We were lucky to catch up with Anna Rose recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Anna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As a young child, I always had the dream to dance and share that love of dance with others. My mom was a single mom and it was challenging for our family to afford the level of training needed to reach that dream. To help offset these costs, my mom landed the job of office manager at my studio and I helped clean every single day before and after classes. While we didn’t have much to give, my mom was everyone’s “studio mama.” She made sure each child was fed, taken care of and loved.

After high school, I worked three jobs to be able to afford college. I attended to Montclair State University, received my B.F.A. in dance and started my teaching career. After relocating to Florida, I taught at various studios and 10 years in the public school system. I began an after-school program at the school to help students who wanted more, but might not be able to afford it. The program grew and we needed more space, so I took the plunge and opened our first physical space – Dreamer’s Dance Company! 6 years later, our studio has become my greatest achievement as well as my second home.

Anna , 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?

I know that there are many great studios to choose from. Each and every one of them are so different, so finding the studio that is right for your child and your family is really important.

One thing that makes Dreamer’s Dance Company the dance family it has become is our strong belief that kids should be kids. In a world where children are exposed to so much at such an early age, we want to be a safe place for them. All of our teachers are committed to selecting music, costumes and content that are age appropriate. Our core values include sportsmanship, teamwork, positivity, perseverance and responsibility. To us, it’s more than simply raising great dancers. Above all, it’s about helping to raise amazing humans.

Another thing that sets us apart from other studios is our all inclusive tuition structure. It makes it easy for parents to know what to expect each month, which in this current economic climate, all of our parents appreciate. They know their dancer will have opportunities to perform at local festivals and parades, and all of our recital costs (costumes, tickets, and a video of the show) are included in their tuition.

Another thing that makes us different is our strong belief back through scholarships, donations, community involvement, and performances. 10% of our student base is on full or partial scholarship.

DDC offers a full competitive program. Many studios have dance teams, but ours is different in that we believe anyone who has the drive and passion to dance as part of a team should be able to. Our current team of 68 students range in age from 3 – 18. We offer multiple levels of competitive dance so that each student can be successful, challenged and motivated.

Another program I take such pride in is our Special Dreamers. Special Dreamers is our all-inclusive dance class for students of all abilities. This class is currently geared toward younger students to introduce students to the dance classroom using music, movement, and props to teach classroom skills, coordination, balance, and strength. Parents are asked to participate to help guide students as needed along with our volunteer teacher assistants. We hope to add classes for teens and adults as well, so please reach out if you are interested! At DDC, we truly believe that everyone can dance.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Building your reputation isn’t one big action – it’s what you do every single day. Word of mouth travels, and while there may be people or forces that seek to bring you down, YOUR actions are the most important. The way you treat your students matters above all. When you care so much about your students and families, you always want to do the best by them. I will continue to work every day to give my best so that my families have the best experience ever. By doing so, the people who believe in our mission to keep dancers happy, healthy and safe will continue to share our business with others.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding Dreamer’s Dance Company was no easy task. I have a big heart, and want to help as many dancers continue dancing as possible. What worked for me was starting small, renting a smaller space initially, and only expanding when we had the funds and more to do so. Growth can be rocky, filled with many ups and downs, but focusing on the data and deciding when to expand is crucial. I never looked for outside funding until we were bursting at the seams and needed a bigger space. At that point, I tried everything to avoid putting myself into debt, but there was no choice. I worked with Fundera to secure an SBA loan, and it was so worth it! It helped us get into our current space which we love.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dreamersdanceco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamersdanceco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreamersDanceCo/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dreamersdanceco
• Other: https://charitysmith.org/memorial-funds/susan-rose-bonanno-memorial-fund/?et_fb=1

Image Credits
Bill Krautler Photography