Born an artist, Roxi Victorian had always run from the word “entrepreneur.” But as Business Report details in its latest Entrepreneur feature, Victorian is learning to embrace entrepreneurship as owner of Ballet Victorian dance school at 4433 Perkins Road.
A native of Washington D.C., Victorian and her husband moved to Baton Rouge about seven years ago in search of a slower pace of life and a community in which to raise their family. She worked for years as a dance director at the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge and taught ballet part-time at McKinley Middle Magnet School.
But in 2015, Victorian set out to create a space of her own that would allow for the creative freedom needed to fuel her art. Dance studios are plentiful in Baton Rouge, but Victorian found that students rarely venture beyond their own schools.
She decided to build her practice with an emphasis on inclusion, inviting adults and younger dancers to join her in a studio where they can comfortably explore their art together.
For Victorian, dance is about so much more than preparing for a competition or putting on a show. That’s why her business model is rooted in teaching the art form and practicing a diverse range of skills. “Though I love show, I don’t like show without substance,” she explains. With the focus on education, Victorian adds value to her students’ experience beyond merely helping them perfect techniques.
Despite her many competitors, Victorian is finding ways to set herself apart while at the same time supporting the larger dance community. She offers one of the few adult dance classes in the city and hosts birthday parties for children at her studio on the weekends. It’s all part of her desire to promote diversity and inclusion in dance through her business.
“When I was growing up, I was the only brown girl in class—always,” Victorian recalls. “It wasn’t something for us. It was way too expensive for a lot of us.”
As a new business owner, she struggles with her wish to make her studio accessible to all while ensuring it’s profitable.
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