Today we’d like to introduce you to Nykisha Banks.
Hi Nykisha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been teaching for a long time! A very long time! I was doing Corporate America by day and dance by night. Corporate America didn’t bring me joy. I never saw the fruit of my labor. I know that I worked hard but the rewards were few and unfulfilling! Along with a 2 hour commute with traffic at times, things were better when I taught dance. To see the fruit of my labor and to pour into what I loved revealed that I wasn’t going to reap where I sowed. I prayed and longed to have joy in my life. I took a faith walk and walked away from my career in Corporate America. I was teaching at two studios at the same time. It was lots of work but I felt good about what I did every day. I was able to teach the art, fundamentals, choreograph, and it paid off. Dancers loved my work, parents appreciated the nurturing of their kids, we’ve won championships, and I choreography awards on the competition circuit of dance. The following year, I yearned for more than competition dance. I was then hired as an independent contractor to teach dance in the school system. After leaving corporate and honoring the commitment to myself to continue teaching, the pandemic caused me to lose it all. I was driving around and noticed a store I hadn’t seen before in the area, next door to that suite was an empty suite that I laughed about and said, “hmmm maybe I can serve my own community now.” I’ve spent tons of years fulfilling dreams but I wanted my dreams to come true too!!
The suite next door to the store I found went very smoothly! It fell in my lap when I wasn’t looking for it! I told myself that it was time to do the right thing for me and make my own dreams come true. Covid-19 took my jobs so I had nothing to lose. I built it, and they came! My integrity kept my mouth shut…I worked in secret and made sure that not one of the students I taught in other places knew what I was doing out of respect for the other studio owners in the surrounding areas. During a Pandemic, I opened my doors with no dancers. I did a soft opening (due to the pandemic) with a recreational summer camp. Twelve dancers started with me! Camp was a success!! By the time our holiday show came, I had a total of 39. I had 50 for the Spring Show. Once we got to our December show, 60 dancers performed. We are back from winter/holiday break and I am very close to 70 dancers. All during a pandemic.
We are going strong!! We are growing with inquiries every day!! The dancers are learning their craft and they are enjoying every minute of it (even when it’s hard).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Struggles along the way is expected. The road hadn’t been easy. Covid-19, Influenza, Monkey Pox, and RSV has been a very hard thing to avoid. I always say that I am not a grocery store, I take care of children every week so it’s my duty to protect them. Some parents love it, while some potentials decided we weren’t the right fit because they didn’t want to follow any safety rules.
It was a scary thing to allow fear of a pandemic along with all of the other sicknesses that’s hospitalizing children, to make me feel like I was going to have to shut down or have a super spreader event if a parent dropped a sick kid to us. Although some of them did get sick and/or tested positive for Covid-19, I am proud to say that my safety protocols worked and is still working. Not one kid had to quarantine or test positive as a result of being at the studio. Positive tests, if any, came when they traveled, gathered outside of the studio, and/or sat in class with their peers all before returning to the studio from breaks and other reasons for being away. I didn’t have to shut classes down since the dancers that were sick never came in contact with anyone at the studio during their positive test. Uncharted waters is hard for anyone that runs a business. The health of each kid was a top priority so I had to ensure that I had protocols to keep every one including myself safe.
Another challenge/obstacle would be growing pains. Meeting many people and helping them and myself determine if we are a good fit for them and if they are a great fit for us is something that can be an obstacle. Even from a staff standpoint. I’ve built a well-organized and structured studio so I have to ensure that whomever is the next teacher/staff member, they must be able to maintain or positively enhance the great atmosphere that keeps everyone coming back and hungry to learn more and receive the proper training that parents are paying for! I’ve met some that were looking for work but advised that they didn’t like children. I experienced phone calls of people calling me and asking me would I hold a class for them to teach them how to dance and in turn teach it to the kids. I’ve met others who wanted to teach but couldn’t provide credentials and wouldn’t show their faces. I am a successful studio, however, as I continue to grow at the exciting rate that I am, more staff would be needed to aid in moving forward.
