Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Carey-Barron.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Erin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my dance story when I was 2 years old in a mommy and me class. My mom lasted 2 classes until she realized she had no rhythm and thought I was better off on my own. I continued to dance competitively until the age of 18 for my school and my studio. When I started college, I thought my dance journey was over until I realized that teaching dance was something I identified with even more than just being on stage. I taught at a local studio for 6 years where I helped develop a competition program, recital routines and eventually began to direct for the studio. After a series of events that studio closed and I realized that an opportunity had presented itself. That summer, with the help of my dance family and endless hours of dedication from friends and family, I opened Divine Dance Center. We are now entering our 8th year and I couldn’t be prouder of the mark we have made in the dance community.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any small business, it comes with its challenges. The dance world is small and as the competitive dance scene becomes increasingly glaring it is hard to maintain your true vision as a studio. We have worked through dancer’s injury, teachers making career changes, and our fair share of “dance mom” stories but in the end, it has made us a stronger more close knit studio. At the end of all of our obstacles our mission and vision always shine through.
Divine Dance Center – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Divine Dance Center is a family dance studio that focuses on recreational dance classes for dancers just starting their dance journey; however, we also host Divine Dance Company which is a competition dance program that prepares dancers for high school and collegiate level dance programs. We offer tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tumbling, and combination classes for dancers ages 2-18. Of all the styles we offer I am most proud of our tap program. In a dance scene where tap is a dying art we have not only been able to keep tap alive but also be extremely competitive and successful in it. Overall, I am proud to say that even though our Company is very successful in the competition dance scene, we always take time bond as a team and teach our dancers that being a good person and teammate will always take them further in life than a 1st overall platinum award from a competition.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
As a studio owner, it makes me the most proud when I hear about how my dancers treat others and present themselves when were out performing or competition.
In July, our studio was given the honor of receiving the “Studio Spirit” award from Kids Artistic Revue in Las Vegas, NV. The award is given to the studio that exhibited good sportsmanship, competitive excellence, as well as a fun backstage dynamic with all teachers and competition employees. Being called up onstage and joining my teaching staff to receive the award showed me that no matter how challenging it gets were making differences in raising strong dancers and even more amazing humans.
Contact Info:
- Address: 13841 Roswell Ave. St K
Chino, CA 91710 - Website: www.divinedc.com
- Phone: 9095910903
- Email: divine_dancecenter@yahoo,com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinedancecenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivineDance/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/divine-dance-center-chino
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