We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dancette Pratts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dancette, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I’m extremely happy being a business owner. Like anything business goes up and down. Consistency, dedication, staying humbled, always learning being a student always. Being open to new ideas and never settling has always been my motto. I sometimes wonder if I worked for someone at a regular job. However, I know leadership has always been a thing for me so I’m not sure how long that would last. Having that flexibility to do things when I want when I want and more important the freedom that comes with it.

Dancette, 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?

So my mom took me to dance since I was 4 years old. Danced at that studio until I was a teenager. Started dancing, auditioning, working at MTV direct effect working with many artists, opening up for Chris Brown when he 1st started his career and being selected to dance with the Legendary Prince. I then continued dancing with a company and then went on tour for about 10 years. Came back and taught master classes and taught at different dance schools, conventions etc. My dance teacher who owned studio for 54 years asked me to teach and wanted to have a meeting to discuss somethings. So she then asked me to buy out her studio, not to mention I didn’t know anything on how to run a business and here I am 17 years later I now own the studio where I started my dance journey.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me the most rewarding aspect is seeing my dancers grow to not only amazing dancers but good individuals, leaders, finishing what they start. Seeing my dancers go into their careers likening their own business, nurses, doctors, occupational therapist, pilates intructors, dance teachers, models, etc.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

How to manage a business, building business credit from the beginning, taxes, payroll. I had to learn as I went on with the business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inspirationaldance.com
• Instagram: Dancette pratts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspirationalDanceNJ
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dancette+pratts

Image Credits
Pete C