Live, Love, Naach - Naach Dance Academy
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in dance education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sareena Nagpal, Founder of Naach Dance Academy, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own a dance academy in Atlanta, GA, which offers Bollywood and kathak dance forms. Our customers are kids starting at the age of 4 to adults going to the age of 65!! The dance academy serves the communities in and around Atlanta.
Tell us about yourself
I was working as a Sustainability Manager traveling all over the US when I lost my job in late 2018. The reason- was there wasn't enough funding. We had just bought our home and were traveling to India and Spain. We came back from the trip, and I started applying for jobs. I had shown a video of my dance performance to a friend who called one day at 9 am telling me she had two students for my dance class!! My response- What dance class? She said you are starting one! And thus, it began. From my guest bedroom turning into a dance studio to calls from YMCA, after-school programs, and summer camps for dance sessions, the rest is history!
The motivating factor - To understand dance and to be able to share this gift with everyone is what gets me going. It's high to see people express their joy through dance!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Having taught more than 800 people in just 3.5 years! With over 80 students every semester and 30 weddings/events in just about two years! We just won the Second Prize at the prestigious Festival of India with over 20 teams competing!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
When one starts a business, it is just not a skill to share! There is so much more that comes along. Advertising, logistics such as registrations, space renting, and setting up systems for the business to run sustainably well. Performances, video, and song editing skills need to be acquired. What I find hardest is, to begin with, the first registration every single semester and then building it up. Finding a balance between the live classes and making the social media accounts effective is a hard challenge too.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Keep striding- through the ups and downs. It will mostly be your mind playing tricks.
- Feedback- always first! It makes you and the business grow faster and connects people to you when they get heard.
- Smart work- There is no substitution for hard work but think smart about which direction you want to grow. Access, re-access, and be open to change.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.naachdanceacademy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naachdanceschool
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naach_dance_acdmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sareena-nagpal-1659849/
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.