing store on the square.

Ivy’s Tiny Dance Store owner Amy Grisham said her daughter, Ivy has taken dance at Duck River Dance for five years, and last year joined the Coffee County Central High School Dance Team.

“Quite frankly, I just got tired of the drive to Murfreesboro or Chattanooga to gat dance attire,” she said. “We saw a need in the community and decided to try to fulfill that need,” Grisham said.

Ivy’s will carry a full line of dance attire, from leotards and tights to shoes to accessories. Grisham said that she is working on getting pointe shoes in for girls who have progressed to the level in ballet to be promoted to pointe.

Ivy’s will even stock some boys’ and men’s items for the growing male dance community in Manchester.

On the active-leisure side, Ivy’s will carry leggings, running shorts, skorts tops and tennis dresses, many in the popular brand PopFlex, made famous by Taylor Swift.

Grisham said she’s open to suggestions for products to stock in the store. In planning for the opening, she’s had discussions with DRD owner Danelle Afflerbaugh about what to stock, along with Ivy’s fellow dancers.

Ivy’s Tiny Dance Store will have a quiet soft opening June 22, and will open for limited hours the following week. The store will fully opened in July. Hours are tentatively 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (closing at 4 p.m. on Saturday), and will be closed on Wednesday and Sunday.

Ivy’s Tiny Dance Store is located at 114 S. Spring Street.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.