Q1. How did your journey start? Who/ what inspired you to start this business/ entrepreneurship? DANCE for me, is a way to express what word...
Q1. How did your journey start? Who/ what inspired you to start this business/ entrepreneurship?
DANCE for me, is a way to express what words cannot. ‘Actions speak louder than words’. You can see how hard working the dancer is and who they are through their dancing. I originally started dancing out of my passion for dance and for the way that it made me feel free and connected with my body. I wanted to turn my dream to turn my passion into my profession. One of my main goal is to spread the Indian culture via our classical dance forms throughout the world. The footsteps that I’ve followed in this journey of mine are of those who are my biggest inspirations - my mentors.
Q2. Kindly share some information about your Business, products and services.
NATYAM DANCE ACADEMY is 18 year old Dance Institute that provides services in a form of arts. We focus on developing a platform that tries to provide opportunity to train our students professionally. Our aim is to educate our students about dance from all the aspects both theoretically and practically.
Q3. What kind of challenges did you face while starting/doing business?
I started on this journey around 19 years ago by giving up on being a Fashion Designer and a fixed job for the same at a Multinational Company. The biggest barrier for me at that point of time where the orthodox views regarding dance as a full time job. Out of all the barriers that I have faced in this journey from financial to marketing, I would say going up against the harsh orthodox - conclusions, assumptions and views of the people (elders) was a bigger barrier to overcome.
Q4. Do share with our readers about your discovery period when you were facing difficulties in your business.
It is a phase which is faced by most of the entrepreneurs. One of the biggest barriers that I have come across in this journey was looking for Sponsors or Investors i.e Finance. I had a hard time looking out for Investors and had to put in a lot from my own pocket, but at the end it was all worth it. It is never wrong to invest in one’s dream as it is a kind of investment that guarantees hardwork and satisfaction.
Another barrier was Marketing. I had a hard time looking out for people to publicise my work and business since I personally, at that point of time, lacked both the experience as well as information about the marketing world.
Last but not the least, orthodox views. Support that I received from my loved ones helped me face all the difficulties in this journey and helped me pave my way through the crooked roads.
Q5. Share with our readers about your experiment period after the discovery period?
This entrepreneurial journey has made me more strong, strong enough to deal with the sudden and uncalled obstacles. As a human being it has made me more confident and independent in making my own decisions and taking call for it. It is through this journey that I have received an open platform or a blank canvas to incorporate and innovate my ideas into reality. Despite the barriers faced in this journey, at the end of every project, I have undoubtedly been provided with one of the most important emotion to be felt by a living being - ‘Happiness’.
Q6. What are your future plans or what is your vision for the next five year?
I plan to choreograph and launch a ballad on Lord Krishna named ‘Natkhat Nanda Gopal’ and other concept based shows i.e Theatrical Dance and Corporate Events. Our vision is to spread this Indian Dance Culture nationally and internationally for the next five years and to open an Indian Folk Dance School.
Q7. How would you advise/suggest new entrepreneurs who want to start and sustain in business?
Do what you can with all that you have wherever you are.
Do not give up unless you’ve given it your all - your blood, sweat and tears.
Ask and keep learning - Ask around about this field to your peers and experienced people about their start-up journey. You not only learn from other’s success stories but also from their failures.
Creativity - with the increasing competition, it is the need of an hour to think out of the box.
Authenticity - From personal experience in this particular field as a dance instructor, ‘authenticity’ is what makes the customers choose you. What we say, what is our customers' say in it and how much do we believe in our work. It is a connection based on the bond of trust and assurance that we try to build with our customers. Communication plays a huge role in this. It is like a equation A+C = E
i.e Authenticity + Connection = Engagement
Q8. LinkedIn profile link
Q9. Facebook profile link
Personal: facebook.com/priti.waghela.3
Dance Academy: facebook.com/pg/natyamdanceacademy
Q10. Twitter profile link
Q11. Instagram profile link
Personal: instagram.com/priti123461/
Dance Academy: instagram.com/natyamdance/
Q12. Personal blog link
NA
Q13. Company website & Company blog link
NA
Q14. YouTube Channel link:
youtube.com/channel/UCuo4Oi1pEIyoSW1kpI2xMow
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Interviewed, Edited & Published by: Khushboo Chotaliya - Lifestyles Influencer from Mumbai, India.
Interviewed, Edited & Published by: Khushboo Chotaliya - Lifestyles Influencer from Mumbai, India.
Khushboo is a student of Yogesh MA's Digital Influencer's Academy.
Kindly follow Khushboo here instagram.com/khushboobchotaliya
Kindly follow Khushboo here instagram.com/khushboobchotaliya
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