Give us a brief history of your company.
Hello Dancer officially opened the studio doors to dancers in February 2018, (6 months ago). While the studio is new, the world of dance and being a studio owner is not. As a former dance studio owner, I’ve done all the hoorah of big recitals and competitions, and while those are great if that’s your thing, I knew I wanted Hello Dancer to be different both in experience and in learning to dance. As a parent of a 9 and 10-year-old, I know the struggles of trying to juggle everyday tasks and adding in extracurricular activities, especially if they involve lots of extra fees. It can make it difficult or sometimes not even doable for all families. I knew that there needed to be another option – which is why Hello Dancer was born. We help the parents – by keeping it simple and stress-free, and I help the kids by allowing them to just be kids – all while learning proper technique and having that magical escape that all kiddos need. (Even more so now than ever before). We celebrate the children at the end of the year, with an “informance” and appreciation party that is short and sweet vs. a big production and recital that involve lots of time, money, and for some lots of pressure.
What would you tell the rest of Acadiana makes you special?
No Recitals, No Pressure, No Competitions, and No Extra Costs – We are completely focused on the magic of dancing, fundamentals/technique, and the foundations. We teach children to dance, not just – a dance with lots of innovative techniques and a ton of creativity. We aren’t your typical dance studio.
What are you most proud of?
Hearing from parents that their child told them they had the “Best day of their life!”, “Couldn’t wait to come back to class!” – It’s moments like this that make your heart smile knowing that it’s more than just dance – it’s about creating that happy place for each child.
Where do you see your business in 10 years? What are your plans for the future?
Running the most magical dance studio in the world!
1A is “Focused on Forward” – meaning we are taking an active role of improving the community we live in. Our members are Focused on Forward, too! – What does FoF mean to you? How is your company Focused on Forward?
Our forward is the kiddos. With schools as a whole being focused on the individual goals of each child and less and less time on the playground, children miss out on the opportunity to learn important interpersonal skills. Having that time to move, create, explore with other kids is crucial to developing the whole child. We want to give kiddos that much-needed escape from electronics, instant gratification, and inward focus. To us, allowing children to be children, isn’t just about age appropriateness with dance attire and music. It’s about allowing children to learn through dance, movement, play, and discovery while learning how to work with one another to navigating different concepts and skills as a group.