Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Carey

Hi Michelle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

It’s been an incredible two and a half years. What has transpired still blows my mind. To be honest, it’s not anything I have done myself. It has been a team effort and I will be able to elaborate as I tell the story.

I started HiiPOP because I missed having a hip hop style dance fitness class after moving to North Idaho from Franklin Tennessee.

I like to dance 2-3 times a week and could only find one class that would fill that need. So one morning my husband said, “Why don’t you just start one. Make a list of studios and give them a call to see if you can rent their space.”

I want to take a moment and give praise to my husband who has always been my leadership and business coach. He is always so supportive and encourages me to go for it. He has incredible ideas and also serves as a voice of wisdom for my leadership journey. I definitely could not do what I do without him.

This year we are focusing on expansion. We launched 2 instructors that are leading at two different gyms in our area. We are developing the training to be able to certify more instructors remotely, and we will be creating the training to expand as a franchise as well.

We are also currently building our own mobile app that will include a “Netflix style” on-demand video library that will house a variety of our playlists, ranging from the “Chill Beginner” to a challenging high intensity playlist called the “Cardio Crusher.” Plus the “Thigh and Booty Blaster” playlist and more.

I want to take a moment to give a huge shout out to my photographer and videographer Krystina Elder with Kryse Photography and all the ladies who filmed our 40 routines (twice might I add).

The mobile app will also include a calorie tracker, the ability to sync with your smart watch to track your calorie burn. As well as a resources tab that will house a wide variety of healthy recipes created by certified nutritionists.

The on-demand video portal is the biggest project we have taken on and it has been a team effort. I am so thankful for my team and members, they are the reason my dreams are coming true.

The first 2 years, we focused on building a strong foundation and now we are ready to fulfill these expansions to serve a wider variety of people nationally and internationally.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

It hasn’t been a totally smooth road but all of the bumps have been great learning and growth opportunities. I believe in order to get better, we have to continue to test new things and take risks.

There are ideas we tested that didn’t turn out the way we thought, but there are also the ideas we tested and it made the member experience and our company culture better.

Here’s one example. If you’ve been in some dance classes, it may feel pretty territorial in the front. We tested out casually rotating the ladies that come to the front to dance.We wanted to make sure that if someone feels inspired to come up to the front, they have the opportunity to.

We don’t expect perfection. You don’t have to be a trained dancer. We cheer on whomever jumps up there, and it is amazing!

For many people this is a totally stretch out of their comfort zones. We always remind everyone that comfort zones were meant to be crushed. And I can see confidence soar after someone crushes that fear and just lets go of what people think.

This was inspired by a fellow instructor, Lona Garrett, that was doing the same in her class and I loved the idea, so we tested it out for our classes. This one adjustment has elevated our company culture and has made it feel more inclusive and empowering to all. This is one of those ideas we took a risk on and I am so glad we did!

As you know, we’re big fans of HiiPOP Dance Fitness. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?

HiiPOP Dance Fitness in its simplicity, is a high intensity fitness dance class set to clean pop and hip hop music.

We are known for having really high intensity classes. The classes are exciting, energetic and empowering. Although it is high intensity, everyone is welcome to adjust the level of intensity that suits their needs at the moment.

Although our songs and moves are clean, we do get sassy but we keep it classy. It’s kind of like the early 2000s girl power, Pussycat Dolls type of vibes. Big, powerful and simple moves, with a lot of sass! We keep everything PG-13. I clean up the songs to make sure there’s no over the top language and content.

We are more than just a dance class. We have done a lot of flash mobs and performances in our community. In the past few years we did a flash mob at a fashion show, we performed at a parade, and participated in filming for a music video. We are gearing up for another flash mob at a car show and this year’s 4th of July parade.

What I love is that we aren’t a dance troop and we all have different styles, and we are a wide range of ages. I love that because of its authenticity. We are a bunch of regular ladies that just love to dance and have fun and we welcome everyone to participate no matter how “experienced” a dancer you are.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?

A characteristic that that has been most important to my success is my ability to cling to my faith. I always try to keep in mind that there is a higher power guiding me through my business. When things are not going great, I remember that there’s a lesson to be learned and if it’s not good, then God is not done.

This mentality has allowed me to keep moving forward to push through difficult and uncertain times. And after 17 years of being an entrepreneur, I have built a history of seeing the Lord’s faithfulness.

Even from our failed businesses, the skills and experience I attained, I am using now. It’s simply amazing to look back and remember how those lessons have come back full circle. That type of history expands my vision and faith to keep taking risks and not allow failure to hold me back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hiipopdance.com
• Instagram: @hiipopdancefitness
• Facebook: @hiipopdancefitness
• Youtube: @hiipopdancefitness
• Other: TikTok: @hiipopdance_michelle

Image Credits
Kryse Photography