We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Haylie Lee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Haylie below.

Haylie, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My project sprouted from my passion for the non-professional adult dance community in Arizona. The opportunity to dance is given mostly to young and/or professional dancers but not to the adult dancers who wish to express and experience their love for dance. My first project was to provide a venue for non-professional dancers to perform, which was successfully held at the Tempe Center for the Arts in 2019. My current project is to provide ballet classes for adults in a non-judgmental and inclusive environment. This project began in January 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. I felt the need for a safe place for adult dancers to get together so they could share their passion for dance during this uncertain time. These projects are not about my own accomplishment or recognition but are instead about recognizing the needs in the adult dance community and providing solutions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to the US at the age of 22. I studied dance in Korea but pursued my career as a social worker in the US. For most of my adult life, I had a difficult time finding a dance community where I could continue to enjoy dancing. However, over the years, I’ve learned that it is possible to find a group of adult dancers who truly appreciate the art of dance and are willing to put in their time and effort to experience it. The goal of my project is to provide a place for adult dancers to dance freely without having to worry about the issues that they may encounter in other dance classes. Learning ballet as adults can be intimidating, but if they are willing to be patient with themselves, let go of trying to be perfect, and come regularly to class, they will not only see the results over time but learn to enjoy the process.

Can you tell us the story of how you met your team partners?

I met the two instructors at a former dance studio where I was an instructor. Like many adult dancers, they danced through their youth and achieved a certain level in their dance careers. However, similar to my experience they stopped dancing because they could not find a studio that offered adult dance classes where they felt respected and appreciated. When I decided to start my adult ballet project, I asked them to join me in this journey because I knew how passionate they are about adult dancers and their community. We are working together and supporting each other but each instructor also has the freedom to choose what they want to teach. I feel extremely grateful to have these amazing and dedicated instructors on the team.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I have tried many different advertising sources, including Groupon, Eventbrite, Instagram, Facebook, Yelp, etc. Initially, these sources seem to work as they brought considerable traffic and interest. However, learning ballet as an adult demands persistence, patience, and love for the movements. The sources and discounts might have created some buzz but failed to convey the message about what learning ballet truly entails. I feel that Google search has been the most valuable source for my project because the act of searching shows desire and a certain level of commitment. My project may grow slowly, but I am hoping that our classes attract the right kind of people who have an appreciation for the art of dance and the atmosphere we are trying to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://panoramiccdp.wixsite.com/adultballetclass
• Instagram: @panoramic_cdp
• Facebook: panoramic: Celebration Dance Project
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLryJVL7FaJ02y9WMno_6DO3uaQOd1v3Gf