5.6.7.EIGHT

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Terry Hyde, a psychotherapist at Counselling for Dancers, where he offers support specifically for dancers dealing with emotional and mental health issues. Terry's journey into psychotherapy has been extremely unique. Upon retiring from a seasoned dance career, Terry successfully sold two businesses that were linked to the performance industry. Terry went on to pursue an education in psychotherapy and now hosts workshops, Skype sessions, phone, and face-to-face meetups to support dancers, wherever they are.

Terry understands the value of a healthy mental state in the performance world, where rejection and heartache are commonplace. And, after retiring from dance, Terry used the very same skills he learned from dance to build a business so that he could help other dancers. On the podcast, Terry walks through his entire career and speaks to best practices in mental health, how dance can help in other walks of life, his upcoming book, and how we can all be our best selves.

Moving Quotes:

"We, as dancers, are disciplined. It's the discipline of doing ballet. It's that feeling of wanting to do it right — wanting to do it properly. Instead of doing any structured education in business, I just learned as I went along. Just picked things up."

"Dancers have translatable skills. When you come to an intersection point — when you don't want to dance anymore — you still have those skills. The determination, the focus, the drive — everything like that."

"Look after yourself. You are unique, and you are the most important person in your life. And that's not being selfish either."

"Take things as they come. Don't look too far ahead. Your own personal unique journey is going to look different than your friend's journey. You have to be happy with yourself."

"The best person dancers can talk to is themselves — their gut feeling. There's an intrinsic link between the mind and the body."

"My workshops are about learning how to assess your feelings, to understand your own feelings, and to ask for help. Dancers will learn how to be mentally fit and emotionally strong."

"Dance is subjective. Just because the choreographer doesn't like the style of dance that you can do doesn't mean you're a bad dancer. It means you can't do it the way they want it. Artistic directors are very fickle people."

"The power of the mind can make or break you. It works both ways — it can be so positive or so negative."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:13: Terry walks through his journey as a dancer and businessman, from his earliest dance lessons to his thriving entrepreneurial ventures.

7:56: Terry discusses how he managed to teach himself the principles of finance and how his dance background worked to his advantage.

13:34: Hyde speaks to mental health and how his workshops help eliminate negative stigmas around the subject and teach ways to foster a healthy mental state.

21:00: Terry shares about how dancers can get involved in his workshops.

23:30: Hyde discusses his book and how he's hoping it can help distribute the teachings from his workshop on a broader scale.

28:07: Hyde shares some advice for up-and-coming dancers on breaking into the dance industry, while maintaining a healthy and positive mental state.

33:43: Terry explains a practice that he finds extremely valuable in realizing your full potential and achieving your goals — writing down your intentions.

36:01: Terry discusses the importance of journaling in helping you release negative energy and in tracking positive progress on any given task.

38:38: Terry explains why it is important to take a holistic approach to health, rather than simply taking medicine.

Bullet List of Resources –

Terry Hyde

• LinkedIn

Counselling for Dancers

• Company Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Darla Hoover, who is currently the Artistic Director of both the Ballet Academy East and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). Hoover received training from both the CPYB and the School of American Ballet, prior to accepting an invitation to become a member of the New York City Ballet in 1980. After 11 years, Darla retired from the stage and is now staging ballets for the George Balanchine Trust, as well as teaching internationally. She is also the director for the CPYB's Teachers' Workshop, where dance educators can learn from methodologies developed by Marcia Dale Weary.

Darla's passion in life is teaching dance, and she has shared her smarts with a variety of audiences across three different continents. However, Darla would be the first to tell you that there is more to teaching dance than teaching form and technique — a good teacher instructs students on how to live. On the podcast, she reflects on her time teaching around the globe, gives some practical advice for dancers, and shares some thoughts on what a good teacher looks like.

Moving Quotes:

"What you teach has to be what they're going to carry through for the rest of their lives, no matter what they do. You have to be teaching life lessons along the way."

"First and foremost, I think a great teacher is a great role model. You have to practice what you preach."

"Students will love you for your honesty, and they'll hate you for your honesty. But, ultimately, if they know you have their back, they will respect you."

"I had this philosophy — 'If I'm still breathing, I can dance.' I don't really feel like I made wise decisions that took care of myself in the best ways. I would just pretend the injury was not there. And by the time I had to acknowledge it, it was such a large injury that it would set me back for months."

"In many ways, the [modern dance industry] is a healthier atmosphere because it's wonderful that dancers are pursuing college and are dancing at the same time."

