We were lucky to catch up with Egle Spokaite recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Egle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a time you helped a customer really get an amazing result through their work with you.
The Goal. Clients, just as institutions, have their own short term and primary goals. If their goals coincide, there is a high chance of achieving success. We would like to share stories of 2 ballet dancers, Bianca Vezzali (age 12) and Haruki Fukase (age 13). A couple, because only a couple can reflect the true meaningful purpose of the Ballet Art.
Bianca Vezzali came to Ballet Institute of San Diego with a Dream to become a Ballerina. We need to clarify here. Her goal was to become a professional ballerina. After being rejected to be a part of ballet program in another school Bianca became one of the most active students who will take all opportunities to grow. For years, and it is possible only long term, tasks crystalized that enabled the young dancer to grow and improve. One of her traits was exceptional. Through the years Bianca and her family had full confidence in the school and mentor there. Ballet dancer’s path is not easy. Working for years to improve one’s skills, technique, going through successes or failures in classrooms and competitions. Happiness of achievements live next to criticism from judges, teachers and most importantly yourself.
Bianca demonstrated jaw-dropping skills and talent in contemporary dance from a young age. Classical ballet however took much more patience, character strength and will to improve. Bianca’s Instagram following exploded in thousands together bringing fun and new opportunities. But this is not enough to become a Ballerina. Hard and consistent work together with your teacher is not guarantee of success. It also needs a magic chance, a coincidence, a luck. Just like Cinderella being touched by the fairy godmother’s magic wand, Bianca Vezzali was touched by fortune. During one of hundreds of Youth America Grand Prix Master classes Bianca was noticed and invited to attend a week of classes at Princesse Grace Dance Academy in Monaco. In Ballet world this the top school, and more than 10 000 applications of best ballet dancers are sent every year to the Academy hoping to become Baller Artist at Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in Monaco. After 5 days of classes, Bianca Vezzali was invited to move to Monaco for her final Ballet Studies, with full financial support. This invitation is an exceptional joy and pride not only for the Ballet Institute of San Diego, but for the whole of Southern California. One day we will all enjoy the first steps of the Ballerina on the professional stage, the Ballerina who grew up in San Diego.
The story would not be complete without mentioning another dancer. Dance needs to have couple! Haruki Fukase opened Ballet Institute of San Diego doors in 2022. Aged only 11 at the time, the boy’s eyes sparkled with the desire to dance. If we were to ask what is the main skill young dancer needs to have to become a professional, you will get the answer with a smile – arched shape of the foot. And only then the long explanation about importance of strong character, everyday consistent work, physical skills, artistry, and family support. But nothing can be stronger than desire to dance. It is a universal feeling that is present in all humans, not just boys or girls. It is a feature of a person who can express his feelings by giving his body to music. But the boys must overcome one specific obstacle in their journey. Culturally, parents believe the dance is not for boys, yet is popular among girls’ parents. Parents are the decision makers for their children. This is why classes are full of girls, but not boys. To be a boy who learns to dance, means to be a brave boy. Ballet is for strong, smart and dedicated boys. Progress in dance comes very slowly. But Haruki managed it with double speed. His progress in only one year was on par with the growth of his teenage body. First year brought no recognition, but the next year of hard work exploded with accomplishments and scholarship invitations into the best programs for male dancers.
The success of ballet school is mirroring the world ballet stage. One day, after watching a performance, the music and flying feeling is stuck in your mind, let’s remember the young persistent children entering a ballet studio with the dream of Dance.
