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

Melodie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I grew up as a competitive dancer, and one thing I noticed early on was how limited the options were for continuing dance after high school — especially if you didn’t want to drive all the way to LA. That gap stuck with me. Then, during COVID while I was in college, a studio in Westlake built an outdoor dance floor, and I started renting space from them.

I created an Instagram account called Motion Grounds and posted about a class I was planning to teach — not really knowing what to expect. To my surprise, a ton of people showed up. That first class lit a fire. I started doing weekly classes outdoors, and then as restrictions lifted, I began renting studio spaces in Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard — really wherever I could. Over time, I built a consistent following and started gathering my own clientele.

I’ve always dreamed of owning my own business, and as I kept growing this community, I realized there was a real market for adult dance classes — especially in our area. So when I graduated college, I took the leap and opened Motion Grounds as a full studio in my hometown of Camarillo. It was a huge moment — turning something that started in a parking lot during a pandemic into a real, physical space where people of all ages can come dance again.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in Camarillo and started dancing at a local studio when I was young. I was actually doing both soccer and dance at one point, and when I got older, my mom told me I had to pick one. Everyone thought I should choose soccer — I was better at it — but something inside me knew dance was where I belonged. That gut feeling has guided me ever since.

I come from a tight-knit family — my parents, my sister, and my grandma — while the rest of my extended family lives in France. Dance became a major part of my identity growing up, and after competing for years, I noticed a big gap once high school ended: there were no consistent options for adults to keep dancing unless you wanted to drive to LA.

That’s where Motion Grounds was born. We offer adult dance classes in various styles and levels, as well as fitness classes in the mornings — something inspired by my time working as a Pure Barre instructor during college, which I absolutely loved. Our studio solves the problem of accessibility for adult dancers in our area. What makes us different is our flexible approach: we offer class packages and memberships that allow adults to mix things up without being locked into the same class every week. It’s about freedom, fun, and growth.

What I’m most proud of is the vibe we’ve created at Motion Grounds. It’s a place where everyone feels welcome, whether they’re brand new to dance or returning after years away. I’ve realized my gift isn’t just teaching dance — it’s helping people build confidence, feel seen, and reconnect with joy through movement.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

When it comes to managing a team and maintaining high morale, I’ve been really lucky — most of my staff started as friends, and that sense of closeness has carried over into how we work together. We genuinely love what we do, and that energy is contagious. The best part of the job is that it rarely feels like “work” because we’re always having fun, laughing, and supporting one another.

I think that kind of environment sets the tone for everything. I trust my team and give them the space to be creative and bring their full selves to the studio, and in return, they show up with passion and dedication. We communicate openly, celebrate the wins (big or small), and always find ways to keep things fresh and exciting — whether that’s trying new class formats or hyping each other up before a big class. It’s a team effort in every sense, and I think people feel that when they walk through the door.

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

One of the biggest tests of resilience came before Motion Grounds even had four walls. During COVID, when everything was shut down and so many dancers felt disconnected from their craft, I started teaching outside on a makeshift dance floor. I had no studio, no budget, just a deep need to move and a hope that others felt the same. I created an Instagram account and posted about a pop-up class — not sure if anyone would show up — and ended up with a full outdoor class on day one. That was my first real reminder: if you lead with passion, people will follow.

But the road wasn’t easy. After that, I spent over a year renting from different studios in Westlake, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks — constantly moving, packing up my speakers, setting up in unfamiliar spaces, and rebuilding momentum in each new spot. There were weeks I was exhausted and unsure if it was sustainable. But I kept showing up, class after class, and slowly built a loyal community.

Then, when I finally made the leap and opened Motion Grounds in Camarillo, there was a whole new set of challenges — navigating leases, permits, marketing, building a brand from the ground up. But every challenge just reminded me why I started. I didn’t do this because it was easy — I did it because it matters. Because people need spaces like this. And that belief has carried me through every high and low.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://motiongroundsstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motiongroundsstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motiongroundsdance/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/motion-grounds-camarillo

Image Credits

Pictures are taken by efrain sahagun. one picture is with my parents Yannick Truchi and Patricia Truchi. one is of Paulina Jensen one of my eployees. others are me teaching. photos are from our one year celebration event at the studio