Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Emily Striegel, Owner of Emily Jane Dance Center, located in St. Louis, MO, USA.

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

I am the owner and director at Emily Jane Dance Center in South County. We offer dance classes (both privately and in a group setting) to children and adults. We also offer an adult barre fitness class once a week. All of our teachers are qualified instructors who are very passionate about the art of dance.

Tell us about yourself

I began dancing when I was three years old and never looked back. I began dancing competitively at the age of 8 through college. I attended Lindenwood University after high school and was on the Nationally Ranked Lion Line Dance Team while getting my BA in Arts Management with an emphasis in Dance. Owning a dance studio is something I have dreamt of since I was a little girl. Dance is my passion and a part of who I am. I couldn't imagine my life without it. Being able to teach young girls & boys how to dance and seeing the confidence it brings them motivates me to be the best teacher I can be!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was opening my studio during the COVID pandemic. This opportunity to open Emily Jane Dance Center fell on my lap in the summer of 2020. I knew this was what I had always wanted to do, and I couldn't say no. I quit my full-time job and took a chance. This was a huge risk for me, but I had a lot of support from my family and my husband, Jason. Pushing through that hard time allowed me to learn a lot! I am very grateful for our amazing studio families who believed in me and have continued to be a part of Emily Jane Dance Center through it all!

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

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is the work never ends!

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

  1. Go for it! You are capable of more than you think!
  2. It doesn't happen overnight. Trust the process!
  3. Kindness goes a long way!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.ejdancecenter.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3efDrXK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejdancecenter/


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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