"When my students deal with injuries, I'll tell them I'm glad they got injured. Because now they'll have to line up a team [of trusted medical professionals] before you're a professional dancer. And that's so important because it's not the only injury you're ever going to have."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:55: Darla recaps her recent trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, where she spent time staging George Balanchine's "Raymonda Variations" for the Vaganova Academy.

9:14: Darla discusses what surprised her most about Russia and Russian ballet.

11:46: Hoover describes what she believes makes for a great teacher and the importance of teaching life skills beyond the stage.

14:46: Darla retells her introduction to ballet and how her parents "accidentally" enrolled her into Marcia Dale Weary's ballet school, which eventually became CPYB.

17:28: Hoover reflects on her decision to choose dance over going to college and speaks to how the current dance landscape has changed for the positive in this regard.

21:08: Hoover discusses her past difficulty with injuries as a professional dancer and how she could have better handled those situations.

23:45: Darla explains how dancers can best know whether the pains they feel are routine dance aches or are serious injuries that need to be further explored.

26:44: Darla gives some advice for any dance students that are looking for the ideal teacher or mentor.

29:02: Hoover shares about the challenge of finding quality dance personnel to help further the artistic director's mission and vision.

31:30: Darla shares how she currently has no plans for the future — and that's just the way she likes it.

Bullet List of Resources –

Darla Hoover

• Instagram
• Darla on CPYB website
• Darla in Dance Teacher Magazine

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Elise Swopes, an Instagram superstar who currently boasts over 282,000 followers, has been featured on billboards and commercials, and has partnered with some of the world's biggest brands, including Adidas, Adobe, and Apple. Recently, Swopes has become committed to sharing her methods with the world and encouraging other photographers through her SWOPES SO DOPE podcast, newsletter, and tutorial video channel.

Elise lives the "rags to riches" story, as this college dropout used her phone and some free apps to share her art through a relatively new medium at the time — Instagram. Fast forward to years later, and Elise is working with huge brands, vacationing with celebrities, speaking at Ted Talks, hosting podcasts, and so much more. On the podcast, Elise walks through her life and speaks to her art while sharing the many lessons that she's learned along the way, including the value of even seeing the negative experiences in your life as positives.

Moving Quotes:

"It's interesting when you're going through all of your struggles. You don't realize that they're there for a reason. Now, I get to do Ted Talks about my struggles. Now I get to share these with other people and have this triumphant story."

"There's so much pressure to be the person that has a lot of followers and likes. But the difference that you can make is just by simply being yourself and being consistent with being yourself."

"It's tough to put yourself out there. But I try to make friends with doubt, fear, the things that will consistently be coming up for me. Because they're never going to go away. But that's the fun part — we get to keep growing."

"It's not about what you lack; it's about what you have. And you have to be grateful for what you have… When it comes to social media, don't think about what you lack. Think about what you have and what you can share."

"You have to come to terms with the question: 'Am I in my own way?' Maybe I should stop blaming everyone else for my problems and start being more in tune with my peace."

"When I have a limitation, I think to myself, 'Okay, how can I try to work around that?'"

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:01: Elise describes her initial inspiration to bring so much movement into her photography.

4:30: Elise discusses how, when she first started her photography, she had no idea that Instagram would become what it is today.

8:56: Swopes, who started her first company at the age of 10, explains what drove her towards entrepreneurship from such a young age.

12:44: Elise speaks to overcoming fear in the new era of Instagram, which encourages photographers to put themselves in front of the camera.

14:42: Swopes shares about her experience delivering a Ted Talk and how, incredibly, all of her life's experiences — even the negative ones — paved the way to that opportunity.

19:53: Swopes gives details on her recent vacation with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith to the Maldives.

27:16: Elise shares some advice on how young dancers should approach social media branding.

29:02: Swopes describes her podcast, where she spends time exploring a variety of topics like practicing mindfulness, having confidence, and enjoying Mondays.

34:36: Elise discusses what it's like to work with big brands and her philosophy behind collaborating on these types of Instagram projects.

Bullet List of Resources –

Elise Swopes

• Instagram
• Personal Website

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Darla Lemay, who has spent nearly three decades as Artistic Director of Stageworks Academy of the Performing Arts, which offers performing arts education to all people, no matter their gender, abilities or financial status. On top of her nearly 28-year-run with Stageworks, Lemay has also directed many different Broadway Productions — such as Annie, the Sound of Music, the King and I, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia — and has been extensively involved community projects.

