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

Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you ever had an amazing boss? What did you learn from them? Maybe you can share a story that illustrates the kind of boss they were or maybe you can share your thoughts on what you think made them an awesome person to work for?

I have had the privilege of growing up knowing my last boss as not only my biggest life mentor but also someone I consider chosen family. Pam Rossi is the epitome of integrity, love and light. The studio’s name, Solid Gold Dance, was chosen to pay homage to her legacy in the arts. She previously owned the studio, Pam Rossi’s Dance Ten, that I was lucky enough to have her ask me to take over four years ago. She herself was an amazing artist and dancer and graced the stage in the 80’s on the hit television show “Solid Gold”. She then went on to open a studio for dancers of all ages to find a love for the art of dance. I was lucky enough to start working with this amazing woman at the age of eight and grew up under her care. As I became an adult and passionate about choreography and teaching, Pam fostered a place of support and opportunity for me to continue growing. I never went into teaching with the goal of one day owning the studio myself, but through years of hard work and dedication, that became a reality for me. None of this would have been possible without the groundwork Pam put in to create such a beautiful space so many call their second home. When I took over in June of 2021, I decided to name the studio Solid Gold Dance in her honor. She was the best mentor and boss and I feel so lucky to have had her shape me into the successful and loving human I am today. It is my mission to continue the studio in her light and give generations to come a safe space to love music and dancing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Rachel DuBusky and I am a dance teacher, choreographer and studio owner. I grew up dancing at the studio that I now own, Solid Gold Dance. It has been a second home to me for as long as I can remember and I am passionate about continuing the legacy my predecessor left. Solid Gold Dance is a studio for children ages 2-19 and we also offer classes for adults. We train in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, tumbling/acro, yoga and Pilates. I grew up being a competitive dancer and I have always had a passion for music and choreography. There is something so rewarding getting to work with children and be a part of shaping them into well-rounded humans that can have success in whatever avenue they choose to take with their life. Dance instills responsibility, time management, teamwork, resilience, leadership and the opportunity to be an artist of self expression. We have always strived to teach the dancers to take these lessons learned in dance to their daily life to be the best version of themselves. We have both a recreational program as well as a competitive team to offer a choice in time commitment and make dance accessible to as many as we can. What sets Solid Gold Dance apart from other studios is the family dynamic that all can feel when stepping foot into our space. We have so many families comment on the warm and inviting environment we cultivate. We are also very selective with our music, movement and costume choices taking age appropriateness into STRONG consideration. We have an extreme amount of positive feedback on this matter. We believe kids should be kids and we should be protecting that beautiful part of childhood, even for our teenagers. We also pride ourselves on how little we are like the infamous show ‘Dance Moms’. We do not breed or condone negativity between dancers OR parents. We are a team and a family and we support one another. We know every parent is wanting the best for their child and that through those feelings miscommunication can arise. With that, we believe our communication from teacher, front desk or me, the owner, is one of our strongest qualities. Empathy and compassion are some of the biggest driving forces for the studio and we have a space where everybody and every BODY is celebrated and embraced with love. We see growth as a process and give the space for all to learn and grow at their own unique pace. Comparison is the thief of joy and we always hope to lift up each individual for who they authentically are. We are inspired by each soul shining their love for dance both in the classroom and on stage. We are so proud to be a second home to so many dancers and have the honor to have so many parents also call the studio their second home. It is a place so many dancers have grown up in and also became a teacher once they got older and continued to share their dedication and love to future generations. It is a very special place and I feel so lucky everyday to be surrounded by such good hearted humans. We also had to move locations this last year and build out a brand new studio space. It was a time full of uncertainty and stress but also a time so many came together and worked for the greater good. We built the new studio from the ground up through love, sweat, tears and unity. It was a beautiful thing to witness and be the one leading everyone through.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In March of 2024, I was given the notice from the previous landlord that they would not be renewing our lease due to our business using too much of the parking lot. The dance studio had called that location its home for the last 30+ years. I had bought/taken over the business in June of 2021. Moving locations was not in the plan both in general or from a financial standpoint. Taking on this leap of faith was the most stressful thing thus far in my life. Being someone that is the sole financial provider to the business, it was all on my shoulders to navigate. I was lucky to have friends and family lend their advice but in the end, it was up to me. The studio had been in an industrial space for decades (a much better price point in terms of rent) but we were not having any luck finding a new space along these lines. Our option was store front/retail space. Although this did come with its pros, it also had its cons, but it was time to trust in the business I had been building and go for it. We secured a store front space right next to Amazon Fresh and Lucky Strike in a busy and thriving shopping center and we went forward with building out a brand new dance studio. We were able to have upgrades such as an additional dance room, heating/ac, multiple restrooms, ample parking, amazing visibility, walking distance to shops/restaurants/schools/homes and only minutes from our last location. This being a first time endeavor for me. brought on a lot of stresses and unknown obstacles. With the help and guidance from my loved ones and a determination to prevail, we made this become a reality. We opened our doors to the new space on January 6, 2025 and the studio has gained so many new students and families. We are all so proud to have laid the groundwork for this new space so many future generations get to flourish in and call home.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I grew up dancing at the studio since I was eight years old. I knew I always wanted to work with children or animals since I was a little girl myself. As a dancer in high school, we had to choreograph our own pieces for the dance team showcase. That was my first opportunity to put my own work on stage. Right after graduating high school, I went to trade school to be an esthetician. A year later, I got my esthetician license and started practicing skincare at a spa in Calabasas at the age of 19. I worked there full time, 5 days a week and only taught a couple hours a week. At this point I was still seen as the kid that just recently left the competing team myself and I just worked with the beginner level dancers one day a week. I started teaching at a second outside studio to just get more work and it was there I was given more advanced level dancers to instruct. With that opportunity, my home studio got to see my work and they started trusting me with more advanced dancers. Through the next five years I started teaching more and more and my competitive pieces were placing and the dancers were feeling a lot of success under my wing. That gained me momentum to continue to grow as a teacher and choreographer. Although I do still have a love for skincare and practice that once a month, at this point with owning the studio, my first and true love is dance. Over the next decade, my careers switched from esthetics being my full time career and teaching as my side hustle to now owning the studio, teaching and choreographing being my career and dream with esthetician work being my side hustle. It is so rewarding working with kids and, although I love my esthetician clients, getting to own the studio and teach is my true passion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.solidgolddance.com
• Instagram: solidgolddance

Image Credits

Lucas Rossi
C Event Pics