studio, and not every style is going to be your favorite. We really encourage the kids to take more than one genre because we want them to be versatile dancers. I tell my boys the same thing. It’s good to have different friend groups, and it’s good to be good at more than one thing. I try to show them that pursuing anything worthwhile is going to come with ups and downs. When you leave the studio at 18, you go into the real world, and it’s full of the same kinds of challenges. I just hope that what they learn here, whether it’s pushing through something hard, overcoming obstacles, or working with people you don’t necessarily click with, stays with them. Because the real world isn’t always nice. And I want them to have that inner drive, confidence, and belief that they can make it to the next day. It doesn’t matter if today was hard, you can get through it and start again tomorrow, and that’s what I really want them to carry with them.
to slow down. As hard as that time was for everyone, there was also something really nurturing about it. We all got to spend more time with our families, and we experienced a level of togetherness we hadn’t felt before. When we came out of that season, there was this newfound appreciation for balance and a sense of calm amid the chaos. After returning, we revamped our schedules to reflect that. I made sure dancers had a full day off during the week, so they could rest, reset, and have more flexibility. If they needed to miss a day, they could make it up on another. I really wanted to create a structure where families had more options and dancers could still train seriously and compete, but also have balance and space in their lives. As a mom, I felt that shift deeply. It really reinforced how important that time together is, and I think it’s made our program healthier and more sustainable for our dancers and their families.
very clear when they’re happy I’m there. They don’t miss a chance to tell me. So it really reminds me that I have to be intentional about showing up as much as I can, because I know how special that time is for them. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO MOMS WHO ARE CONSIDERING STARTING A BUSINESS WHILE RAISING CHILDREN? CARRIE: I think every mom should have the opportunity to do what desires are in her heart. If every mom is similar to me, we know that motherhood is such a blessing and such a calling. I feel that getting yourself into entrepreneurship, owning your own business, or taking a leadership role in a position is incredible, and as long as it meets your needs as an individual, I say go for it. If you ever feel that is getting in the way of your joys of motherhood or being a wife or a spouse, then you should definitely take a minute to step back and realize the ways that you can shift, so that you can continue to do what you need to do to get the best of both worlds because it’s definitely possible.
WHAT HAVE YOUR BOYS TAUGHT YOU ABOUT
WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU NOTICED IN PARENTING
SLOWING DOWN AND BEING PRESENT? CARRIE: My boys really enjoy the life we live, even though I’m not the mom who’s home in the afternoons. I’m usually the mom who comes in right at bedtime, or sometimes even after they’ve already gone to bed. And with four of them and only one of me, they make it
RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS Favorite spot for date night… sushi. One word that best describes your family… full. Favorite food… Latin. Hidden talent… speaking Spanish.
SINCE YOU FIRST OPENED THE STUDIO? CARRIE: I think when I first opened the studio, it was very much work, work, work. Then something really shifted in our community during the pandemic, when everyone was home and we were all forced
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