Lemay teaches dance for the love of dance, and her pursuit in life is to share that joy with all people who are willing to have it; however, Lemay also knows the danger of losing sight of that target — of veering off course. On the podcast, Darla shares about her incredible dance journey, deep dives on her dance academy, and expresses the importance of sticking by your values in all situations, even if it means taking a more difficult road.

Moving Quotes:

"I heard a quote — 'Talent is universal, but opportunities are not.' And I want to switch that. I want to say, 'Opportunities are universal in our organization.'"

"The arts are just an extension of who we are. If we love the arts, it's hard to deny the arts."

"When you're dealing with people, they're not robots. They come with their own experiences, desires, and passions."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:17: Darla deep dives on her academy, describing its structure and the values that it instills into the hearts and lives of its students.

9:16: Given the many different academy programs, Lemay discusses how she effectively ties all of these elements together under one common goal and mission.

13:42: Lemay shares more about her incredible theater empowerment program which serves adults with special needs and what inspired her to kickstart a program like this.

17:35: Darla discusses how "by the grace of God" she got involved in dance when, as a young person, the art was basically nonexistent in her community.

21:51: Darla shares about a difficult time at her academy when she was drawn away from her core values and paid the price for it.

26:09: Lemay explains how her academy is able to accept all dance students, regardless of economic situation or ability to pay tuition.

28:28: Lemay discusses what the future holds for her, which involves serving even more kids and more communities by introducing a love of dance.

29:47: Darla ends the podcast by answering some unique, rapid-fire popcorn questions.

Bullet List of Resources –

Darla Lemay

• LinkedIn

Stageworks Academy of the Performing Arts

• Company Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Terence Marling, Artistic Director at COMMON conservatory. A Chicago native, Terence trained at the Ruth Page School under the direction of Larry Long. Upon leaving, Marling danced and choreographed at a wide variety of both domestic and international dance companies, including serving as Rehearsal Director at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Director at Hubbard Street 2. In September of this past year, Terence became Founder and Artistic Director of COMMON conservatory, which hopes to serve as a launching pad for the future dancers of tomorrow.

Terence is a seasoned dancer and choreographer, who brings a wise perspective to the dance industry. His goal is to see young dancers succeed professionally in an industry that grows more exclusive by the day, and he has established his conservatory to achieve that end. On the podcast, Terence discusses the origins of his company and why he feels that a conservatory like COMMON is vital in today's dance landscape. Along the way, he also shares some invaluable wisdom around the importance of networking, having a willingness to learn and evolve, and so much more.

Moving Quotes:

"I'm 44 years old, and I'm still a student of dance. I've been dancing since I was 6, and I've been dancing the whole time. And there's so much to learn."

"We have to have dancers nowadays who are willing to advocate for themselves — who are willing to build their own networks. And the more people you have reach to, the more opportunities you're going to have. It's just that simple."

"It's a difficult thing for some young choreographers to take ahold of — that your success is measured by how well you communicate in front of a room and the energy that you create. If you come in unsure, you're only going to make an unsure piece."

"[When people leave my performances,] I want them to feel that they've been able to detach from the every day."

"Every single contact that you make in a dance situation is important to keep. In order to maintain those relationships, it's a good idea to just reach out and check in."

"The people that end up being really successful are those people that communicate well."

"Thinking while watching dance is great, but unfortunately, I think a lot of the dance that is created today asks almost too much thinking of the audience."

"What I'm finding is that, while training for dancers has become better and better over the years, unfortunately, the jobs have become fewer and fewer."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

2:54: Terence discusses the origins of COMMON conservatory and his vision for the conservatory.

4:52: Marling explains the importance of choosing a space near central Chicago.

7:05: Marling explains why he believes a conservatory like COMMON is crucial for dance professionals in the modern dance landscape.

11:58: Terence shares some incredible words around the importance of networking within the dance industry.

13:54: Marling discusses some of his past and present choreographed works.

16:39: Terence describes his typical process (or lack thereof) when mapping out a piece of choreography and retells the story around his first ever choreographed work.

19:25: Terence describes how he wants his audience to feel after leaving one of his performances and discusses the danger of overcomplicating choreographed pieces.

21:58: Marling shares some sound advice for aspiring choreographers around gaining experience and being bold.

26:35: Terence gives some tips for dancers who are looking to break into today's dance scene.

