Living the Dream

Suzanne’s story is the definition of long-term impact. She’s been educating dancers for four decades, built RealDance into a community powerhouse, and helped students reach Broadway, TV, cruise lines, films, and national tours, plus top university programs. She’s also a DanceLife Magazine contributor, a respected competition judge, and a leader who believes dance training can shape who a child becomes.

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We're joined by Cris Rodriguez, who went from running a top-performing martial arts school to building the largest digital marketing agency in the martial arts industry. She’s also an EOS Implementer who helps entrepreneurs build real systems.We’re digging into what dance studios can borrow from martial arts to increase enrollment, improve retention, and market with confidence.

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We’re going live with our friends at Jackrabbit Dance for the next Living the Dream. Join us as we talk all things dance, what Jackrabbit has planned, and how they continue to support studios everywhere.

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Studio owners who are building a business while raising a family won’t want to miss this conversation. Connie O’Reel and Dee Reusch join us for an honest discussion about women’s business ownership, motherhood, confidence, and real studio life. They’ll share what confidence looks like on an ordinary Tuesday, how they manage doubt without falling apart, how they set boundaries with parents and trends, how motherhood has shaped their leadership, and what to stop doing if you’re constantly second-guessing yourself. 

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In this episode, Lisa Schmiedeke of Ms. Lisa’s Dance shared how she built a preschool program that truly feeds her studio. She broke down what drives parent buy-in, keeps families enrolled, and creates sustainable class structures that support long-term growth. Sponsored by Jackrabbit Dance.

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In this episode we sit down with April Nelson of Spisak Dance Academy—Arizona's longest-running dance school with a legacy that spans generations. From 1960 to today, Spisak Dance Academy has embraced timeless values and evolving trends. April will share stories of inheriting the studio from her mother, building a loyal team of homegrown educators, and what it means to serve multiple generations of families.This episode is for anyone who believes in tradition, mentorship, and dance that stands the test of time.

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In this episode we welcome two inspiring leaders from Brooklyn’s Asase Yaa School of the Arts: Zakiya Harris, Artistic Director, and Kofi Osei Williams, CEO of Asase Yaa Entertainment Group. Through dance, music, and cultural exploration, they’re nurturing young people with confidence, creativity, and heart.

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Debbi Dee is a teacher’s teacher and a true technician with unstoppable energy. We’ll explore her approach to teaching, choreography and master‑teaching work. Plus favorite stories from a career on stage, on camera, and in the studio.

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From viral stages to international tours, Jason Pickett is bringing real talk on building a career with purpose. Jason is a professional dance educator, choreographer, and founder of No Starving Artists, a company that mentors dancers with mindset, business, and performance strategies.

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From Radio City Music Hall to the BBC, Dre Torres is a tap force to be reckoned with—and she’s joining us for a powerful new episode of Living the Dream. Dancer. Choreographer. Educator. Mentor. Dre brings rhythm, energy, and heart to everything she touches—and now she’s sharing her story with us. We’ll dive into her path to international stages, what drives her as a teacher and mentor, why tap is more than steps—it’s confidence, freedom, and community.

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