In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts

Ep 68: Beyond the Stage: Building a Sustainable Dance Career with Ian Howe

In this episode, Ian Howe shares his dynamic journey through the dance industry, from competitive dancer to cruise ship performer, and ultimately to studio owner and educator. He offers valuable insight into the wide range of career paths available to dancers beyond high school, emphasizing the importance of resilience, adaptability, and long-term vision. Ian opens up about the realities of performing on cruise ships, the transition from artist to entrepreneur, and the ongoing challenge of balancing creative passion with business responsibilities. He also reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on performing arts professionals and the growing need for mental resilience in an ever-changing industry. This conversation is a must-listen for dancers, educators, and studio owners alike who are looking to build not just a career, but a fulfilling, flexible lifestyle in the performing arts. Connect With Ian  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ianhowedancer/] Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/] Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here [https://danceemc.com/]

Ep 67 - Why We Don't Compete and Why Our Dancers Thrive

Robin and Santina go head-to-head with dance's most polarizing topic! They chat about why EMC has spent 35 years intentionally staying out of the competition circuit and how that choice hasn't cost their dancers a thing. Robin traces it back to her own training at the Baltimore School for the Arts and a marketing decision in early-2000s Pennsylvania, then dives into the real cost of "teaching to the tricks" like lopsided technique, inconsistent judging panels with no governing body, and studios chasing trophies instead of artistry. Santina adds her own competition-world experience from Australia, and together they unpack how EMC fills the calendar (and the adrenaline) with productions, company trips, and mentorship instead of scores, proving the process can matter more than the podium. This one's for every family trying to figure out which world is actually right for their dancer! Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast: For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE [https://getbrick.app/?_ab=0&_fd=0&_sc=1&snowball=ROBIN57558].  Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/]

Ep 66: Flipping the Script with Will Tijerina: When a Veteran, an Actor, and a UPS Driver Turn Dance Studio Owner

Will Tijerina had no dance background when he became co-owner of Dance 360 Orlando. What he did have: military discipline, corporate logistics experience, and a belief that performing arts build leaders. Robin met Will at a certified coaches training through More Than Just Great Dancing and this conversation picks up right where that left off. On this show, we talk a lot about how performing arts training prepares students for the world. This time, we flip the script and explore how the world prepared Will for the performing arts. They dig into what it really takes to grow a studio, why you have to stop putting out every fire yourself, and how the lessons we teach on the stage show up everywhere else in life. If you've ever told a nervous student that their butterflies are just rocket fuel waiting to launch… this episode is for you! Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/] Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here [https://danceemc.com/]

Ep 65: The EMC Way (Part 2)

In Part 2, Robin picks up the story in Pennsylvania; the historic hardware store she knew was hers the second she walked in, the nail-biting negotiation her dad told her not to get emotionally invested in (spoiler: she did), and the husband who renovated 20,000 square feet room by room. Two decades later, she's running EMC from Florida and somehow more inspired than ever. This one's for every family who's ever wondered what this place is actually made of. Get Your Brick and Support the Podcast: For $10 off your brick and to give $10 to the podcast, click HERE [https://getbrick.app/?_ab=0&_fd=0&_sc=1&snowball=ROBIN57558].  Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/]

Ep 64: From First Solo to Full Circle: Meghann Potter's Journey Through Dance, Injury, and Coming Home

What happens when a little girl who fell in love with the stage grows up to become one of your most beloved teachers? In this episode, Robin sits down with Meghann Potter, EMC alumna, solidcore coach, and current Team member at EMC Performing Arts Studio, for a candid, laugh-filled conversation about what it really means to grow up in the dance world. Meghann takes us from her earliest days at a competitive studio in Glen Burnie, MD to training at EMC with Robin, to earning a BFA at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, to chasing her dreams in the studios of New York City. She opens up about the pivotal ACL injury that stopped her mid-aerial and how instead of shattering her dream, it quietly shifted it. This episode is a beautiful reminder that your path in the performing arts rarely looks the way you planned and that's often a very good thing. Whether you're a dance parent, a studio kid, or someone who lived this life, you'll hear yourself in Meghann's story. Let’s Connect on Socials: EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EMCPerformingArtsStudio/] EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/emcperformingartsstudio/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/InTheSpotlightPod/] In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/inthespotlightpod/] Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here [https://danceemc.com/]