We recently connected with Deepali Jamwal and have shared our conversation below.

Deepali, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The passion for community building is something I was born with. As the daughter of an Army officer, I grew up in a defense community imbued with immense pride, fearlessness, and courage from an early age.

After completing my MBA in Finance, I began my career in Corporate Finance. However, my true passion always lay in creating a sense of community. I realized very early on that bringing people together was my calling and the purpose of my life.

When I moved to North America, I experienced firsthand the challenges immigrants face in settling into a new country. I felt lonely and understood how difficult it is to make friends outside of school and college. This inspired me to build a community through dance, where people could bring their most beautiful selves, welcome each other with warmth, and dance together to create a home away from home.

I have always loved dancing, so creating a community via dance was a natural inclination. I thrived on fostering a happier, more inclusive, and welcoming environment.

This passion led to the birth of Live2Dance, my vision to spread the joy of Bollywood dancing across every spectrum of age, gender, religion, and nationality, while creating an inclusive and kinder world. My enthusiasm for this dance style, combined with my drive to build community, spread happiness, and reduce stress, culminated in the creation of Live2Dance in Seattle.

Deepali, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

An MBA graduate with a specialization in Finance, I left my corporate career after 11 years to dedicate myself to giving visibility and voice to the Indian community. Recognition and representation for the Indian community, culture, and contributions is my primary goal, among others.

At the heart of my endeavors lies Live2Dance, a thriving dance studio that transcends its physical space to become a beacon of inclusivity, empowerment, and cultural celebration. Live2Dance has become synonymous with “home away from home” for thousands of immigrants, providing solace, support, and a sense of belonging.

Through Live2Dance, the lives of countless people have been touched, helping them navigate life’s challenges, find their voices, and forge connections that transcend borders and backgrounds. I was recently awarded the ‘Most Admired Global Indian Award,’ recognized in the esteemed Marquis Who’s Who in America, and honored among the ‘Top 30 Women Entrepreneurs in 2022,’ highlighting my contributions toward helping hundreds navigate life’s challenges. Many Indians credit their survival in the US to Live2Dance, and many have moved to Seattle to be part of this community. Such is the role our community plays in the sanity of Indians away from home.

Despite setbacks, including the temporary closure of Live2Dance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration challenges, and the everyday struggles of running a business in the US as a person of color and woman entrepreneur, I have had unwavering support from my family and community. Together, we were able to build and then rebuild Live2Dance from the ground up, embodying the ethos of strength, perseverance, and unity that defines my leadership.

Beyond my role as a dance studio owner, I am a strong advocate for social justice, diversity, and cultural appreciation. From spearheading movements seeking justice for victims of tragedy to collaborating with local authorities to integrate Indian culture into diversity programs, I am committed to effecting positive change.

Rooted in my Indian Army background and a deep sense of pride in my heritage, I am dedicated to elevating the visibility of Indian communities and advocating for their rightful place in society.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

To date, my biggest success story isn’t surviving the pandemic or building Live2Dance amidst all adversities. It’s my immigration story. My story of resilience.

As an immigrant, it’s not enough that you are determined to set up a business that’s going to positively change the world, but what is most crucial is your visa status.
When I, an immigrant in the US, first expressed my intention of quitting my corporate career and starting a dance community, I knew it would be challenging to convince people. How would I make it financially feasible? Even with a plan, how would I secure a work permit without a million dollars to invest in the business? I come from a humble background, and we had saved every dollar to get to where we are today. The only way forward was to convince immigration officers, in a four-hour-long interview, that my business would contribute to the economic growth of their country. The chances were slim, and it would take all my grit, our investments, patience, and time to prepare. But I didn’t have time. I had a toddler, a newborn baby, and a dream I couldn’t let go of. I was scared, but I didn’t let anyone see that.

My husband, my lawyer, my friends—everyone thought I knew what I was doing. Even though I didn’t. I just pretended and faked confidence until I truly believed in myself. After months of effort, I finally went in for my interview, and my visa got rejected.

I still remember when the immigration officer handed me the rejection letter. I couldn’t hear anything. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks, but I was numb. I left the consulate and called my husband, crying in the middle of the street, telling him I couldn’t believe I lost all our savings on what was just a dream. I texted him, saying, “I’m coming home with a broken dream,” and he replied, “Dreams that take the longest are the sweetest to achieve.”

I remember meeting with my lawyer after the rejection. He said, “I usually don’t advise this to anyone because once your visa is rejected, it’s twice as hard to apply again. But if there’s one person who can do it, it’s you.”

I was disheartened, and my spirits were broken. Our years of savings, months of effort, and all the sacrifices seemed wasted.

But if there’s anything I’ve learned in my life, it’s that I don’t give up. I try, then try harder, and even harder until I can’t anymore, and then I try some more. I started working on the parameters, learning from my failure, and decided to reapply without making the same mistakes. This time, I was more confident and better prepared. This time, I got my visa.

Honestly, to date, this has been my biggest success story. I was ready to conquer the world. I had been through the worst, and now nothing was going to stop me. Then I fell from the stairs and dislocated a disc in my neck. Then the pandemic hit, and I lost my studio. My visa was tied to my studio, so I was about to lose that too, and so on and so forth.

What I’m trying to say is that I fail every day, but I do not give up. I keep going with full force.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for us is word of mouth. I believe in investing in my people. Providing them with care, love, best services and experiences, while genuinely looking out for them. So far, we’ve experienced organic growth via word of mouth promotions.

When our students, who are also our valued members, feel satisfied, they naturally share their positive experiences with others, which has been the most effective way to grow our audience

Contact Info:

• Website: https://live2danceseattle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/live2danceseattle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/live2danceseattle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepali-jamwal-86309910/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live2danceseattle