Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Montoya.
Hi Dani, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Patricia, my mom, has been manufacturing since we migrated from Colombia to the states back in 1991. It started with underwear, then moved on to a very successful juniors line called PW Designs, and then after a lot of the company’s clients went out of business because of 9/11, she saw an opportunity in dance. I was competing in dance at the time, so it started as most small businesses do, a small order here, a uniform order there, & word of mouth let the snowball grow,
It wasn’t until 2023 that I decided to join as a part-time job while I was waiting to hear back from employers. I had just graduated with my Master’s and was on the hunt for something related to my research degree, However, the role I played at Opra continued to grow effortlessly, so my mom asked me to partner up with her.
We walked in the shoes of our clients, and I knew what was needed from the garments in terms of function and aesthetic, so it has given us an edge in creating comfortable clothes that allow the dancer’s character to come out and encompass the genre they are performing. Quality & style over everything here at Opra.
We have been a team since and enjoy creating together. We have recently branched off into women’s activewear with our collection BLU by Opra. Focused on what women like to wear, the flexibility & durability that are required from activewear, and transitional styles that allow it to play into today’s on-to-go lifestyle.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road always has potholes, bumps, heck, and even speed bumps you don’t notice until you get too close. Come on, it’s Miami, we’ve all been there! It is always difficult working with family, especially when your working styles are different. However, we aim to use our differences as our strengths so we can tackle different aspects of the business.
The ever-changing world of attention span, a growing customer list, emerging competition, and being a small business means as owners we play all roles here. It can be exhausting! And the truth is, you can’t always delegate a task, either because it means dishing out too much to get it done or simply because your customers enjoy your attention and care as a small business; it is part of the experience, after all, the family T.L.C. So it is indeed a balancing game that changes every season, but we aim to do our best!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Opra Dancewear + BLU by Opra?
Opra is small yet fierce, boy we come hard with styles and quality! We aim for our customers to stand out in a crowd. Sometimes you will stand out because of our color combinations, prints, our cuts, and designs, but it is always the fit and feel of our clothes that let your inner confidence come out! Let’s face it, when you feel good, you hold yourself up differently & that is truly our goal.
We specialize in activewear and dancewear for kids and women. We range from exercise looks for HIIT to strength training & Pilates for women with our collection BLU by Opra and matching appropriate styles for your mini-me. We have an array of styles in dance that take the dancer from class, to convention audition, & stage on our website Opra Dancewear that we sell worldwide.
We love it when we get to ship out all across the states and to different continents, what a fantastic feeling to know someone across the globe is wearing your designs! We are proud of the service we provide, not just because our customer service is continuously praised by our customers, but also in the quality of our garments. We want to give you the best we can make because we wear it too!
Our nieces and nephews, former students, and customers who we love and adore love wearing it. Creating that as a mother & daughter team, creating jobs for women and men in our community who also love creating with their hands, there is nothing more satisfying. It’s the local impact that we thrive off of and hope to continue to make and create for years to come.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was quite shy and only let certain parts of myself known the more comfortable I felt around you, still true to this day. But once I was comfortable, you could hear me from the other room- Loud, quirky, energetic, and extremally talkative, yet also very empathetic and kind… kind of like my designs. I fell asleep in any class where I was sitting down for too long and there wasn’t discourse, not because the material was boring, but because I lacked stimulus with my hands and imagination.
I was always dancing, singing, making loud noises, or moving, I really couldn’t sit still for too long. It was like I would get random spurts of the zoomies for all you dog lovers out there who can relate. I was always crafting, making a scrapbook, decorating and creating an outfit for Halloween, pretending I was on a reality TV show with my friends while we hung out at their house with an old school camera. You can say I have always had the urge to create, didn’t matter what, just had to make something.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.opradancewear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opradancewear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OpraDancewear
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/opra-dancewear-miami-2
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/blubyopra/
Image Credits
Yorch Sans and Luccia Lowenthal
