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

Destiny , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I used to think a lot about what it would be like to have a regular job… until I had a few.
The difficulty for me before owning my own dance company was that I felt I was just going through the motions knowing I wasn’t giving it my 100%.
Since getting out of highschool i worked various jobs from hostess, waitress, retail, and even door to door marketing. I had even been a dance teacher for various dance companies and that was closer to my satisfaction but it still wasn’t quite enough.
Without trying to sound egotistic.. I was very good at every job I was ever in, but I knew I had to do much more than just the same routine over and over.
There was no specific instance that triggered me into this realization, I just feel like I always knew owning my own company is what I wanted to do but I was holding it off for too long. Even at 23 years now I feel I should have pursued this much sooner, better late than never as they say.
I should mention I am not trying to disregard regular employment, if anything I should be thanking them. I know each position serves a higher purpose but my passion for dance was in the back of my head..constantly and far too deep to ignore. I knew that working regular jobs my values were not truly aligned with what I was doing and therefore not serving whatever company I was in at the time in their best interest. It was employment that ignited the fire in me to pursue owning my own dance company now.
So no, I don’t think about what it would be like to have a regular job anymore. It simply doesn’t make my soul light up.. I almost felt it was a disservice to work for someone else. I need discipline and determination to give something my all. I knew there was more to my contribution in society.

Destiny , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Destiny Robles, and I am the founder of Dance and Destiny. I’ve been dancing since I was six years old, a passion ignited by my grandmother, who enrolled me in dance classes. She was a driving force in my life, encouraging me to pursue many things and raising me as her own since I was three. To me, she was always “ma” – my greatest supporter and best friend. Her passing two years ago marked one of the most challenging periods of my life. In the midst of my grief and depression, dance became my refuge.

Although dance had always been a part of my life, I hadn’t fully realized its power to heal until then. This time, I approached it differently. Instead of merely attending classes and following instructions, I immersed myself in dance as a way to channel my energy and focus away from the overwhelming sadness of losing my mother. It may seem unconventional, and indeed, everyone grieves in their own way, but dance provided me with the motivation to keep going, even on the darkest days.

Through dance, I discovered a unique space where I could momentarily escape the pain and process my emotions. It became a sanctuary where I could not only find solace but also express my feelings through movement, transforming my heartache into something beautiful.

I started Dance and Destiny after my grandmother’s passing, driven by the profound impact dance had on my life during that time. Dance became my refuge, providing me with solace and strength as I navigated my grief. Recognizing that everyone faces their own struggles, I wanted to create a space where self-expression is celebrated, regardless of what one is experiencing.
My vision for Dance and Destiny is to be a sanctuary where individuals can find comfort and motivation through dance. I wanted to build a studio that serves as a safe haven, offering a supportive environment where people can channel their emotions and cope with their challenges in a healthy way. Dance was a lifeline for me, and through this studio, I hope to extend that same support to others, helping them find their own path to healing and empowerment. Life’s difficulties are inevitable, but with Dance and Destiny, I aim to provide a space where people can transform their struggles into strength through the art of dance.
Through the choreography I plan to present, I aim to set Dance and Destiny apart by offering not just a supportive and expressive environment, but also performances and messages that deeply resonate with audiences. My goal is for the choreography to transform the stage experience, allowing viewers to empathize with and step into the shoes of others. In today’s world, it’s crucial to broaden our perspectives and connect with experiences beyond our own.
Often, we become so absorbed in our personal struggles that we forget others face similar challenges. Through this understanding, I want to create a bridge that helps people connect with their own emotions and recognize the value in fully experiencing them rather than suppressing them. After all, we are all human, and we all navigate a range of emotions—anger, sadness, joy, and more. My hope is that Dance and Destiny will encourage this emotional openness and foster a sense of shared humanity.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I have two books that have shaped my viewpoint and into what it is today and surprisingly its not your typical entrepreneurial book of how to upscale sales or how to have a leader mindset. The first book is called “Grief day by day” By. Jan Warner and “Emergent strategy” By. Adrienne Maree Brown.
“Grief Day by Day” was a key resource as I embarked on the journey of starting my own dance company in memory of my mom. My mother was my greatest source of inspiration; she always encouraged me to push my limits and be my best. She initially introduced me to dance by enrolling me in classes, and even in her last days, she embraced dance herself with the same passion and joy she had always shown.
We honored her love for dance with the inscription “Forever dancing in our hearts” on her tombstone, a reflection of how deeply she touched our lives and through dance. Her belief in me and pushing my love for dance are central to who I am today. The insights from the book helped me grieve for her in a way that I feel was less tragic and depressing, and more motivating. I suddenly had a reason to keep going when the world seemed hopeless at times.
There is a quote from the book that touched me deeply and allowed me to carry her gift to me.
“I am the keeper of my loved one’s stories. I make that memory come alive. That is a responsibility that gives meaning to my life.” It was her legacy and her constant support that truly motivated me to create Dance and Destiny, a tribute to her enduring spirit and influence.
Adrienne Maree Brown’s Emergent Strategy has profoundly influenced my approach to dance and running my studio, particularly in how small, intentional changes can lead to significant impact. The book emphasizes that just as small shifts can drive larger transformations, so too can our dance pieces reflect this dynamic. By focusing on purposeful choreography that evolves intentionally, we create performances that resonate deeply and reflect the constant ever-changing life that we are in.
In managing my dance company, I’ve come to see change as a fundamental and ongoing part of our creative process. This mindset has guided me to cultivate a studio environment where flexibility and openness are essential. By embracing new ideas and evolving artistic visions, we ensure that every small decision and adjustment contributes to a larger, more impactful result. This approach reflects the dynamic nature of society itself, which is always in flux and continually shaping our work.
Emergent Strategy has helped me understand that, just as society is constantly changing, so too must our approach to dance. By acknowledging and embracing this continual evolution, we can create dances that are both purposeful and reflective of the broader, ever-changing world around us. This approach ensures that our work remains relevant and impactful, grounded in the reality that change is an essential and ongoing part of our creative process.

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

One major lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the belief that pouring 100% of your energy and passion into something will yield into immediate results. Over time, I’ve learned that success often requires patience. While some small businesses may experience rapid growth. For me it took around 2 years to see significant progress, and even then, it hasn’t been a smooth ride. Running a business can be like riding a rollercoaster, full of highs and lows, with clients coming and going and being pulled into directions i didnt think i would.
Fortunately, I’ve surrounded myself with knowledgeable people who have taught me a great deal about running a business. I’ve heard from others that it can take 5 to 10 years to achieve their goals, so I remind myself that two years is relatively short in the grand scheme. A year ago, I wouldn’t have imagined it would take this long to reach where I am today, and it’s easy to feel discouraged by the time it has taken. But as the saying goes, “better late than never.”
The initial motivation I had when I started the company somewhat faded and perhaps that’s why my company did not scale in the way I had hoped so and at the pace i had dreampt of. But a lesson i had to learn was that consistency and determination is what will help in the long run. I wont always have a burst of motivation perhaps. But if i give up, my dreams will fade away and no one will care, so I have to keep going, Nobody sees the vision like i do. And since its given to me, and its mine, its my responsibility to make it happen despite anything and everything. You have to be your own motivator because nobody will push you harder than you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: dance_and_destiny

Image Credits

Andrea Garcia and Meliza Vasquezz