Dominique Dawes Academy

Dominique Dawes Academy offers gymnastics, ninja, tumbling, recreational gymnastics, competitive gymnastics, junior gymnastics, homeschool gymnastics and ninja fitness, preschool classes, summer camps, school closure camps, Kids' Night Out, birthday parties, open gym, and seasonal camps. The program takes place in state-of-the-art gyms and safe, state-of-the-art facilities and is led by a highly-trained and nurturing staff.

• Ages: 3–17 years old

Dominique Dawes Academy’s mission is to empower children and help parents recognize the value of being in an empowering and positive environment. The academy offers top-rated gymnastics, tumbling, and ninja classes with a month-to-month commitment, sibling and multi-class discounts, a flexible make-up policy, and a complimentary gymnastics or ninja class for first-time customers at select open locations. The Gold Medal Moments program recognizes student achievements such as Grit & Growth, Fearless Spirit, Heart of Gold, Lead the Way, and Joyful Energy. Birthday party packages include decorations, favors, balloons, a special gift for the child, and active playtime in the facility. The academy focuses on developing happy, active, and strong kids by fostering physical, emotional, and social development, with a stated goal to change the toxic culture historically associated with gymnastics and create a healthy and nurturing environment. The program emphasizes prioritizing the mental and physical health and well-being of every child above scores and rankings, carefully managing the number of hours children train, encouraging a well-rounded life outside of gymnastics, and building a culture of kindness and respect where children are encouraged to be good teammates and support one another.

Dominique Dawes is the Founder and Brand Ambassador of the academy, a three-time Olympian (Barcelona ’92, Atlanta ’96, Sydney ’00), and a member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the first American team to win gold in women’s gymnastics at the 1996 Olympics, as well as a wife and mother of four young children. She opened her first academy in Clarksburg, Maryland, in July 2020, followed by a second location in Rockville, Maryland, in April 2023. Her credentials include induction into the USA Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008, serving as co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition under the Obama administration alongside Drew Brees, serving as Executive Producer of the Peacock docuseries “Golden,” which was nominated for a Sports Emmy, being featured in E!’s documentary “Black Pop,” induction into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame in Fall 2023, earning a degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and induction into the university’s Hall of Fame in 2022, and being honored on June 22, 2024, with a life-size statue in her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland. Her community involvement includes serving as a national ambassador for numerous nonprofits and corporations, being the first national spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the USA’s “Uniquely Me! The Girl Scout/Dove Self Esteem Program,” continuing to work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and serving as a newly elected board member of VetSports, a veteran-owned non-profit that serves to help veterans through sports.

Dominique Dawes has stated, “Every day, I watch young girls and boys walk out of my facility sweating and smiling. This journey has been more rewarding, more thrilling than standing on any Olympic podium. I look forward to welcoming your child into the Dominique Dawes Academy family.” She has also said, “It’s about more than medals. It’s about creating memories and building life skills.”

Last updated July 20, 2026.