Today we’d like to introduce you to Marilyn Terry.
Hi Marilyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I worked for a non profit for about sixteen years and then Covid hit. Suddenly I was launched into the unknown of when I was going to get my job back and very unfamiliar territory of not working or leaving my house for activities. I’ve always worked and I’ve had a passion for working with children. Not working was very hard on me and after 2 years or so I was wondering what my next chapter was going to look like. My aunt had mentioned that her kids school was looking to reopen and wanted to have physical activity options for the kids like soccer. She was going to go help the principal call around to get quotes and ideas of what to start with. I asked her if she thought they’d considered dance as an option of their physical activity. My past job was very slow with starting back up, so I decided while I was waiting I’d start my own business and teach dance. I started September 2022 and I can’t believe I’m nearing my three year anniversary.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the main issues were between me and myself! I struggled with the self confidence of being my own boss, but I took it step by step. Picking a business name, registering it, creating a website, making flyers, setting prices, etc. What’s interesting is these are things I did prior with my past company and it was something about being on my own as an independent contractor that I was struggling with. With the more tasks I checked off my check list, the more I was able to prove to myself that I could do it. I also had my family, my husband Quwnarri Terry, and a great friend Tracy Kargari who were cheering me on. That made a huge difference to have their love and support.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The great thing about working on your own is everything is your decision and you get to create everything. The bad thing about working on your own is everything is your decision and you have to create everything! I choose the music, I cut the music, I choreograph to the music, I choose the costumes, I order the costumes, direct the show, and sometimes I’m cleaning the stage. The list is endless! Often times I’m the first to arrive and I’m the last to leave. I teach ballet, hip-hop, jazz and other genres of dance. I think I’m the happiest teaching in the style of jazz or jazz funk. I’m also the happiest studying new genres of folk dancing for example belly dancing (Anaheed), African/ Jazz (Shirley Martin dancers), Hula/Tahitian (Aloha Hula) and Ballet Folkflorico (Grupo Folkflorico de West Los Angeles). I’m always most proud of my students! It’s such an amazing feeling seeing their progress of no dance experience to watching them perform at the end of the year on stage. It’s like watching a bright spark of light go off every year and it’s beautiful to see. I think what sets me apart is I don’t want thousands of students. I want the ability to stay small, create a community of life long friends and have the ability to get to know their families. I don’t want people to feel like they are just a number or that I just showed up for a pay check. I want to know their name, I want them to know they matter and most importantly I don’t want to be burned out. The truth is I came from a place where I was burning out at both ends and I’d miss family events or struggled with energy to give when I came home. I’m a better teacher, wife and mother when I keep it small.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently writing a children’s book and I plan on publishing my first book soon. I also create children’s music. I often use the songs that me and my writing partner Amy Semelsberger (Amy Sems) created to teach beginning dancers to dance with. That’s why we started writing music as Amy and Marilyn because we needed more content to dance to for students to comprehend the basics. I talked about struggling with self confidence before and I’m changing that this year. I have songs and stories that pop into my head everyday and I now have the courage to put myself out there on my own!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://productionswithmissmarilyn.com/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@amyandmarilyn?si=ECquLfGmiP3N98rr
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/ballet-dancing-in-the-am/1571170213
Image Credits
Daniel Allen-Valenzuela photographed the professional photos
