Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerrin Michaels.
Kerrin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Performing, entertaining, and Teaching are all things that have been running through my veins since birth. I started my career as many children have, wearing a strand of pearls and a dress three sizes too big, belting out songs from Annie in my parents living room. I’ve never felt complete unless my hands were involved in something creative and it never hurt to be in front of a crowd. With the support of my parents, I followed my heart, and it led me straight to the stage.
I experienced the theatrical life on stage through the eyes of many different characters both big and small. I received awards for my portrayal of “Belle” in ‘Beauty & the Beast’, and “Ruby” in ‘Dames at Sea’ which lead me to my full-time professional gig as a Boston actress making close to nothing in shows like ‘Funny Girl’, ‘Follies’ and ‘Seussical’. My final stage experience being the off-Broadway and National tour of “Girls Night the Musical”. Although my bank account had nothing to show for it, my experiences in this field submersion alongside some incredibly gifted people not only gave me the tools I needed to make it to the next level, but left me with a wealth of fresh knowledge that I continue to use to this day.
Before all of that fame and fortune (just kidding there was virtually none of either), there was dance. I grew up dancing, but the church basement studio with no mirrors and no barres. It was the go-to studio in town taught by the choreographer of the High School musical. I thought it was everything and there was no YouTube to compare myself to so I thought I had it all…except ballet. HA! When I got more curious about dance, I decided (at age 11) that I needed Ballet and it was not offered at my studio (that should have been a flag) but what did I know? AOL was barely a thing and our family Gateway could only handle the stock encyclopedia with pixelated images of dancers. I went to the more reliable source, the middle school library. I took out every book on ballet and created my personal studio.
Fast forward to College where I began as a vocal performance major (my degree speaks to a different tune…the tune of I had no idea what I wanted in life.). Dance was not offered so I sought out a studio off campus. I enrolled in a teen recreational combo class and LOVED it. After a month and my mom dropped the gauntlet that she would no longer bankroll my dance classes on top of my college tuition (totally fair). When informed my teacher that I would be no longer able to continue. She looked at me and said (and I remember this moment like it was yesterday) “I thought you said that you wanted to be on Broadway?” “I do!” I replied “Yeah OK, here’s the thing…You have so much talent, but zero training, so if you really want that, you can’t quit.”
Lesley (my now lifetime friend and mentor) offered to barter classes with my teaching some acting and voice to younger students. I jumped at the opportunity and she stuck me in ballet with the 10 year olds to relearn everything I thought I knew. It became my life, I took every class available regardless of being the oldest by a decade. After a couple of years, one of the teachers took a medical leave and I was asked to cover for her. Nothing I had ever done felt so right. It was most the comfortable and natural feeling, teaching kids…dance.
I left that studio and moved back to Boston in 2007 where I began that glamorous acting career I mentioned earlier and moonlighted as a dance teacher at a local studios to supplement my income. In 2012, the universe gave me the final kick in the booty and it was a clear “now or never” moment. I closed my eyes and leapt.
I opened GBSD in September 2012 with 14 students. We are now rounding off our 5th year with 150 students, 7 teachers, 2 office managers, 6 receptionist and more love than I could ever imagine. I’ve been blessed with people that believe in me and my passion and have helped me every step of the way. We are now ranked as one of the best ballet schools in Boston (Expertise), awarded nationally a Studio of Excellence (Association of Dance Competitions and Conventions) and one of the top 50 schools in the country (BDdancewear).
It is an honor that so many families trust their child’s dance experience with us and it is not something I take lightly. I strive to make our studio a warm, friendly, affordable, professional and fun environment. Whether or not the child aspires to become a professional dancer, we give each student the quality training and attention as if they were. We believe in healthy minds, bodies and souls and our ultimate goal is to teach all of our students to love dance and love themselves. I value each and every one of my dance families I thank them for giving me the opportunity to spread my love of the arts with their children. Teaching these children truly makes me whole.
Has it been a smooth road?
Leading up to owning a studio, the road was anything but smooth. I think it was because I was trying to do everything that I thought I wanted and not what I was truly meant to do. I believed that I was going to be Broadway’s next big thing (or at least Boston’s?!), but I was young(er) and I didn’t know what it was like to feel my true calling.
I’ve never been good at “being managed” which never made for smooth working experiences. I’ve done everything from retail at the mall to working in administration Bain Capitol (what?!) yup, it’s true. I once wore that hat. It was an ill-fitting hat to say the least, but I can’t even begin to tell you how much that experienced has helped me shape my business. It has never been “just a dance studio” it has always been my venture and I look at it like it’s a multi-million dollar company because I believe in it, and I experienced what it was like to work with people who felt the same about their businesses. Only difference I see is that I wear lulu lemon to work.
…oh and I have a ton of fun too! 🙂
I’ve been fired from gigs (once- for being late!) but never did that again! I’ve been told “no” time and time again and I’ve been flat out laughed out of auditions (imagine Radio City Music Hall vocal call and belting out your go-to show tune for their vocal ensemble and getting the last note that you altered to be an octave above how it is written and as soon as you hit the first count of the 16 count hold you crack as if a toad has literally lodged itself in your throat. “I’ll see myself out thank you for your time.”). I’ve been told I’m too fat, too tall, too brunette, not ethnic enough, not American apple pie enough. I was even told in high school, by my own dance teacher that I had no passion for dance… this still to the day hurts me the most.
But all of these things have taught me lessons over and over again. That I have to be happy with myself, to be complete means to be patient but honest with your flaws and learn to work with them, change them or alter them to fit your mold! I believe that we all have the power to be happy and fulfilled, but the first step is self-awareness.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
First and foremost, we are a dance studio. We specialize in teaching many different styles of dance ranging from Ballet to Acrobatics and everything in-between. We are known for not only teaching dance, but teaching performance. I believe in a complete dance education that includes what happens on and off stage. Our dancers are trained as athletes and are versatile in many different genres of dance.
I’m proud of our students’ ability to stand out no matter where they go. GBSD dancers are always among the first to be noticed at dance competitions and conventions for being not only technically trained well (something that I did not have growing up), but that they know how to entertain. I’m proud that they care for each other and teach them to care for all dancers no matter where they are.
We stress kindness and compassion and believe in life-lessons. Our dancers are strong, healthy and beautiful people on the inside too.
I’m also proud of our staff. I have a hard time using the word “I” when I speak of the studio because these people give everything to myself and these kids. From their teaching to their choreography and everything in-between. They are the pulse of the studio and I would be nothing without my team.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I believe the Greater Boston is fully saturated in dance schools, but I would love to see more in the city. It seems as though there are only a few in town and as more people are choosing to raise a family in town (myself included) it would be nice to see more art and more places for kids to learn that are accessible to families of all demographics. The unfortunate downside to dance studios in Boston is the overhead cost. Commercial space is so expensive and with dance studios you need a lot of square footage.
If you have the passion and the desire to start any business you should do it. Forgot the “what if’s” and just go for it. You have to do things that scare you in order to realize your full potential. There is room out there for everyone and you deserve to make your mark on the world! The money, the resources, everything you need will happen for you, you just have to decide to go for it.
Contact Info:
- Address: 127 W. Central Street
Natick, MA
01760 - Website: www.greaterbostonschoolofdance.com
- Phone: 617-780-7146
- Email: info.gbsd@gmail.com
- Instagram: gobs_dancers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreaterBostonSchoolOfDance/
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