Celebrating Small Business Week – October 20th to 26th
Small businesses are an integral part of our communities. There is something magical about working with a small business. From the first point of contact to the end of the service or product purchase, they bring a human-centred approach to all things, which for me, wins every time.
A community’s vitality and quality of life are represented by the entrepreneurs who take on challenging roles that support the economic and social health of the community in which we live, work and play. They provide employment opportunities, economic growth and if we’re lucky, art and culture.
While I am grateful to companies that create jobs and enhance economic growth, it is the companies that focus on art and culture who really make my heart sing. Dance studios are among those companies. Over the past few years I have watched my cousin, Ali open what has been a life long dream for her – Elite Dance Company Eston. We are fortunate to have a few studio options in our area, Premier, Leader School of Dance, Dahling Productions, et al, each with their own beautiful ethos, love of music and movement and care for children. Art and culture are often after thoughts and not highly supported by our government programs, so when individuals go out and put their soul and efforts into something that often doesn’t bring in huge profits, I believe they belong to something greater than the business itself.
The art and creativity that goes into a dance season is awe-inspiring. The choreography, the music choice, and the “slow burn of progress in technical movement” as Ali, would put it, is gratifying for both teacher and student. It is in essence a commitment, but in my experience, not without its life long benefits of creating and retaining a positive identity for our youth. Nearing 40, I am still riding the waves of the foundational skills dance taught me from the age of 4. It is these kinds of businesses that run programs that inject beauty and creativity that is beyond physical form.
Cheers to small business owners who do it for something greater than themselves. Cheers to our teachers who work tirelessly year-round to share their art with our communities.
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