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

Hi Alexandra, thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

The idea of starting Alexandra & Roman Studio was one that had been in my heart for a long time before it became a reality. My partner Roman and I are competitive ballroom dancers, and have worked for a company called Arthur Murray Dance Studio together for many years. Our passion has always been teaching people; more specifically exposing them to dance in a way that transforms their lives for the better. My other background since my teen years was Ashtanga Yoga, in which I had worked for many studios throughout my career. And then, the global pandemic happened.
With that, we all had to take a pause from face to face interaction, which meant our students no longer had this wonderful creative outlet to learn, move their bodies or dance with others. The impact was felt, and I wanted to do something to bring all of those aspects back to the people without having to risk illness. So, one evening mid-April in 2020, at a brainstorming session at home, my partner and I found a solution- online group classes!
We were instantly inspired, and created an entire functioning website listing our services and goals for students that same week.
During this time there were a lot of learning curves; how do we create a good website? What services are best offered online through a camera? How would we create a big enough space in our home to actually teach the movements and host yoga classes? The answers to all of these questions came from just trying it. I was able to find the ‘fun’ behind the research, the big picture behind the desire to execute this: creating community through an otherwise difficult time.
Alexandra & Roman Studio is still in full operation today, and going very strong. We have a beautiful community of dancers and yogis, a steady calendar of classes ranging from Jazz dance, ballet, vinyasa yoga and mobility training, and all of this is still hosted online. Most of our business expands from word of mouth and through various social media platforms.
Roman and I are thrilled to have created a platform for people to come together, work on their mind & body connections, and grow as human beings, and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My dance and yoga training began very early on in life. I grew up in the Midwest (Ohio) and as a kid, and I was always extremely curious and active. My parents were athletes, and my dad coached youth soccer, so naturally I was on the team since age four. Fast forward to high school & college, where I began my journey deeper into dance, yoga, and sports-related movement modalities. I had discovered many well-known “gurus” in the yoga world and soon began teacher training with an incredibly accessible program in Cincinnati, OH called Vitality (Shoutout to you guys!). This immersion into the practice sealed my fate- I was hooked. The program was diverse and included other complementary modalities like Healing Touch and energy healing.

As I was finishing my teacher training, I was also teaching full-time at a ballroom dance studio and training as a professional competitor. The yoga and the dance training was a perfect compliment to one another, and I found myself experimenting with both during practice time; using yoga to warm up and energy work to express myself through my body in a more present and effective way.

Soon enough, I was driven and determined to use my unique skill set to give back to the community. I graduated my teacher training and started my own studio where I hosted community outreach groups, donation-based yoga classes, and women’s retreats based around movement, awareness, and growth through motion.

After two years, my professional dance career took off, and I had decided to move out to LA to compete in a higher level and take my yoga practice to a new community. That’s where I met Roman, who became my dance partner, and soon enough my business partner too! We had a similar interest in movement, energy work, and competition, and we wanted to open a studio of our own. Roman came from family whose craft is in art of dancing and went on to get a master’s degree in dance college in Moscow. With an art university and a vast experience in the subject behind his shoulders, he was ready to engage in the field of a dance education with me.
Our day to day operations for Alexandra & Roman consist of a combination of group classes, personal sessions and online guides, videos and guided sessions. We work 1-on-1 and with small groups to help clients create and meet their goals regarding dance, movement and yoga. Many clients have very specific goals, like body rehabilitation from injury, or to condition themselves for dance competitions; and many in between who just want a physical outlet to have fun and enjoy their life more fully!
I think what sets us apart in our field is the unique combination of training across dance, yoga, and energy healing modalities. It’s not often you go to a dance class and receive the intentional, zen-like benefits of yoga! Our methods use a unique combo of all these things to not only challenge your body but to nurture your soul too.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Becoming a business owner has exposed many of my unconscious, internal belief-systems that I never would have been consciously aware of otherwise. The main one dealing with making money as an artist.

Growing up in an artistic environment at a public performing arts school, the belief was that artists were supposed to be these tortured, (and often-times broke) spirits that would have to suffer to become great. That one had to be broke to be a real artist, and that money was the antithesis of creating something as an artist. This trope is also often played out in the movies and media of our time, so my whole upbringing I had adopted that idea and took it as truth. However, when you want to start a business, of course money plays a huge role in everything! Reconciling the need for making money and having resources while also being an artist was very tough for me.

Through much contemplation, reading (and therapy!) I came across the concept that “money” is merely a means of support. Changing my own personal language around money softened the stigma that it was negative, or that if I had money that I couldn’t be a real artist. Where you put your money is what you believe in and support. When I began seeing money as a means of communication between me and what I agree with, then it became less scary. And when people began to support me through my business, I realized that through payment, their money was supporting my dream. What an amazing discovery!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I think many artists can relate to this one; when I was first starting out as a dancer (in my teens, much later than most professional dancers) the amount of skill that my peers had developed already was intimidating. What they could accomplish almost immediately, I had to train double just to try and match. It was a lot of work and dedication to be able to compete professionally on the same stage as the others! But that concept was the very thing that inspired me to dig deeper and immerse myself fully into this life. I had to have a pivotal, life-chat with myself to see if this was something that I really wanted out of life; and the answer was a resounding “Yes!”

After that moment I began to surround myself with the best in the industry. I took extra classes, attended lectures and read all the books I could get my hands on to better my skills; and eventually that led me to compete and start teaching full-time. I started to notice that even though my peers had more time spent and more experience initially, I became more of an expert every day due to sheer willpower and time spent developing the skill. This is what led me to cross train through other modalities as well, and eventually dedicating my time to my second love, Ashtanga Yoga.

I often think about the pressure that I felt as an emerging artist, and how had I let the intimidation and fear affect me back then, how I would never have pushed myself to become the professional/business owner I became today. I am grateful for the pressure of it all every single day, because that’s what keeps the fire and passion burning!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alexandraandroman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandra_roman_studio/?hl=fr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraAndRoman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-olmedo-7875b953/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwS6vt7Eu6BB8328GUO1DCQ