Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Boyle.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been teaching dance, specifically ballet, children’s work, etc… For about 35 years. My background is pretty eclectic as I started dancing when I was around eight and although I did many other things and had many different kinds of jobs, dance has always been a part of my life. It was in my college years that I began to focus on dance and was mentored by a wonderful, beautifully trained teacher named Shirley Terrill who gave me my start as a performer and teacher. After graduating from college with degrees in Secondary Education and Psychology I worked briefly as a high school teacher and Counselor only to realize that dance was what I wanted to put my life’s work into, specifically in the area of teaching. I began teaching for other schools and in a matter of time decided to start what I thought would be a small ballet program and the rest is history! After starting in that first year with nearly 100 students the school just continued to grow, locations were changed, faculty and classes were added and 28 years later I find myself looking at the faces of young students who are the children of my former students. I say it doesn’t get much better than that!
Has it been a smooth road?
I can’t imagine anyone who starts and grows a successful business saying that the road is always smooth and without challenges! One of the things about running a dance school is that it is so multi-faceted and you are dealing with so many different aspects of running a business that there is no doubt that there are times it is overwhelming. There is the school component with students that range from age 3 to adult, the syllabus and teaching work, the performances that are pretty continual, the special events that require special logistics. Then of course there is the business side that requires a completely separate staff and a different set of skills that is essential to keep everything else going! I think that the hardest time was certainly in the first seven years when things were growing quickly and I was doing most of it by myself while trying to raise two children and maintain a semblance of normalcy in my family life. I remember reaching a point where I decided to make it to ten years and then give it up because it just was all too much. But in those next three years In learned how to bring in more people and start to delegate more instead of trying to do it all myself. I believe that was my saving grace and why I have been able to continue for so long. I have been very fortunate to have been able to surround myself with the most wonderful, talented, committed people who make my school what it is today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ballet Arts Centre of Winchester – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Ballet Arts Centre of Winchester, known as BAC, is just completing its 28th year. We are a dance school that emphasizes the importance of classical ballet training while offering many other dance styles such as jazz, tap, modern, etc. Rather than competition, we focus on artistry and performance as well as the importance of a proper technical training. I am most proud of the program we have developed over the years because it encompasses such a wide range of students, interests and needs, ranging in ages from pre-school through adult. BAC truly embraces and values each and every student regardless of whether they come to dance recreationally and simply to have fun, or if they are there in pursuit of a career in dance and take part in our pre-professional program and Company, where we graduate many kids who continue to pursue dance in some form. I do believe that we have a reputation for quality, both in our training, programing and performances, however, it is the feeling of being part of a BAC family that I think is most important to the students and families who come to our school. The idea that we are able to do what we do while nurturing each student is what is most important to me.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Winchester is a beautiful suburb about 10 miles from Boston with wonderful schools, beautiful surroundings, a great sense of community, and a population of families that embrace the arts in all forms. I believe that BAC has done so well partly because our families understand and value the importance of dance and what it brings to their child’s life. There’s not much not to like about the town but I suppose it might be that because it small and there is so much offered right here, sometimes students are less exposed to the bigger picture of what’s happening outside of their town, especially when it comes to dance. We do our best to try and educate and keep them involved when we can, by performing in other cities and towns and partnering at times with other schools.
Contact Info:
- Address: Ballet Arts Centre of Winchester, Inc.
50 Cross Street
Winchester, MA 01890 - Website: www.bacw.com
- Phone: 781-729-8556
- Email: balletartscentre@comcast.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ballet_arts_centre_of_winchester
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/balletartscentreofwinchester
Image Credit:
Liza Voll
Cydney Ambrose
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