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

Hi Belinda, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe to be successful the first thing you have to do is make the decision that you will never give up..Whether business is slow in general or whether your business is threatened by a once in a lifetime event such as a global pandemic, you must stand firm on that decision and keep going. When the pandemic hit in 2020 the whole world seemed to stop. Some businesses shut down and others had no idea how to move forward. We were forced to close our brick and mortar location and pivot. Fortunately we were both nimble enough and creative enough to teach dance classes from my living room via Zoom. By doing so, Expressions in Rhythm Studio was able to stay in business, maintain our presence in the community and move into a brick and mortar location with a sizable amount of students when the pandemic subsided.

Belinda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Belinda Brown, affectionately as Ms. Bee and I am the owner, Creative Director and instructor at Expressions in Rhythm Studio LLC. I have always been an artist. I’ve auditioned for numerous Broadway productions as a child and I even appeared on the local news while performing at an event. So when I recognized the same potential in my daughter I decided to enroll her in a local dance studio. Having relocated to Raleigh from New York in 2007 I didn’t know what to expect and after several years in several schools while at a dance recital I realized that there was as need that wasn’t being met and that there needed to be a quality, community based, family oriented program that goes beyond dance. A program that doesn’t just build great dancers and great performers. But great character, great team work and great self-esteem. That is what we do at Expressions in Rhythm Studio. Our mission is to build great artists and great dancers. But most of all, our mission is to build great people. Our success is a direct result of our mission and that is what I am most proud of.

Expressions In Rhythm Studio LLC is a full service, technique driven performing arts studio in the heart of Southeast Raleigh. We specialize in various dance genres including but not limited to hip-hop, ballet, lyrical, liturgical, tap, tap-ballet combination, African dance and creative movement. In addition we the only studio that offers expert instruction in Djembe drumming. Expressions In Rhythm Studio also has an award winning competition team. Our ideal students range in age from 2-17 and have a great passion for learning and the arts. Here at Expressions In Rhythm Studio our motto is, “We don’t fit in. We stand Out

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The main thing that helped me build my reputation within the market is consistency. I have always prided myself on creating an environment that is fun, warm, safe and inviting. We call our students “Expressers” because they’re family and as a family we help them bring out the best in themselves and each other. Every year we have two major events for our Expressers to both showcase their talents and show their parents what they’ve learned throughout the season. In November we have our fall showcase and in June we have our concert to cap off the end of the season. We start preparing for both performances months in advance and both are legendary as a result. Our performance concert always has a special theme and includes dancing, music and acting. Expressers families come from across the country to see them perform and they are never disappointed. In fact the most common refrain heard from Expressers parents and families alike is, “That was a great show! We’ll definitely come back next year!”

Any advice for managing a team?

The best advice that I can give in reference to managing a team and maintaining high morale is to treat your employees as if they are truly a team. It is important to not only ask their input. But, to value their input and implement their ideas when necessary. In my business we give our instructors a lot of creative control, this gives them the opportunity to own the process and contribute in a way that allows them to take pride in being a part of our team.

Contact Info:

• Website: eirstudio.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/eirstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eirstudio/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@expressionsinrhythmstudio
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eirstudio