Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Hairlson.
Brianna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At the age of seven, I choreographed my first talent show at Henry P. Fieler Elementary School in Merrillville, Indiana. My exposure to dance came from music videos and my church, Embassies of Christ in Gary, Indiana. From dancing with the Precious Little Ones from age seven to doing Hip Hop with the Radicals, I continued to dance throughout the community in Northwest Indiana and Chicago, winning multiple talent shows, working with children, and taking classes in Hip Hop, until I went to college.
The summer before arriving at Howard University, I auditioned for the Dance Major program but was rejected based on lack of technique in Ballet and Modern dance. I went on to pursue my major in Business, as originally planned, but still had a strong desire for dance. However, after a nudging in my spirit to pursue dance again in 2010, I exchanged my social media and administrative skills for free dance classes at the Dance Institute of Washington, founded by the late Fabian Barnes, with the hope to gain enough technique to re-audition for the program.
After almost a year of learning the business of dance studio operation inside and out, I was able to re-audition as a Dance Minor, which was the best decision of my life! Although as a junior and senior, I was taking from 18-21 credits, paired with 6am Modern dance classes, 6pm Ballet classes, and leadership positions on campus, I was stretched to know my limitless potential as a professional dance artist and still managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude.
In 2012, after graduation, I returned to NW Indiana to work with the youth in my community, and held my first dance camp, formed a traveling dance group, and taught children dance and biblical principles through Hip Hop Zone. After working five years in Corporate America as an IT consultant, I was laid off in 2018 at three months pregnant. However, I had already been doing my side hustle of dance since 2012 and was currently enrolled in the Joseph Business School for entrepreneurship to launch Bri’s Dance Place.
2018 was a beautiful year, where I took my signature class Bri’s Bump N’ Dance class for expectant moms on a seven city tour across the country. I was also featured on Let’s Make a Deal during the LA stop of the tour, dancing at six months pregnant.
In 2019, we were featured on Windy City Live (Chicago) for Mother’s Day to promote our pregnancy and new mom dance classes with my son Paul. Now, we are in the process of completing the build-out on our first dance studio located in Merrillville, Indiana which will offer dance classes for new and expectant moms, youth ages 2-18 in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop, adult fitness classes, and senior chair fitness classes.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
At every stage, there have been struggles, but they have helped make me stronger, know exactly what I desire, and know that it’s possible with faith in God and perseverance. When I was in college, there was a struggle financially because in order to accomplish the Dance Minor program of 21 credits during my junior and senior year, I had to pay out of pocket per credit anything over 18 credits and get special authorization to take so many credits. I already couldn’t afford Howard as an incoming freshman, but I worked really hard to maintain a high GPA and apply to every scholarship possible and graduated DEBT FREE in 2012. I received over $97,000 in scholarships that today, I assist students in their scholarship searches.
Last year in 2018, when I was laid off at three months pregnant, my husband and I went from two incomes to one, and we had just built our first home. Not to mention, I was in the beginning stages of launching my business. I was shocked when I was laid off and did not have the standard six months of living expenses saved, but I can honestly say, we never missed a beat. We never missed a bill or a meal, and when our son was born, everything he needed was provided. We didn’t have to buy him diapers until he was seven months. One thing that really helped me maintain my joy was my confession, knowing that God was our source and not a job and giving tithes, offerings and being a blessing to others. I even wrote a book that will be released for my 30th birthday in March 2020 that speaks about how to maintain joy through the storms of life.
I’m definitely a giver, so scaling back from giving and budgeting is always challenging for me. However, everything that I have needed for my business, friends and family have chipped in to make my dream a reality.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Bri’s Dance Place was birthed while I was completing my Dance Minor at Howard University. Graduating in 2012, and returning to Indiana, I began hosting classes and camps, consulting in dance, and choreographing for productions. However, June 15, 2018 is when I officially incorporated the business and began doing mobile dance consulting for other studios and holding my Bump N’ Dance pop up classes.
Our motto is we just don’t teach dance, we teach life. We teach integrity, confidence, and character development through the discipline of dance while providing a safe and loving environment. What sets us apart from others is we value opportunities that will enrich our dancers lives through age appropriate choreography and costuming. I like to consider the dance that we teach as Clean and Dad Approved, yet still providing a quality curriculum.
I’m especially proud of our team of instructors who are passionate, professional, and credentialed teachers. We have Briana Arthur who is a graduate of Juilliard and a professional dancer. She will be teaching Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. Krystle Jelks who trained in Alvin Ailey’s program and has a Master’s in Arts Management from Columbia College will also be teaching Ballet and Modern. Monica Moncada has worked with some of Hip Hop’s best dancers and will be teaching Hip Hop. Malika Lee loves children, is a teacher, and danced with her college performance team and will be working in our Pre Ballet classes for our toddlers. Alicia Campbell danced with Emerson School of the Visual and Performing Arts and will be teaching Tap, Hip Hop, and working with our toddlers as well.
We are known for Bri’s Bump, Baby N’ Dance classes, which cater to our new and expectant moms, providing them with a community of other strong moms.
We also offer classes for 2-18 years old in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Tap. We offer Boys Only classes in Hip Hop and combo classes for Tap & Jazz so boys can freely express themselves.
Another specialty class is our Steps of Praise liturgical class for all ages which teaches students how to honor God through dance.
Other classes for adults include Bri’s Dance N’ Fit (Hip Hop Cardio) and Snazzy Seniors (chair fitness) for our older generation.
We literally have a class for people at every age and every stage.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was very opinionated, decisive, and sassy. I knew what I wanted in life. At age six, my goals were to be a gymnast or ballet teacher. I knew from a young age that I would be a dancer. Although I excelled in other sports such as cross country, track, and basketball, my love for dance outweighed everything else. I was a natural born leader, always being put in leadership positions. I’m the youngest of three, and both my brother and sister would say that I was the boss of them since I was six. I would say that I was popular knowing a lot of people, but never quite fitting in. Now I know that it’s because I was called to stand out!
Pricing:
- 1 class a week $60 a month
- 2 classes a week $106 a month
- 3 classes a week $144 a month
Contact Info:
- Address: 7891 Broadway Suite F Merrillville, Indiana 46410
- Website: www.brisdanceplace.com
- Phone: 219-202-4036
- Email: bri@brisdanceplace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brisdanceplace/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrisDancePlace/
- Other: www.briannahairlson.com
Image Credit:
Paul Hairlson Photography
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