31:31: Terence rounds out the discussion by sharing his hopes and dreams for COMMON conservatory and why he believes it will be a success.

Bullet List of Resources –

Terence Marling

• LinkedIn

COMMON conservatory

• Company Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Alexander MacFarlan, a First Soloist with Ballet West and a lover of learning who is proactively finding ways to help dance professionals that are seeking a career change. MacFarlan, who joined Ballet West in 2007, has enjoyed a number of exciting roles within the company. MacFarlan also holds a bachelor's degree in Consumer Studies from the University of Utah and is passionate about helping fellow dancers gracefully exit the dance industry by promoting higher education.

On the podcast, Alexander covers a wide array of topics, including his first forays into the world of dance, why he has stayed at one company for so long, and when he knew that dance was what he wanted to spend his life doing. MacFarlan also shares some incredible advice around finding the right company and argues that seeking out a good leader — a leader that you admire — is as important as any other factor when trying to find the right company fit.

Moving Quotes:

"[When searching out a dance company,] look for a leader who possesses the qualities that you aspire to have in yourself… It will not only define who you are but also where you want to go."

"If you can't live without dance — if your desire is to be on-stage and performing professionally — then go in that direction and really immerse yourself into what's required for that."

"It matters to me to have a home base. I'm very glad that I've been with one company for so long."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

2:52: Alexander discusses the origins of his interest in ballet and the moment where he knew for certain that he wanted to spend his life dancing.

6:13: Alexander briefly explains how he met his wife, who is also currently a dancer at Ballet West.

6:59: MacFarlan looks back at the moment where he decided to pursue a career in dance — as opposed to pursuing a college degree — and how he ultimately landed at Ballet West.

10:45: Alexander explains why he decided to stay at one company for an extended period of time, in an industry where that type of decision is rare.

12:15: MacFarlan describes one of his first and greatest role models in his life — a person that was, simultaneously, very demanding and very rewarding.

15:03: MacFarlan shares some invaluable and nontraditional advice around what to consider when seeking out a dance company.

18:17: Alexander retells a story of a mishap that occurred during a performance, where he and his dance partner ended up in a center-stage "dog pile."

21:00: Alexander discusses his "dream roles" and shares his favorite global dance venues.

24:26: MacFarlan — a global traveler — gives some tips for how to best fare when traveling internationally for dance performances.

25:29: Alexander describes how he managed to pick up a college degree while dancing full-time and why dancer education has turned into one of his passions.

Bullet List of Resources –

Alexander MacFarlan

• On Ballet West's site

Ballet West

• Company Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Judi Ludovico, Head of Entertainment at JudiLudi Productions. Judi is an accomplished live entertainment industry veteran with over 20 years' experience in marketing and producing large-scale shows and events for iconic entertainment and tourism brands. Some of Judi's biggest accomplishments include organizing two free concerts featuring Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum, which drew 130,000 attendees and $23 million in economic impact to Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Judi is a master of being resourceful, sometimes making a lot out of very little. For example, one of Judi's biggest accomplishments was her creation of the "Rockette Summer Intensive," where Judi started out with a dream — and no budget. However, just years after its launch, it turned into a global phenomenon, reaching thousands of dancers internationally. On the podcast, Judi lays out her entire incredible journey and shares encouraging words for entrepreneurs everywhere who want to make their dreams a reality.

Moving Quotes:

"I believe that the basic principles of marketing have not changed [over the years]. It's reach and frequency — getting the right message to the right person at the right time."

"Dancers have the tools to be better singers than singers who don't dance. The reason for that is because dancers are so mindful other body. They know where every part of their body should be… And that's the same with singing."

"If you can get into the head of the casting director and know exactly what they want and be prepared from that perspective, you've got a better chance of booking the show."

"Digital and social [platforms] now allow marketers to be extremely targeted and more efficient in reaching their desired audience."

"There's so much more to being a Rockette than just learning the choreography."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:35: Judi discusses how she ended up in the entertainment industry and how one of her first full-time opportunities evolved into a global phenomenon.

9:34: Judi describes how she moved from her role with The Rockettes to running huge events in Atlantic City.

17:03: Ludovico explains how she learned the skills necessary to run huge promotions, when her degree isn't related to her career path.

18:20: Judi provides more information on her "Rockette Summer Intensive" program and its benefits to young dancers trying to break into the industry.

22:45: Ludovico explains how, through her decades of marketing experience, she has learned to evolve alongside ever-changing marketing trends and strategies.

24:24: Judi shares some advice around running an effective social media strategy.

