Today we’d like to introduce you to Isha Hutchinson.
Isha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I used to go out and dance at the clubs to de-stress from work and found that it was a lot of fun not only learning the dances, but also “making the dance my own”. I would get a lot of attention on the dance floor from people that wanted to learn how to do the dances or how to do the dances with energy, passion and their own unique flare. Some of the attention I would receive was not positive, as the other “dancers” worked very hard to divert the attention to themselves and away from me. When I spoke to the other dancers, they operated in a very exclusive way, letting me know that I was not a part of what THEY were doing. I had been on the dance floor one night and after leaving a club, I was talking to my fraternity brother and I told him “the next time someone approaches me and asks if I teach a dance class, I am going to start a class.” Literally, as fast as I said that, two women approached me and asked me if I teach a dance class. I said YES and after that went about sitting down and doing the research to find out what it would take to make it happen. One of my first thoughts were to ensure that I had a class that operated INCLUSIVELY because I didn’t care for the way that felt.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have definitely had some serious struggles along the way. Firstly, I had never been to a dance class of this kind and I had NO idea there was a line dance community. I had never taught a dance class AT ALL, and although I was mostly having fun out on the dance floor, I had no idea how to teach a dance class. After doing some research, I learned there was a national community, and as I set out to network with them (and especially the local community), I found that some embraced me and others did NOT. Some resented me and because 410 Line Dancers grew so fast, I had some other dance instructors make efforts to hurt my business. I think that the 410 Line Dancers leadership team has been small so we have to do things carefully, work a lot harder and smarter and be wise about what we invest in and when.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the 410 Line Dancers story. Tell us more about the business.
410 Line Dancer is the Dallas / Fort Worth area’s top and award winning urban dance company. Founded in 2014, we provide soul line-dance lessons to all, regardless of age or dance skill level, in a safe dance studio environment.
410 Line Dancers have four primary goals for its’ customers:
- Teaching the very best Hip-Hop and R&B line dances that have been created, so students are able to participate in line dancing wherever they may go.
- Creating, performing, and promoting a healthy lifestyle by encouraging people to get active, fit and exercise.
- Giving students the opportunity to improve their skills, improve their confidence.
- Ensuring class is FUN
What we are known for is teaching easy, intermediate, and advanced line dancing. We have created award nominated line dances and are known for professionalism, high energy, great skill and a diverse group of dancers that always feel welcome and included.
Our culture is of the utmost importance to us and we tout that we have “No cliques, No drama…just GREAT dancing” and for us it’s about FUN, FUN and more FUN! We are known for having lots of patience and our goal is to triumphantly celebrate as our students achieve learning dance and appreciate each of the people that come to the class for their uniqueness.
We are most proud of some of the great things we have been able to do in such a short time. We have been on Good Morning Texas, we have auditioned for America’s Got Talent, we were finalists recently for a national game show on CBS, we have performed all over the DFW metroplex with ONLY 410 Line Dancers Students and have received acclaim at each turn. Every year, we give awards to our students and hold an event that is about THEM…the people that make it great…the students. Although we won several awards and have been nominated for several more, we were incredibly honored to have our students award us with teacher of the year last year.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I hope there is lots of change in the soul line dancing industry. When people think line dancing, they think Country line dancing right off the bat. I would like to see that change. I think that the industry needs more exposure as it goes up against other dancing genres as well as fitness genres. We try to stress to our students that soul line dancing takes every bit the discipline and patience as any other dance.
I have wondered out loud why there are not more opportunities for awards for this industry or dance period. Most of the dance awards soul line dancing would not qualify for.
I am hoping and expecting that if we can get more exposure, we can get more interest and I am expecting to have that change in the next few years.
Pricing:
- Classes – $10 / per class / per person
- 5 Classes $45
- 10 Classes $80
- Master Classes $25 / per person
Contact Info:
- Address: 410 Line Dancers
2385 Midway Rd.,
Carrollton, TX 75006 - Website: http://www.410linedancers.com/
- Phone: 469-464-9104
- Email: 410linedancers@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/410linedancers/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/410linedancers/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/410linedancers
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/410-line-dancers-carrollton-2
- Other: https://plus.google.com/+410LineDancers
Image Credit:
Hutchinson Photography
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