Brazilian Samba Shows & Classes in Vancouver

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in dance education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yulia Terekh, a Samba Instructor, based in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I founded Vancouver Samba School last 2019 to further promote samba and other Afro-Brazilian dances and Brazilian culture in Vancouver and internationally. VSS offers weekly samba classes of all levels (intro to pro), produces shows, and collaborates with other performers and Brazilian artists. VSS aims to give opportunities to all students of all levels to perform or travel to Brazil; our VSS team is proud to be part of multiple city events, festivals, private performances, and shows. We believe that #SambaUnites and everyone is welcome to dance, learn and have fun.

Tell us about yourself

I grew up as a gymnast, always surrounded by teammates, always training and striving to learn more and become a better athlete, person, and dancer. After I moved to Canada, I learned about capoeira and fell in love with this Afro-Brazilian martial art. Training with Grupo Axé Capoeira for 11 years now, I have also encountered a great desire to explore and learn more about samba dance. In 2019, in pursuit of taking as many samba classes as possible but not being able to find those in Vancouver, I opened my own dance school and started teaching beginner samba classes. I have taught at least 200 students now and also formed three different performance teams in the last 4 years. I am inspired by samba dancers and teachers in Brazil and around the world. I appreciate all the resources and events International Samba Congress offers to support my own learning. I am motivated daily when I see every person who comes to my class smile and explores their own passion for samba, music, and performing art. I love doing shows myself, and I am happy when I see my once-beginner students shine on stage and enjoy themselves while sharing the beauty of samba.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a dancer and dance company owner is not going broke when I had to invest ten thousand dollars in costumes, musical instruments, rent, training workshops, and being faced with 2 years of closures at the same time. More than that, my team grew, and we started getting invited to participate in Brazilian events, city, corporate and private celebrations, and functions as a performance group. I have also now inspired and given opportunity to my oldest and most loyal students to start teaching their own classes.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Doing a thousand things at a time and not sacrificing my own health and well-being. Giving myself time to stop and do nothing, even when there is always a next social media post and video to create, email to answer, or next great idea to plan and implement.

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

Passion - You must love your art/ industry/ business idea.
Flexibility - You are not afraid to lose or change your focus when circumstance change.
Dream big - Think 2-3 years ahead where you want to be in 2-3 years with your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://vancouversambaschool.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VancouverSambaSchool/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vancouversambaschool/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vancouversamba

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.

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