25:37: Judi describes her biggest source of pride — her ability to create something out of nothing and use her creations to impact others' lives in a positive way.

27:30: Ludovico outlines her reading list, including one book on the entrepreneurial spirit that has greatly impacted her life.

30:41: Judi discusses her collaboration with a previous podcast guest, Phil LaDuca.

32:23: Judi explains what's next for her career — more entertainment, more entrepreneurship, and more making something out of nothing.

Bullet List of Resources –

Judi Ludovico

• LinkedIn

JudiLudi Productions

• Company Website

Do AC Broadway

• Company Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Meredith Starr, a professional dancer and dietitian who uses her platform to empower individuals to promote a healthy relationship with food and with their bodies. Starr — a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago — currently dances with the Outlet Dance Company and the Kate Jablonski Statement and works as a Registered Dietician, focusing on eating disorders, at the Insight Behavioral Health Center in Chicago.

Meredith — who describes herself as an "anti-diet dietitian" — understands that food is not the enemy and has chosen to spend her life helping people understand and apply the physical, mental, emotional, and social importance of food to their lives. On the podcast, Meredith discusses anything and everything food and proper nutrition, how her love for nutrition originated, how people can promote a positive view of food, and how her involvement with dance has evolved over the years.

Moving Quotes:

"I've never educated someone out of an eating disorder… which is why my personal practice has become a lot more comprehensive, relating not only to the physical aspects of nutrition, but also the counseling around why you choose to feed your body — or not feed your body — in the way that you do."

"Anything that disrupts you engaging in your life in a wholly present and meaningful way can be seen as disordered, be it work, food, or exercise… Are you engaging in this behavior, even without the presence of joy?"

"A person will notice a harmony between their relationship between food and movement when it's something they're not persistently preoccupied with."

"[Contemporary dance] felt so free — the ability to express so many things that aren't just words. It is liberating — there were no rules."

"Rather than saying, 'You need to lose weight to be healthy,' let's reverse that. Let's just be healthy first, and then weight is going to be an outcome of that."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:41: Meredith shares how her fascination with diet and nutrition originated and how she is applying her knowledge today.

8:27: Meredith discusses whether she observes common triggers of disordered eating behavior.

11:19: Starr explains her perspective on what defines disorder and addiction and how many types of behaviors can fit into this box.

14:48: Meredith speaks to the impact of social media on affecting people's views — particularly young people's views — of their bodies and how people can fight this negativity.

18:24: Starr describes the idea of the perfect balance between movement and nutrition.

21:09: Starr takes a break from speaking on nutrition to discuss her history in dance and her current involvement in the art.

25:46: Meredith discusses her favorite aspects of being a nutritionist and how she finds satisfaction in helping people see that food is not the enemy.

28:03: Meredith reveals the people in her life who are her mentors and role models, including a previous podcast guest.

31:52: Starr shares some resources to help guide anyone who may be interested in a career in nutrition.

35:10: Meredith discusses the next step in her nutrition career.

Bullet List of Resources –

Meredith Starr

• LinkedIn
• Insight Behavioral Health Centers site

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Ariel Rose, a dancer and choreographer at the Miami City Ballet. Rose, who hails from New York City, trained at multiple arts and dance schools before training at the Boston Ballet School on full scholarship. Rose has since danced professionally with a number of renown ballet companies, yet his true passion is for choreography. Ariel's education was tailor-made to foster a love of choreography inside of him from a young age, and his works have been featured at a number of ballet companies and schools across two continents.

Ariel is a deep, passionate thinker and holds unique perspectives on a wide variety of topics within the dance realm. On the podcast, Aleksandra and Ariel span a number of topics, including his own journey in ballet, his view on dancing a diversity of styles, his creative process, the challenges of being a young and aspiring choreographer, and why there's a gender disparity in dance, to name a few. Both dancers and non-dancers are sure to come away from the podcast more knowledgeable and more inspired to achieve their goals.

Moving Quotes:

"I live to create ballets that make people feel something or move them or uplift them… Creating dance gives me a sense of purpose."

"You can't teach someone how to choreograph. You can guide them into being aware of the audience — where the audience's attention is."

"Sometimes working hard is not the ultimate answer. You can run into a wall and not break through it. Sometimes you just have to step to the left and open the door… Think through the problem. You have to be a smart dancer."

"Music has always been important to me; it affects me in a very deep way. How that translates for me is choreography."

