The Owners of a Two-Year-Old San Marcos Dance Studio Helped Coach a National Champion |
National championships usually come after years of practices, fundraisers and someone misplacing the trophy-case key. |
The Groove Academy took a shorter route.
The San Marcos studio says it was established in summer 2024. Its owners, Casey Bui and Nguyen Bui, already have a college national championship on their coaching résumés.
Casey serves as the academy’s executive director. Nguyen is its artistic director.
During the 2025–26 season, they also helped lead the Cal State San Marcos dance team to the first national title in program history.
Suddenly, that search for an after-school activity has a little more choreography behind it.
The Scoreboard Tells the Story
CSUSM competed at the United Spirit Association Collegiate Championships in Anaheim in February 2026.
The Cougars won the 4 Year College Pom Division II/III final with 91.83 points out of 100. Chico State placed second with 86.17.
CSUSM also finished second in the 4 Year College Jazz Division II/III final. Its score of 88.67 trailed Chapman University’s 92.17.
The pom victory was the dance program’s first national championship.
CSUSM reported that the team had been reestablished as a sport club under Campus Recreation in 2021.
That means it is a student-run competitive club—not an NCAA varsity team. Different label. Same math on the scoreboard.
During the championship season, CSUSM identified Nguyen as the team’s coach. Casey, then in his fourth year, and Olivia Bradford served as assistant coaches.
The team also reached a program-record 23 dancers during the 2025–26 season.
Nguyen is now listed as head coach of Del Norte High School’s 2026–27 dance team, adding another North County connection to the résumé.
What The Groove Academy Offers
The Groove Academy operates at 1145 Linda Vista Drive, Suite 101, in San Marcos.
Its website advertises recreational and competitive programs in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical dance, pom and acrobatics.
The studio also lists one-on-one coaching and preparation for high-school and collegiate dance teams. It says it favors smaller classes and encourages dancers to pursue interests outside the studio.
A novel idea: childhood schedules that do not resemble airport departure boards.
Still, families should separate the academy’s stated goals from guaranteed outcomes.
Dance instruction can provide practice and technical development. It cannot promise confidence, friendships or a future shelf full of trophies.
The academy’s registration system has allowed families to request trial classes, but its publicly available information does not clearly explain the price, eligibility requirements or restrictions.
The studio has also advertised a New Dancer Discovery Pass offering one week of unlimited classes for $40. The announcement does not clearly state an expiration date or complete eligibility terms, so families should confirm whether it remains available.
The real selling point here is not a slogan.
It is a documented result.
The academy’s owners helped coach a hometown college team to a national championship.
No fairy dust required. The numbers will do.
Questions About Groove Academy.
Where is The Groove Academy?
It is at 1145 Linda Vista Drive, Suite 101, in San Marcos.
Who owns the academy?
The studio lists Casey Bui and Nguyen Bui as its owners.
What national championship did CSUSM win?
Its dance sport club won the 2026 USA Collegiate Championships’ 4 Year College Pom Division II/III final.
Does the studio offer competitive dance?
Yes. Its website advertises recreational and competitive programs.
How can families contact the studio? Call 760-410-8620 or email info.groove.dance@gmail.com. |
9 Comments
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Congrats CSUSM dancers! And cool to see a new spot for all ages. San Marcos needs more arts stuff like this.
Finally, somewhere serious for kids who like dance but also want lives outside of dance. That's refreshing!
Trial week for $40 sounds good, but hope they make the details more clear. I always worry about extra fees.
Sophie_YSame here, I’m always nervous about hidden costs. It would help if they showed a sample class schedule or fee breakdown before you commit.
Wish it was an NCAA team, but honestly, club or not, those scores are impressive. Go Cougars.
Mark G.Yeah, would be awesome if it was NCAA, but our club teams always punch above their weight. The dancers work so hard! Proud of them.
Congrats to Casey and Nguyen! My niece was on the Del Norte dance team and had nothing but good things to say about Nguyen as a coach.
Hope they post class prices soon. Hard to plan without knowing costs. Looks like my daughter would love the hip-hop classes though!
Exciting to see coaches from a national champ team starting something local. Rooting for Groove Academy!