Egle, 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?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egl%C4%97_%C5%A0pokait%C4%97
Our History
In 1989 Egle Spokaite, then alumni of a National Ballet School For The Arts of Lithuania performed Pas de Deux from “The Sleeping Beauty” for her final exams and went on to become a Soloist of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater. A few years later, she went ahead to win four most prestigious International ballet competitions in a row around the world, – from Japan to Russia to Finland. Her swift career virtually exploded the Lithuanian ballet scene. During her 22 years of Ballet Artist career at the National Opera and Ballet Theater of Lithuania and perform all leading roles of classical repertoire. Egle Spokaite was granted every prestigious state award possible for her achievements on the stage. The audiences were also fascinated by her multifaceted collaborations with the world’s most prominent masters in their fields, such as Maya Plisetskaya, M. Rostropovich, G. Kremer, choreographers B. Eifman, J. Arpino, K. Pastor, A. Ratmanski and many other amazing artists. 2000 was marked by Egle’s entrance into the drama theater, as she took the main role of Desdemona in the play “Othello” in the joint venture of Venice Biennale and Lithuanian Ministry of Culture. The play had enjoyed broad and fervent success for the next 11 years at the major theater festivals in Italy, Russia, Singapore, Korea, Brasil, Chile, Mexico, and virtually all European countries. In 2012, Egle Spokaite got married and shifted her home base to Boston. Three years before coming to the United States, Egle co-founded “Egle Spokaite Ballet School” in Vilnius, Lithuania. The school continues on and is currently the largest ballet school in the Baltic countries with ~600 students. The key to the success of the school is the combination of principal ballerina’s experience together with the university degree in ballet methodology and education, and the love for the dance and children she teaches. Egle moved to San Diego in 2015. Ballet Institute of San Diego founded 8 years ago became well known premier ballet school South California.
My first acquaintance with San Diego Ballet community took place at San Diego School of Ballet. Here I met prominent heads of school and managers, amazing teachers and students. My first encounters with the San Diego ballet students as a teacher took place here. It is in San Diego that I prepared my Lithuanian student Milda Luckute for YAGP 2016. Milda did an amazing job and scored her victories here. The rehearsal space where she prepared for the competition today is called the Ballet Institute of San Diego. I decided to share my experience and love for the art of ballet by establishing the Ballet Institute of San Diego. Why do I call you to become my students? Because I know ballet from the ground up, starting with the fundamentals. I know what it means to dance Swan Lake or Giselle and all the other leading roles. Because I know what it means to win international ballet competitions as I did. I know how to prepare students who win them. Because the 7 years of successful leadership of the ballet school and interaction with the students brings me only joy, admiration for the students and inevitably brings success. Egle
Have you ever had to pivot?
In 2008 Egle Spokaite co-founded Egle Spokaite Ballet School (2008–2018), the largest private ballet school in the Baltic region with an enrollment of more than 700 students. In 2015, she co-founded the international Vilnius Youth Ballet Competition.
In 2016 Spokaite relocated to San Diego, CA, where she established the Ballet Institute of San Diego. Egle choose her way to start her carrier in United States from the begging. She didn’t try to build group of her followers students in another ballet institution like a school or company. The first summer intensive course and the first ballet class started from 3 San Diego based students together with 5 Lithuanian students who visited their beloved teacher to enjoy classes with her after her relocation to US. We can proudly say that Ballet Institute of San Diego star from the beginning was clear and honest.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
There is many efective strategies to grow your clientele. The way how we like to do is to grow happy community. Happy dedicated teachers and administration works toward happiness of our clients. Some marketing strategies can be very successful, but unfortunately, not long last. Our business field is children art education. Both children and arts conflicting with some strong marketing strategies. Our client can get a result not faster than 1 year. Sometimes it takes 3 or more years. It is long time. The only one way is to get a trust from our clients- our authenticity and pure professionalism provided with love, patience with children. During years our clients demonstrating not only success and achievements but also happiness in such an environment where their children spend long hours. This slowly builds strength and believing to the same ideas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://balletinstitutesd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balletinstitutesd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balletinstitutesd
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VBiYaRxIb-C8-0SrHm86w
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ballet-institute-of-san-diego-san-diego-3
Image Credits
Stage pictures LK studio ( photos has this mention), other classroom pick photographer Dainius Macikenas