"You have to stay inspired. Because as long as you're inspired, the work is not work."

"Dance can really do things for people that words can't."

"When you're imagining movement in your head, it's easier to do so imagining it on actual people that you know, who you've seen on stage. It helps manifest the visual in the mind."

"I think that the dance world is pushing people to be very limited in style because it's easier to categorize people. But I feel that, as an artist, that's limiting. I've tried to face that challenge. I don't have a singular style; I want to be diverse."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:18: Ariel discusses what he is doing currently with the Miami City Ballet and when he was first exposed to choreographing, which is his greatest passion.

5:02: Ariel further describes how his education nurtured his love for choreographing and prepared him to create movement for years to come.

6:32: Rose speaks to the satisfaction of seeing his work on stage and gives some insight into his creative process.

8:35: Ariel discusses why, though rare in modern dance, being a well-rounded dancer that knows many styles is beneficial for both dancers and audiences.

13:56: Rose explains how he casts his works and speaks to the importance of finding the right dancers to fit the roles that you've imagined in your head.

16:22: Rose describes the biggest challenge that he's facing today as a young choreographer.

18:34: Ariel shares some great advice for those that may be interested in pursuing a dance career.

24:09: Ariel discusses why he believes that there is a gender disparity when it comes to on-stage dancing, dance administration, and choreography.

28:43: Rose provides commentary on the recent story where Prince George was shamed for attending dance classes, sharing how he believes that situation is ultimately for the best.

31:38: Ariel describes the satisfaction he feels when his choreography moves people and improves others' lives.

Bullet List of Resources –

Ariel Rose

• Choreography Portfolio
• LinkedIn

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Cindy Clough, the Founder and Executive Director of Just for Kix — a business that, over nearly 40 years, has instructed over 95,000 children through its dance classes, summer camps, and special events. Since its humble beginnings in a single location, Clough's business has since expanded to 2,148 locations nationwide. Cindy is also the award-winning four-decades-long coach of the Brainerd High School Warrior Dance team, which has amassed 8 state championships, Top 5 in the state for 25 consecutive years, and a National High Kick Championship.

Like so many of our podcast guests, Cindy is no stranger to success; however, Cindy knows that owning your own business requires tremendous amounts of grit and determination. On the podcast, Cindy retells her own personal journey and runs through her business's entire history, sharing nuggets of wisdom that she's learned over her entire 40-year run as an entrepreneur.

Moving Quotes:

"When it comes to failure, you just keep going. You have to be resilient, and not let failures set you back. I think resilience will be the trademark of your success — if you can get knocked down and get back up and keep going and choose gearing up over giving up."

"If you're good at one thing, do what you're great at. Then surround yourself with people who can complement your weaknesses."

"The arts are such a big part of happiness for people. Music and dance… I just can't sing the praises of the arts enough. It's such a release for so many people."

"Too many kids graduating from college expect their dreams immediately. You have to put in your work. You have to realize that you're not going to graduate from college and make lots of money. You might have to feed the cat and take out the trash and go get the dry cleaning and get your foot in the door and work your way up. There's nothing wrong with hard work."

"I feel like you need to create and maintain a culture that people want to be a part of. Kids come where they are welcome but stay where they are valued."

"Work way ahead. Never work on what you're working on right now. Be farther ahead than that."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

4:04: Cindy walks back nearly 40 years, discussing the origins of her business, and how one single location has since expanded into 2,148 locations nationwide.

10:44: Cindy speaks to the culture she's built at Just for Kix and her perspective on the importance of fostering a rich organizational culture.

12:53: Clough discusses why she believes that, 40 years ago, entrepreneurship was "the road less traveled," as opposed to today where startups are the norm.

13:49: Cindy describes the pride that she takes in the company that she's built and her gratitude that she's had a hand in providing jobs and dance education to tens of thousands.

15:27: Clough shares some wisdom on how she finds work/life balance, in the thick of an extremely demanding schedule.

18:22: Clough retells some past failures and how a healthy perspective on failure is necessary for success.

22:22: Cindy shares the identities of some of her past and present role models.

23:36: Cindy gives some advice around running a business with your family and the importance of planning for the future.

27:15: Cindy shares some tips for any people who are looking to pursue a career in the dance industry — both on the stage and off the stage.

30:12: Clough discusses the importance of artistic expression and why so many people spend their lives enjoying and participating in the arts.

Bullet List of Resources –

Cindy Clough

• LinkedIn

Just for Kix

• Company Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube