As I sit at home on a rainy Sunday after 5 recitals today (and 4 yesterday), I’m humbled and thankful…and maybe a little exhausted. Another successful recital season is almost complete. While I’ve been doing this for several years, this is our first season as Studio Go, and it’s hard to quantify how much that means.
This has been quite the year, and I’m so thankful for all of those people who have helped along the way. First and foremost, I need to give a shout out to Todd, my supportive husband, who none of this would be possible without. From supporting our family when I first started years ago and wasn’t giving myself paychecks, to building a website in a matter of weeks (all while working full-time and also being involved in a side startup), and most importantly, believing in me. Then there’s everyone else who has helped in this adventure: the schools who supported us throughout this transition, the parents who trust and allow us to educate their children, the teachers at the school who help us change the ballerinas, deliver messages to the parents, and always have our back. The friends who were there with their support (and quite often a glass of wine) when things got stressful, and the students whose faces light up when we walk in the door and run and tackle us. Then there’s my staff. Toi, Cameron, Lindsey, Ashely, and Bri, Studio Go wouldn’t be anything without these ladies. Thank you for sharing your gifts, passion, and love with this company and the next generation of dancers.
Recital season and the end of the year is quite exhausting. There’s the long hours, hard work, and stress, staggering amounts of phone calls and emails, scheduling photographers, 35 recitals in a 2 week period, rushing all over the metro area to help out at various locations, and a whole lot more. However, it’s worth every second. Seeing the excitement in our student’s eyes, the parents laugh and cry, and how much the kids have grown since the beginning is worth all of the exhaustion.
I can say with confidence that this was the best recital season yet. The performances were amazing, the feedback has been exceptional, and it was actually a lot of fun. I’ve seen moms cry tears of joy, heard countless comments on my wonderful staff and how well the performances went, and have enjoyed hearing parent’s stories about little girls who want to be ballerinas/ballet teachers when they grow up. We have so many exciting things to announce for the upcoming year, but for right now, I just want to focus on and appreciate the present. There’s so much to be grateful for. 
Words can’t express the emotions that I’m feeling right now, but I can tell you it feels really good to be wrapping up another great year and our first season as Studio Go. To all of our customers, partners, and friends, thank you.