Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Allison Gupton, Owner of DanceFest Productions, Inc., located in Canton, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
DanceFest Productions, Inc. is a female-owned small business that hosts dance events for dancers from all over the Southeast and beyond, ages 8 and above! Each year we host several events, including BalletFest Atlanta, Jazz on Tap, and SPARK Summer Dance Intensive. We bring in many master teachers from all over the nation to provide top-quality instruction and training.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up in Powder Springs, Georgia, attended Pebblebrook High School for performing arts, and was a dance major at The University of Alabama. After graduating college, I began teaching all over metro Atlanta. I wrote for Dance Informa Magazine, choreographed for TV and Film in Atlanta (The Suicide Squad, The Banker, Freaky), and was a competition judge. I'm currently the Assistant Director of DancElite at CK DanceWorks. I feel honored that I was approached to buy DanceFest in 2018 by the former owners, Annie Day and Marcus Alford. Every day, I am motivated to expand DanceFest to as many young people as possible because I have seen what this beautiful art form can do for a dancer's confidence and mental health. We want dancers to feel safe and respected whenever they step into a DanceFest environment.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I take great pride in the fact that we have expanded our business model to be more diverse, inclusive, and stylistically more well-rounded. I think my favorite accomplishment is that in 2019, DanceFest was able to provide a full year of dance to an aspiring dancer that was living in a children's emergency shelter. The way their face lit up when talking about their dance classes was so special and magical. We would like to be able to provide more dancers this opportunity by eventually establishing our outreach branch, DanceFest REACH, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Another accomplishment I'm super proud of is that this year, we founded the first DanceFest Ensemble - comprised of dancers ages 13-18 from different studios from all over Georgia to provide them with an extra training and performance platform and to eventually perform for different communities that do not have as much access to the arts.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Honestly, right now, the hardest this for DanceFest is that we're still currently dealing with the aftermath of how much COVID has affected our business. We were shut down one week before our events in March 2020. That has been really hard to recover from, but I'm also really happy that we were able to still provide safe and successful events in 2021 and this year. I'm excited to see where 2023 will take us.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Hire people you know are reliable and want the same things as you. I love hiring my friends who have done amazing things in the dance world.
- Be clear with your long-term and short-term goals so that you always think at least four months/steps ahead.
- HAVE FUN! Find joy and life in all your business adventures. It can't just be about money. It has to be about more.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.dancefestinc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancefestproductions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancefestproductions/
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.