Today we’d like to introduce you to Catalina Nemmi.
Catalina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Unique Starz started off as a dance team that trained out of Miami Beach’s Park and Rec’s Teen Club in 2008, I believe. I joined as a freshman in high school (2013) and we would train all of fall and start competing in the spring. We were undefeated for four years and traveled to New York, Tampa, Orlando, and other local competitions until we lost our streak in 2016 at the World of Dance competition in Orlando. We would fundraise for our uniforms, membership, travel, competitions, everything while selling boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts week by week to our family, friends, and classmates. It truly was a huge team effort. As a junior in high school, I became captain of the team and little did we know that the place we trained at (Teen Club) was getting demolished to expand the Miami Beach Convention Center. So, we would hold practice at Nautilus Middle School in the cafeteria, hallway, gym room, dance room, etc. but nowhere did we really end up stable.
My mom is a businesswoman at heart, and so suddenly she kept talking to me about businesses I thought would be good to start and could thrive overtime. Towards the end of junior year, my mom got really sick and had mentioned that she was going to be unable to leave me any money in case she passed so she wanted to make sure I would at least have a job. So, we spoke about opening a dance studio with my old dance coach, called Unique Starz, to finally have a place of our own and make an even bigger name for us. Keep in mind, I was pretty active as a teen in school, sports, and extracurricular activities but dance had been the only hobby that I started young and kept practicing and training in, even until today.
After about six months into the business, I had some trouble working with my coach so after meeting a couple of times and discussing the hardships we decided to separate and she would starter career as a school teacher and I would keep working the business. Within all that, being a high schooler and new owner of a small business balancing my work, education health, and social life became very difficult.
I’m a huge people person, I love working with others, I’m not afraid to ask people for help on running a small business, and most of all, I was passionate. I started to be mentored a lot from my teachers at school. There were a handful of teachers that helped me balance it all by teaching me how to apply to scholarships to pay off school, file my taxes for the business, create a business plan, market, plan/organize, etc. Skills that I have strengthened over the years and have been able to continue using.
While at the studio and talking about the studio everywhere I went, I met a lot of young people that similar to me had a passion for the arts but a struggle making it come to life and be showcased. Having had a high restriction in terms of money, I found a new theme for the studio. A community/home to all with artistic backgrounds looking to showcase their art and be seen. With that being said, I began to throw art shows, rock/rapper concerts, parties, dance shows/performances, collabs, etc. Within little time, people began to know the purpose of the studio and saw it more than just a place to take dance lessons.
Eventually, we moved from Little Haiti to North Miami right by FIU BBC into a warehouse. Right before moving, I met my business partner Jackie Chambers which in latent terms: we both saved each other. He came to me as a blessing and every day encouraged me to keep fighting that every day, we were a day closer to success and in a way, he saves I saved him a lot from life. Jackie has become like an older brother to me, and I am eternally grateful for him.
Throughout this journey, I have met so many important dancers and people in the industry. People who each had something to teach me or inspire me with. So many amazing instructors and dance groups have been in and out of the studio practicing/perfecting their craft. Some famous names we worked with were: Jason Derulo, Malu Trevejo, Lele Pons, Montana Tucker, and more. Choreographers/dancers that have been amazing to work with and learn from are: Khaja + Luz from Karizma, Lam Lewis and Yummy Ninja from House of Ninja, Marcus Majors, BNW Entertainment (E), Cristalonthebeat, Timothy Rodriguez, Tamaya from Electric Whine, SayQuon JusBmore, Manny Fresco Acosta, Darrion Gallegos, Allison Claire, The WorldWide Network, and many any more. Worked with instructors from states across the country and countries all around the world. I thank all the people that have supported us throughout the years, it’s been three years and I gained a whole new family.
I still have a long way to go, this journey as only just started. But I’m happy with where I am. In 2020, we need to start supporting each other and other small businesses. The only way to grow and create a community for us all is with support and collaboration. Anything after that is possible.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Everything to me is a learning lesson, so within all the obstacles that were thrown my way and the challenges presented, I have been able to grow myself and my studio a lot. I have learned a lot from my experiences with new people and old people.
My biggest ongoing challenge throughout the years has been able to juggle school, work, and dance all at the same time and still trying to take care of my mental/physical health. I’ve had a lot of trouble with both that not its become more of a learning lesson than anything else. I’m currently getting my degree in Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit work at FIU, I work at an office under HR, I am the FIU at I-75 Center Senator in Student Government as well as the Student Advocacy Committee Chair and Vice President of the spirit council at FIU. All these opportunities have molded me professionally in terms of work ethic, creativity, teamwork/leadership, and in so many other ways. Being in a lot brings a lot of opportunities, but with everything, there is cost-benefit.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Unique Starz Dance Studio – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Unique Starz Dance Studio is a community for all artists in the South Florida area. We work with musicians, dancers, athletes, visual artists, photographers, and other entertainers. The purpose is to support each other in the art world and also create a community/family. When you come to the studio, the first thing you might notice is that we all know each other. Our clients have created bonds with each other and our instructors, we follow each other on platforms, advertise each other’s projects, and most importantly show love. We love working with the community for fundraisers/donations. We’ve had school supply drives, cancer awareness classes, plastic water bottle collection for recycling, volunteer at homeless shelters, and more.
We also have rentals available for events, classes, and rehearsals.
We have dance classes ranging from Afro Beats, Hip Hop, Vogue, Dance Fitness, Twerk, Heels, Fitness, couples dancing like Kompa/Bachata/Kizomba for example. The schedule changes every week with a few permanent classes to have a constant movement of classes. The class levels, for the most part, are beginner/intermediate because we focus on teaching people to dance rather than make professionals.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Well, since I’m studying nonprofit work, in Spring 2021, I’ll be graduating with my bachelor and will start working on a nonprofit dance/art psychology program based at the studio for teens in the North Miami/Miami Gardens area. Teaching kids how to channel their emotions and use them for good. We have more performances/showcases that will start happening as well in collaboration with the community.
We have our big Dance-Off coming up, a $500 Cash Prize with promotions/goodies will be given to the best dancer who leaves it all on the dance floor.
Pricing:
- Classes cost an average of $10-15. You get discounts by reposting the flyer on social media and tagging us! @uniquestarz
- Rentals for rehearsals are $30 an hour
- Rentals for classes are $45 an hour (free promotion on our page included in pricing)
- We’re also on Groupon/Living Social and on FIU Ways to Save promotions
Contact Info:
- Address: 1953 NE 148th St Miami, FL 33181
- Phone: 3058961257
- Email: uniquestarzstudio@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestarz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniquestarzstudio
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