Finally, as we grow, space will become a factor! We will have to move. It’s a challenge, however, it’s a good challenge that keeps me on my toes. Classes are full and so many are desiring to sign up. In order for them to have a great experience, it wouldn’t be a great idea to take all of their money and squeeze 50 people in one room with one teacher and expect a great show. Space would be needed sooner than later to accommodate our growing studio. Some challenges doesn’t always have to be a stressful obstacle.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In the Key of Dance is a nurturing and structured environment that specializes in dance education. We take pride in our work and we aim to do it well. We are not a 500 kid studio but we are growing by the day so we most definitely specialize in having order. Order, structure, accountability, and organization is what we strive for. It’s not only a charge to me to ensure everything remains in order, but parents must do the same. It takes both parties to make things work and in cases where things could go left usually determines who’s a good fit for us and if we’re a good fit for them.
We are big on the entire package, not just their skill. We are known for several things. We allow everyone to have a voice, respectfully. If something is uncomfortable, such as a class, another student, the way an instructor teaches, etc…I encourage an open door policy to make them comfortable enough to say it. I can’t handle discomfort, if any, on the front end if I am hearing it only as a concern from a parent on the back end. I can’t fix what I don’t know! It matters what they think and feel while in my care however, I encourage them to talk about it with a trusted staff person, not another student because it may not return to them as it may have been shared, which forms another discomfort.
We are big on their health. A healthy whole package makes a great dancer that will love you and desire to return! I have grown to love each of them so I care about their physical and mental health. I believe what may set me apart (or maybe not) is that I currently hold a Youth Mental Health Certification which helps identifies crisis and non-crisis situations. We have tons of resources to provide if they need a place to live or if they need a therapist, etc..
I know that I’m not the only studio that do this! We are also big on Dance Education and Technique. We provide a great curriculum that not only aids with dance terminology but the importance of the details. So many dancers love the excitement of tricks, but your preparation and your ending is just as important. I explain to them that the little “boring” plie’s are just as important because it provides better jumps and landings, simple port de bras aid in the cleanliness of you as an entire package. We explain the importance of articulating through the entire foot and their toes. The importance of the details are equally important and so many aren’t taught that. Beautiful arms with crab claw fingers doesn’t appear clean. The details are important to fix!!
I am most proud of seeing the fruit of my labor. I opened the doors during a pandemic. I never recruited not one child I ever taught along the way from another studio. I actually worked in secret so some of my students from other studios wouldn’t ask me questions and also not to betray another studio owner whom I’ve taught with. When I built it, my prayer was to ensure that the right people came. Not the one with the best technique that someone else coached, that’s a credit to them. To see beginner dancers that I’ve trained and to see the fruit of bringing them into the community and receive the highest distinction of honor for their technique & behavior speaks volumes on what I’ve built without taking another studio’s dancer. My prayers are always answered even when doesn’t feel like it.
Everyone that steps into the doors doesn’t have sweet stories. Life is hard and choosing which hard to live through is tough. Meaning several parents struggle to keep their dancer in a positive extracurricular activity opposed to struggling at home and having to be accountable for trouble they may get into. Choosing which hard is still hard. I have kids experiencing tough single-parenting situations that they simply cannot process and nothing in life that makes them happy due to all of the losses many of them have suffered. I know I can’t take it away, but I have set up a 501(c)(3) which aids in helping any kid make sure a class can be taken, shoes can be purchased, tights can be replaced, costumes can be aided for performances, etc…
I am not only a very proud studio owner. I am a #1 Amazon Best Seller Published Author. The book is called “A Leap Into Accountability.” 100% of the proceeds go to the 501(c)(3) to help every dancer when needed. The book can be purchased at the studio or on Amazon!
Finally, our studio was recently voted Best of Best Dance Studio for our area! We are extremely honored!
We will keep growing and keep going!!!
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy are the kids. Seeing them work hard by themselves and with one another makes me smile. To see them struggle with something and work so hard and have it when they return to class shows how hard they want it!
What makes me happy is getting up every day to do what I love.
What makes me happy is knowing that every kid loves me in the same capacity (if not more).
What makes me happy is seeing my dancers grow and have a desire to strive to be better and not afraid to ask for help.
Pricing:
- My Book, “A Dancer’s Leap Into Accountability” is sold for $20
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inthekeyofdance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/in_the_key_of_dance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inthekeyofdance/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdxi2boV9iDOmBDXD7WH_Lw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@inthekeyofdance
Image Credits
Cover Photo: Photography by Bricen The Picture with the book in hand: Photography by Bricen All of the other photos: Crush Photography
