a note from the interviewer, Prisha:
oh my gosh, FINALLY, someone i can relate to!! i was SO grateful to meet Andrea, who is literally lawyer-loading, a new podcast host, a dance studio owner, AND a Pilates studio owner. she has so much knowledge when it comes to optimizing systems as you grow and scale, but what i appreciated most was how realistic and relatable she was about what that process actually looks like for her right now. whether you’re a studio owner, an aspiring business owner, or just someone who wants to learn how to build better systems, i genuinely think there’s something for everyone in this episode.
TL;DR
•Loving dance isn’t enough; ownership is a business.
•Early on, Andrea wore every hat—then learned to delegate.
•Thrive’s culture centers on “A win for one is a win for all.”
•Competition scores don’t define a dancer’s worth.
•Bloom (her adult space) is being built slowly and intentionally.
Loving dance isn’t enough to run a studio
Andrea doesn’t sugarcoat it. People often open a studio because they love teaching and choreographing—then get blindsided by the operations. “If you actually wanna own and operate your own studio, you actually have to have a really big understanding on the business side of it as well because you’re gonna find yourself more on that lane than anything.”
Her take: if what you really love is teaching, you can thrive as a teacher or director. If you choose ownership, expect to live in budgets, systems, staffing, and strategy just as much as (if not more than) combos and counts.
Starting Thrive solo and wearing every hat
When she opened Thrive, Andrea didn’t have a team. She had to be everything at once—an experience that shaped her leadership. “I was the choreographer and the dance teacher and also the accountant. I was also the manager. I was the receptionist… but we got through it.”
That season taught her the value of community and clarity. Not everyone starts with a staff, and everyone’s first-year problems look different—but you can make it work if you embrace the hats you have and plan for the ones you’ll hand off.
Juggling Thrive, Bloom, and law school: machine mode and time triage
On top of owning Thrive, Andrea runs a Pilates studio and is in law school. Her reality right now? “Anytime someone mentions it, I’m always like, ‘Dear God, I have homework and studying and a million things to do.’ It is a lot, I’m not gonna lie.” She adds, “I’m very machine mode right now.”
The upside: that pressure sharpened her time judgment. It forced her to ask, “Is this worth me having to be there? Can I delegate this off to someone else?” She’s more meticulous about where she shows up, and more comfortable saying, “I need help here. I need you to do this,” so she can be present where the studio truly needs her.
Delegation and building a strengths-based team
Delegation didn’t come naturally. Like many founders, she was protective of her vision. What changed? Letting people who genuinely care “allow them in and help them have a part of it so they can help you grow it.”
Now she focuses on strengths-based hiring and handoffs: don’t assign tasks to someone who isn’t strong in that area. And for the owner’s sanity and growth, delegation isn’t optional. “You definitely have to delegate things off because the more your studio grows, there’s just no way you’re gonna be able to do all of it, and on top of that, you won’t be able to pursue other things.”
Designing Thrive’s culture: “A win for one is a win for all”
Thrive is both recreational and competitive, and guests and parents often comment on the culture when they visit. “They’re always like, ‘The vibe or the culture is so felt here.’”
That didn’t happen by accident. Andrea set the tone from day one: we are all one here. “My dancers always know the one thing I always say is, ‘A win for one is a win for all.’” When something great happens for one person, everyone celebrates. Nine years into Thrive, that mindset is part of the studio’s culture.
Competition mindset: scores vs. self-worth
Andrea is direct about protecting dancers from over-identifying with placements. Competitions are opinion-based—three judges, three perspectives. Take the critiques; keep the growth. But don’t let numbers define you. “To fully base your talent and your hard work off of one competition is definitely not the move.”
Bloom’s slow-build approach to adult community
Andrea launched Bloom to offer for adults the kind of community Thrive built for younger dancers. Bloom is only a year old, and she’s purposefully patient: “It takes time to build. It’s not something that’s gonna happen overnight.” The aim is the same spirit—connection, positivity, and space to create—because, as she puts it, adults are “just big kids.”
Bringing old-school work ethic without old-school harm
Andrea’s own training was demanding, and she credits that experience with helping build her work ethic. But she’s honest about what shouldn’t be carried forward. “The way some of us were raised in dance would never be okay today.” So she keeps the accountability while dropping the extremes. “I probably can’t run a mile every time I forget a uniform, and that’s something I had to do.”
90s, Selena, and Grease: passing on influences
Part of leadership is sharing what shaped you. Andrea loves weaving her influences into programming: a “That’s so ’90s” recital, a Selena production, and a Grease holiday show. “I’m a ’90s girl… it’s just so cool for me to be able to have a nostalgic moment and go back in time in a place that I created, and also just seeing my dancers discover it.” She sums up the intent: “I try to bring back what I grew up on and try to show them because I really believe what I grew up on was the best.”
The dream tool: a simple, automated marketing assistant
Asked for her dream studio app, Andrea didn’t hesitate: something automated that’s easy to learn and takes social/marketing off her list. “Honestly, I just want, like, a giant walking assistant at this point that’s just easy to learn.” Even so, she draws a line: “I think it needs that human touch.” Ideal support handles scheduling and output while leaving room for real personality.
Final advice: stay true to your vision—and let it evolve
Andrea’s closing note lands for both new and seasoned owners. “Stay true to your vision from the start, whether you’re in year 10 or year one.” Clarity matters—on your goal, your why, and what you want your studio to feel like. Protect it. “Stick to your vision.” And as you grow, give yourself permission to refine it: “Stay true to it and don’t let any outside sources try to change it.”
FAQs
•What is Thrive Performing Arts? Thrive is a studio in Florida that offers both recreational and competitive programs.
•What else does Andrea do besides run Thrive? She owns a Pilates studio, is currently in law school, launched Bloom to offer community for adults, and started a podcast called Elevate with Andrea.
•What’s the biggest misconception about owning a studio? Thinking love of teaching is enough. Andrea says owners need a strong grasp of the business side and will often spend more time there than in class.
•How did Andrea handle the early days without a team? She wore every hat—“the choreographer and the dance teacher and also the accountant… the manager… the receptionist”—then learned to build and lean on a team.
•How does Thrive approach competition results? They take critiques and keep perspective. “To fully base your talent and your hard work off of one competition is definitely not the move.”
•What defines Thrive’s culture? Support over cutthroat energy. “A win for one is a win for all” is the studio’s mantra.
•What’s Andrea building with Bloom? A positive, adult dance community modeled on Thrive’s culture—intentionally, over time.