We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anthony Andrieux. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anthony below.
Hi Anthony, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
At Fusion Dance, our mission is to lead children toward success in life through the art of dance. We believe that dance is more than movement, it’s a powerful tool for building confidence, discipline, resilience, and teamwork. Through high-quality instruction, positive mentorship, and a nurturing environment, we help dancers develop the life skills and character traits that will serve them far beyond the studio.
Our goal is to inspire every child to believe in themselves, pursue their passions boldly, and carry the values they learn at Fusion into every stage of life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! I’m Anthony, the Operations Director and co-owner of Fusion Dance Solana Beach. I don’t come from a dance background myself, but I’ve always had a passion for helping others and creating environments where people can succeed. With a background in project management, I specialize in building systems, solving problems, and keeping things running efficiently, skills that translate perfectly into running a busy and vibrant dance studio.
When my husband Justin and I opened Fusion, our goal was to create more than just a place to take dance classes, we wanted to build a community where kids feel supported, challenged, and inspired. While Justin leads the artistic direction, I focus on the operational side: managing events, communication, customer experience, scheduling, and making sure every family feels taken care of.
Fusion offers a wide range of dance programs for all ages and levels, from recreational classes to competitive teams and special performance opportunities. What makes us different is the positive, family-first culture we’ve built. We take pride in knowing every dancer by name, supporting our staff with strong systems, and making every family feel at home.
What I’m most proud of is the trust our families place in us year after year. Watching kids grow in confidence, discipline, and joy through their time at Fusion is what makes all the work behind the scenes worth it. For anyone thinking about joining our studio, know that we’re a place where your child will be seen, supported, and encouraged to be their very best.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
When we first opened Fusion Dance, we had a clear vision but no guarantee of success. In the early years, we wore every hat: teaching, cleaning, emailing, organizing recitals, and there were moments when the workload felt overwhelming. But one of the most challenging times came during the pandemic. Like so many small businesses, we had to close our doors overnight and figure out how to keep our community connected and our business alive. We pivoted quickly to online classes, set up outdoor pods, and personally delivered costumes to dancers’ homes just to keep spirits up. It was exhausting, but it reminded me why we do what we do. Our resilience came from our purpose: to serve our dancers and families no matter the circumstances. That experience taught me that even in the most uncertain times, staying flexible, solution-focused, and heart-driven will carry you through.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A big lesson I had to unlearn was that “doing everything myself” was the best way to make sure things got done right. Coming from a background in hospitality management, I was trained to anticipate every need, handle every detail, and deliver a seamless experience. When we opened Fusion Dance, I brought that same mindset—managing operations, customer service, scheduling, events—you name it. But as our studio grew, I realized that trying to do it all myself wasn’t sustainable and was actually limiting our potential.
I’ve since come to love empowering others. One day, our studio director gently told me to sit back, relax, and trust the team—instead of unintentionally creating a stressful environment by trying to control every outcome. That moment really stuck with me. I learned that leadership isn’t about doing everything—it’s about trusting your people, letting go of perfectionism, and creating a positive, supportive space where everyone can thrive.
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