We had the good fortune of connecting with Abbie Rich and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Abbie, how do you think about risk?
I am a serious planner. I have always hated taking risks. I wanted to plan each step and every dollar. Unfortunately, in business, that is just not possible. There is no way to own a business without taking a risk. I was terrified to open up the studio. I was afraid of failing, making mistakes and taking my family down in the process. I prayed every day that if this wasn’t the right path for me, that God would just take it away. Honestly, I prayed that every day, hoping that He would. It was so much responsibility and pressure. But, He had bigger plans than I did. I am so glad that I took the leap of faith and took the risk. It has taught me to let go of myself and let go of trying to always be in control. The risk was worth it!
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started dancing as a child. I knew by my teenage years that I wanted to dance professionally. Going to school and getting a degree in Dance was one of the best decisions I made. I learned about all styles of dance, theater production, music theory, kinesiology and more. I had no idea how valuable all of that information would be throughout my dance career. From graduation, I move to Los Angeles. After dancing professionally for a while, I knew that Hollywood was not where I wanted to be. There was so much negativity in the dance world. My faith and morals were tested constantly. My husband and I decided to move to Texas to start a family. After having my first child, I started teaching dance again. I fell in love with all of my dancers and families. Sadly, I saw dancers mistreated and it broke my heart. I knew I had to do something to make a bigger impact. That was when the idea of having my own studio began. I treasure each dancer that walks through our doors. They are all amazing! My hope and prayer is that the studio and the teachers will have a positive impact on each child. I want them to feel loved and accepted at Dream. They are each created for a purpose and on purpose. If they understand that, then I have done my job.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Legacy West in Plano! I recently visited for the first time and can’t get enough of it. Haywire, RA, and North Italia are amazing restaurants. The Renaissance is a great place to stay. You can walk to all of the shops and restaurants from there.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The success of Dream would not have been possible without my Heavenly Father, my earthly father, my family and my friends. And a huge shoutout needs to go to all of my amazing dancers and families! They have stuck with us through the rough beginnings, crazy moments, quarantine and so much more. They are the heart of the studio and I am so thankful for each and every one of them!
Website: www.dreamdancecenter.com
Instagram: @dreamdancecenter
Facebook: @dreamdancecenterprosper
Image Credits
Apodo Photography