Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary.
Hi Mary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I still remember my very first ballet class at three years old. My mom took me, and something just clicked, I fell in love right away. From that moment on, dance wasn’t just something I did, it became part of who I was. My parents were always there for me backstage, in the audience, doing whatever it took to support me, and that foundation shaped everything.
As I grew, so did my commitment. I balanced school with intense training and was eventually accepted into New World School of the Arts, where I spent my high school years developing my technique and deepening my love for dance. Along the way, I had the opportunity to perform professionally with renowned choreographers and expand my training in places like New York and Paris, experiences that deeply shaped me as both a dancer and an artist.
During that time, I was dancing endless hours every day, but what surprised me most was discovering my love for teaching. I was given the opportunity to teach at a young age, and I immediately fell in love with it. In that moment, a new dream was born, to one day open my own performing arts academy.
I went on to earn my degree from the University of Florida while continuing to dance and teach, and later completed my Master’s in Business. In 2012, alongside my husband, who shares this same passion and believed in this dream just as deeply as I did, we opened Alouettes Academy of the Arts. It wasn’t an easy road, but building something from the ground up together made it even more meaningful than I ever imagined. It was absolutely worth it.
At the same time, we were raising our two boys, one just a baby and the other only four when we opened our doors, so in many ways, they grew up right alongside Alouettes. Watching them fall in love with the arts has been one of the greatest gifts. Today, my oldest is pursuing a BFA in Acting, which makes this journey feel even more full circle.
Today, we are proud to celebrate 14 years of Alouettes, and I get to share my passion with the next generation and build a community that feels like family. And honestly, if you ask me what I do for a living, I’ll still tell you the same thing: I get to have fun.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I truly believe that’s what makes the journey meaningful.
Like many small business owners, one of the biggest challenges in the beginning was financial. We had a big dream, but limited resources, so every step required sacrifice, careful planning, and a lot of faith. There were long hours, moments of uncertainty, and times where we had to make tough decisions just to keep moving forward.
One of the most defining challenges was navigating COVID. Overnight, everything changed. We had to quickly adapt, shift to virtual classes, and find new ways to stay connected with our students while keeping the sense of community alive. It was incredibly challenging, not just from a business standpoint, but emotionally as well. Our studio is a second home for so many families, and suddenly that connection was disrupted. But it also showed us how strong our community really is. We came together, supported one another, and found ways to keep going.
Balancing everything has also been a challenge, growing the business while continuing to teach and pour into every student who walks through our doors. When you truly care, it’s not just about running a business, it’s about creating a space where people feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Of course, there have been moments of doubt along the way. But I’ve always leaned on the same mindset that guided me as a dancer: stay disciplined, stay passionate, and keep going. Every challenge taught us something, helped us grow, and shaped what Alouettes is today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Alouettes Academy of the Arts, we provide training in dance, music, and theatre for students of all ages, but what we truly focus on goes beyond technique, we’re building confident, well-rounded performers and individuals.
Our programs are designed with intention. We offer a wide range of styles and disciplines, but what we’re really known for is our approach: combining high-level training with a supportive, family-centered environment where every student feels seen, challenged, and inspired. Whether a child is dancing for fun or pursuing a pre-professional path, we meet them where they are and help them grow.
A big part of our identity is our Company team. While we are a competitive team, it has grown into so much more than that, it has truly become a family. Not just for the students, but for our parents as well. There is a strong sense of connection, support, and shared pride that extends far beyond the stage. Through our leadership program, our Company dancers are also trained in mentorship and teaching techniques, giving them the tools to grow not only as performers, but as leaders within our community.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that, beyond my own dance career and the studio itself, we’ve been able to create something truly special for our youngest dancers. Ally Ballerina was born from a deep desire to give children their very first experience with dance in a way that feels magical, nurturing, and meaningful. We didn’t just want to teach steps, we wanted to understand how children grow, how they learn, and how movement can shape their confidence from such an early age.
We spent years researching, collaborating with child development specialists, and carefully crafting a curriculum rooted in child psychology, movement, and motor skill development. But more than that, we created a world for them. Through the Ally Ballerina storybook series I wrote, our dancers get to follow Ally on her journey, learning new dance steps through imagination, storytelling, and play. With original props designed specifically for the program, the classroom becomes an experience where little ones don’t even realize how much they’re learning, they simply feel the joy of it.
In addition, we developed our Performer Warrior curriculum, which is implemented across all of our dance, music, and theatre programs. This curriculum is the result of years of experience, research, and refinement, focused on building strong, versatile performers through technique, discipline, mindset, and artistic growth.
What sets us apart is that everything we do is intentional. Every class, every program, every experience has been carefully designed with our students’ growth in mind, not just as artists, but as confident, resilient individuals.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built. Our students don’t just come here to learn dance, music, or acting, they grow up here. Through our leadership program, many of our long-term students choose to stay with us even into adulthood, becoming part of our faculty and mentoring the next generation. That continuity creates a level of care, connection, and family that you can truly feel the moment you walk through our doors, and over the years, they truly become like my own kids. It’s incredibly special to witness that kind of love and legacy come full circle.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’ve always believed that what people sometimes call “luck” is really a combination of preparation, timing, and the people you surround yourself with.
Of course, there have been moments in my life that felt like good luck, being given opportunities to teach at a young age, training with incredible mentors, or crossing paths with people who believed in me and opened doors along the way. Those moments were pivotal, and I’m deeply grateful for them.
At the same time, there have also been challenges that could be seen as “bad luck,” financial obstacles, moments of uncertainty, and navigating something as unexpected as COVID. But looking back, those experiences pushed me to grow, adapt, and become stronger both as a person and as a business owner.
I think the biggest lesson for me has been that while we can’t always control circumstances, we can control how we respond to them. Staying consistent, working hard, and leading with passion has allowed me to turn both the highs and the lows into stepping stones.
So, while I’m grateful for the moments that felt like luck, I truly believe that the journey has been shaped more by perseverance, faith, and the incredible support system around me. And at the heart of it all, I’ve simply followed what I love and trusted that it would lead me exactly where I’m meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alouettesdanceacademy.com/
- Instagram: @alouettesacademy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlouettesDanceAcademy
