Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Croteau.
Tanya, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My dad signed me up for dance and gymnastics at the ripe old age of 3 and I never looked back! I am thankful for this every day because my love for dance and moving your body each and every day is something we sometimes take for granted, and totally shouldn’t! In 1999 I started teaching dance classes at the local studio I grew up dancing with. I taught a variety of kids dance classes as well as some adult hip hop classes. Throughout college, I also was a member of Phunk Phenomenon Urban Dance Theater.
This was my first introduction to dancing on a larger scale. We were the first group to dance regularly at the Boston Celtics games before the Celtics started their dance team. I also was able to dance at a Kiss 108 concert which was awesome! Reia Briggs-Connor, the founder of Phunk was a former Patriots Cheerleader so we talked about that experience and I realized it was something I definitely wanted to try!
Fast forward to 2005 after auditioning 3 times I became a member of the New England Patriots Cheerleading squad!. The team had just come off the 2005 Super Bowl win and there were over 500 ladies auditioning for 24 spots. I was lucky enough to cheer for the team for 3 years which was the maximum amount of time we were able to cheer for. Some of my favorite experiences off the field were getting to travel the world.
During my years with the team, I was selected to travel overseas with the Air Force Reserves to entertain troops from all branches of the military. Myself and five other women from my squad visited Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Germany, and Qatar. I was also selected as one of 8 women to travel to China in 2007 to promote American Football.
Additionally, I was a Boston Bruins Ice Girl for the 2008-2009 season which was a fun experience as well! In fall 2008 I started also started teaching dance fitness classes for a studio in Boston and it was at that time that I really discovered barre workouts. I was living in the city and traveling all overtaking as many classes and workshops as I could get my hands on in barre-style fitness. At that time there were only the big name barre franchises out there, no boutique studios and nothing really on the north shore.
My dad called me one day knowing I was looking to open my own barre studio and told me about a small space in Danvers (my hometown) in the building owned by a friend of ours. I opened barre n9ne studio in Danvers on March 1, 2010. At that time I could only fit 11 clients in the room! Over time I took over more space in the building and have a bigger barre fitness room and down the hall I also have a fitness room where we run our Rhythm + Stride treadmill classes.
In 2012 I opened the Andover studio. In 2014 I opened the Woburn studio and in November 2017 I opened the Somerville Assembly Row location.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As barre workouts have become more and more popular the industry has become pretty saturated. The owners of many of the barre studios that have opened after I did work at barre n9ne and were trained by me. Therefore you can find similarities between their studios and barre n9ne, however, none have the resume that I have or the life experiences I have had so I try my best to infuse that into my business, my staff and my classes.
I also try my best to stay true to who we are and what we are good at without adding in too much “fluff” or getting sucked into all the latest fitness trends. This workout is my passion. It has the ability to completely change the way your body looks. It makes you stand taller, prouder, have more confidence. I always remind myself of that.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about barre n9ne studio – what should we know?
barre n9ne studio is a place where working out and getting fit is fun. In preparing to open the Danvers studio I had two goals in mind- create a place where no one is judged and everyone is welcomed. Also, a place where working out is FUN. Where the hour flies by and people have a good time! So many times I hear how people dread going to the gym. I can confidently say that everyone leaves our classes and can’t wait to come back again!
barre n9ne studio is known for barre workouts, mat classes and cardio classes. We also offer treadmill classes which is awesome for our clients who are both runners and non-runners!
I am most proud to have won Best Barre Class of the Northshore by Northshore Magazine 5 years in a row! That is no easy feat and I have so many people to thank for making that possible. My beloved, loyal clients, my incredible team and my family and friends for their endless support.
I am also proud to have opened 4 studios while having two boys! Our oldest is 7.5 yrs old and my youngest is 3.5. They are busy little people and keep me moving and on my toes when I’m not at the studio!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think that I am relatable to my clients. We found out we were expecting our oldest 2 months after I opened barre n9ne Danvers so my clients watched me gain a ton of weight (60lbs to be exact which is a lot on a 5′ tall person!).
They also watched me get back in shape right alongside them while teaching and taking b9 classes. I have been told it is very motivating to not only have me teaching classes while expecting but also come back to class post baby and have to work hard to feel good again.
Being a mom I have the same struggles as a lot of my clients. “me time” is hard to come by. Working mom guilt never goes away or gets easier. I think that they know that I am going through a lot of the same things they are. I’m a real person too even though I’m up there teaching and motivating the room, I still go home and deal with the same stuff. 🙂
Pricing:
- Introductory 3 class package for new clients. 3 for $20 (Danvers, Andover, Woburn) or 3 for $30 Somerville.
- Danvers Andover Woburn- new client month of classes $100 OR a 20 class package $225 (reg. $240)
- Somerville new client month of classes $149.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9 Page Street Danvers, MA 01923
10 Post Office Avenue Andover, MA 01810
25 Olympia Avenue Unit H. Woburn, MA 01801
391 Revolution Drive Somerville, MA 02145 - Website: www.barren9ne.com
- Phone: 978-777-5808 Danvers, 978-470-4750 Andover,
781-281-1499 Woburn, 617-764-1822 Somerville - Email: info@barren9ne.com
- Instagram: barre_n9ne
- Facebook: barren9nestudio
Image Credit:
Nick Cosky
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