Making Dance Accessible to Everyone

Interested in starting your own journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Arica Nyamsi, Founder of CKDC, located in St. Louis, MO, USA.

What's your organization, and who are your members?

CKDC is a 501(c)3 professional dance company. In addition to our annual concert performances, we offer a wide variety of dance classes to the public for every age and every technical level. It's never too late or too early to learn how to dance. We offer a flexible schedule that fits into yours. CKDC believes that dance is a universal language that connects us all. Movement is fundamental to developing personal well-being and serves as an authentic outlet for creativity and expression. We commit ourselves to provide accessible outlets for our community to engage in movement arts and to maintain a diverse environment that honors equality, equity, and compassion. Our customers are students aged 3 - 19 who want to learn how to dance, adults aged 20 and over who want to take dance recreationally, and patrons of the arts!

Our mission is to make dance accessible to all and expose the healing art of movement to our communities. Our vision is to use our unlimited passion for movement to build a diverse and welcoming community rooted in wellness and equity.

CKDC is an arts community that reflects the diverse identities of the residents of St. Louis and its surrounding region. We demonstrate and practice a commitment to racial and cultural equity through the dance styles we offer by fusing different dance styles into our works and centering diversity in hiring teaching artists and company members. We are committed to using dance to incubate a compassionate shared experience with creative practices that center and celebrate diverse cultures and make classes and performances accessible to those marginalized by systemic economic oppression and neglect.

Tell us about yourself

I was an undergrad and an English major. I always joke, "because you know you have to go to college to be a writer, you know?" but I don't think anyone gets it. I just wanted to go to college, and I loved writing. I went to the University of Missouri-St. Louis because it was affordable and accessible, and I didn't have any support from my family to attend higher education. I was signing up for my classes and saw that there was an Intro to Dance class. It was listed as a lecture, and I had some high school experience on the "danceline," so I thought it might be an easy way to complete a fine art credit and learn about dance. Shockingly, this was NOT a lecture course, it was an overview of Ballet and Jazz, and I had to buy a leotard and tights, and I was NOT happy.

I made friends on the first day and stuck with it. This was the very first class the UMSL offered in the newly formed dance program. None of us were dancers. Some had significant experience in the past but hadn't danced seriously in a long time. Some of us (like me) never stepped foot inside a dance studio. After the first semester, Ballet and Jazz had not ignited a love for dance, but I still signed up for the Modern class the next semester out of curiosity and because I really found my "people" in this newly budding dance program. I was very interested in Modern and became a more dedicated dancer this semester and was pretty attached to the program and its students. Most of my peers were minoring in dance already, so I considered it. In my third semester in college, I took Dance Composition, and I was like, "wait a minute, I can create any move I want? There are no rules? No guidebook?" I completely fell in love with choreography, and I knew that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

What motivates me to do my work each day is the love and appreciation of my students and adult clients, but especially the adults. There isn't enough emphasis on adult wellness and recreation, and CKDC is proud to have an accessible space for dancers and non-dancers to experience the healing art of movement.

What's your biggest accomplishment as an organization?

I would say my biggest accomplishment is bringing many talented and wonderful people together to work on great art for a great cause.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being an organization?

The hardest thing NOW is navigating the post-pandemic world. People are over virtual experiences but are less likely to go out for events, classes, and concerts. Balancing our sustainability and also meeting the changing demands of the community proves to be difficult each and every day.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow an organization today?

Honestly, don't do it. I know that sounds terrible, but I'm not your cheerleader type of business owner. Whatever market you are in is probably already over-saturated. We are in the time of entrepreneurs. Why not take your gifts somewhere and improve an existing business or take over an established business? When you dive into starting your own business, you give up a lot. I had to give up a social life, finding a partner, and starting a family until my late 30s. It's not impossible, but nearly impossible, to raise a business and a family. Shout out to everyone that's doing it, and for everyone that's struggling with balancing a business and other interests, I see you. If you really can't find your idea in the market or a way in the door to make the necessary improvements, I'd say:

Start with a plan.
Don't forget to exercise and eat at least one meal a day.
Don't give up your savings because you'll need it until you start making a paycheck.

Where can people find you and your group?

Website: https://www.ckdc.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConsumingKineticsDanceCompany
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumingkineticsdancecompany/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ckdanceco
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arica-brown/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.