I own a dance studio in Greenwich, CT. We have 350 students, and emphasize versatile training in various dance styles. Like most small business owners I wear lots of different hats – some days I’m a designer (or try to be!), some days I’m an advisor for my students, some days I’m directing my fantastic team of 12 teachers and managers…First and foremost though, I’m a dance teacher.
When I graduated from college I had only ever had two jobs – I’d been a dance teacher and a cocktail waitress, so it was time to amp up my business skills before doing my own thing! I moved to Manhattan and took a job in the corporate world. While I lived in NYC (the world’s official Dance Capital), I went to every dance performance I could afford, took technique classes and kept an inspiration journal of what I hoped my studio would be like.
I’ve always loved interior design, and went through a phase where I would take books out of the library on architecture and décor. Someone told me once that being a designer involved a lot of math (which I’ve always been terrible at!), so that dream didn’t last long.
I can honestly say that I would like to be doing the same thing, only I hope to have found a better balance between my work life and my family life. My husband and I have three young children, two boys and a baby girl, so if I can somehow master the balancing act, I’ll be living the dream!
I’m determined, I’m empathetic and I’m an extrovert. My Dad used to call me a “social butterfly”, especially compared to my older sister who graduated at the top of her class from Princeton. My ability to build relationships with people is probably my greatest asset.
I think success probably means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. For me, I feel most successful when I feel that the work I’m doing makes a direct and positive impact on other people’s lives.
Failure is when you stop trying. Admittedly, I read that on someone’s Instagram feed the other day, but it makes sense!
How long can this answer be? Yes, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and used to really beat myself up about them. Now, I find that if I realize my mistakes and acknowledge the fault, it helps me to take note and move on.
Outside of my family, I’m most proud of the community that has been built at Greenwich Dance Studio, between the students, the teachers and the role that studio plays in my beloved hometown of Greenwich.
Take risks, be curious, now’s the time to explore! Whether that is through travel or work experience, realize that you have a relatively small amount of responsibility at this stage in life. Strive for simple needs, and even if on a very small scale, make philanthropic giving a part of your life.
With the incredible invention (and curse!) of the iPhone, I have to allow myself to be disconnected from work, and thus keep my phone out of my sight when I’m with my family. I try to tell myself that no matter how urgent the e-mails/texts/voice-mails may seem, that they can wait.
Right now it is a book my sister gave my kids for Christmas, called The Invisible String. It is a beautiful story of a mother telling her kids about how we are always connected to the people we love, even when we can’t see them.
Lazy days on a quiet beach, where going to dinner is the biggest event on the Itinerary.
