Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elena Gutierrez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a customer success story with us?

In our dance studio business, we strive to consistently make a positive impact on our clients’ lives. We take great pride in running our business and training our staff to do more than just teach ballroom dance lessons. When a client steps through our doors, our main goal is to enrich their lives. We have countless examples of how we’ve helped our students. Whether it’s aiding in weight loss, encouraging them to open up to the world again, helping them accept challenges with ease, rekindling the passion in a couple’s relationship, saving marriages, or tapping into the health and mental benefits —like students reducing medication as their health improves, overcoming depression, and even preventing suicide—our impact goes far beyond just dancing.

People often think dance is just a fun activity, but in reality, it is so much more.

Elena, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Elena Gutierrez, and I was born and raised in the beautiful country of Bulgaria. I started dancing at the age of six and have been immersed in the dance industry for the past 24 years. Throughout my career, I have competed professionally on national, international, and world stages, winning multiple titles. Today, I am a mother of two beautiful children, happily married, and continually striving for great things in life.

I joined Fred Astaire Dance Studios in 2017, and two years later, I met my amazing husband, Philip, who is from Houston. Life brought me to Houston in 2020, just two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic began. At Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Cypress, we teach ballroom and Latin dancing to people with little to no dance experience. Our goal is to provide a fun, safe environment where clients can enjoy themselves and feel comfortable.

We emphasize four pillars of wellness in our teaching: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Each is equally important to us. We have transformed many individuals into knowledgeable, comfortable, and confident dancers. What’s most interesting and important is the broader impact we have on our clients’ lives. While they may come to us for dance lessons, they often find that other areas of their lives—connections, lifestyle, and overall well-being—improve as well. Our goal is to impact as many people as possible.

Since 2020, our studio has been the top Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Texas for four years in a row. What I am most proud of is my team, who are truly dedicated to bringing out the best in people and always putting our students’ needs and desires first. Our team is very international, and it is amazing to see how we all come together and communicate through our different cultures, united by our shared goal.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes. I think an important moment in my journey was when I decided to take control of my own life and not let anyone else be in the driver’s seat. In 2019-2020, I had to pivot by making the decision to stop my professional competitive career, which was almost everything I knew. I was in an abusive relationship that I didn’t have the courage to leave for years. One day, I realized enough was enough, and even though it was terrifying, I stepped out of it. That’s when my real happiness began. I believe I started vibrating on a different level in the Universe because things just started falling into place.

You know how, when you’re open, you attract the right people and things into your life? That’s when I met my husband, Philip, and moved to Houston. I had been a professional dance instructor for years, but few months later I had to jump into a management position without really knowing what I was getting into. I learned a lot on the go. My bachelor’s degree in Journalism and master’s in Communication helped tremendously, and my husband Philip, a very successful entrepreneur, taught me a big part of what I know now and made me successful in my position.

I believe that every pivot in life is difficult, but it’s about the journey and the energy we decide to take it on with. We just need to believe it is for the better, because it will be.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale centers around building strong, genuine relationships. Successful team management begins with friendship. I strive to be a friend to my team, caring about them not just professionally but personally as well. I make an effort to ask about their families, vacations, friends, and travels. Our Monday meetings always start with the question, “How was your weekend?” because I genuinely want to know.

Open, immediate communication and honesty are crucial. I believe that without good communication, there can be no good team or teamwork. These are qualities I focus on developing with my team. Additionally, it’s important to have clear standards and expectations from the start. Communicate these clearly with your team so they know what to expect, avoiding unmet expectations later on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fredastaire.com/cypress/
• Instagram: https://linktr.ee/fadscypress
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancecypress?mibextid=LQQJ4d