Inside the New DWI Expansion
Danceworks Indy has officially expanded its footprint! After nearly seven years in operation, DWI has opened a fourth studio space in an effort to continue providing the highest quality of dance for adults in Indianapolis. In honor of this huge milestone, we asked owner Gabby to explain what this new chapter means, her inspiration behind the expansion, and what her plans for the future entail.
Question: Danceworks Indy has become a cornerstone in the Indianapolis dance community, and now it is expanding its footprint. What inspired you to build a fourth studio space, and what does this milestone mean for current and future clients?
Gabby: Nearly a year ago, my landlord brought up the possibility of expanding after Rise Cycle’s lease ended, and at the time, it just didn’t feel like the right opportunity to take on that space. But after saying no, I had a nagging feeling in my mind that maybe I was supposed to say yes. About 9 months later, he approached me again after a short-term rental chose not to sign a long-term lease on the space. I considered the possibilities of what that could mean for us as a studio and weighed the costs associated with the expanded footprint. At the end of the day, I decided it was worth the risk.
Question: What are you most excited about with this new addition?
Gabby: This expansion not only affects our beloved dance studio, but also provides an opportunity for myself to step away from my full-time job and start my own marketing agency and run a photography studio. Being able to leave my full-time position also provides me more flexibility and time to continue growing DanceWorks, which I have been craving for a long time now.
Question: Can you talk about how the new space will be used, and what opportunities it will create that weren’t possible before?
Gabby: I am excited to offer even more classes for our clients and expand the class sizes of some of our most popular classes. I will also be able to accommodate more rentals from our Indy dance community who are often in need of rehearsal space. The new room also has marley flooring, which I know our resident ballerinas are super excited about because they will really get to take up more space in our ballet classes. All in all, it’s a huge upgrade for us as a studio and will give us so many new opportunities!
Question: Let’s talk more about the construction process. What was it like deciding on the architecture of this added space, and who did you work with to make this vision come together?
Gabby: My landlord’s construction team has been phenomenal to work with. Many don’t know this, but Mike Cunningham of Cunningham Restaurant Group is my landlord. His daughter, Amy Cunningham, actually taught at DanceWorks for the first couple years we were open. DanceWorks founder, Kerry Kapaku, also taught Amy as a teenager, so it’s a really cool local community connection.
Mike is an awesome guy and made sure this space was feasible for me as a business owner and equipped with how I needed it to be. They really led in helping determine what walls needed to be constructed and demolished, as well as how to connect the two spaces from the inside. I am grateful for Mike and his business partners for making this experience as pain free as possible and for being so accommodating.
I am also thankful for the patience of our clients as a wall was actively being built in the old room 1 while classes were still happening. Those of us who danced in the room will never forget the “Cell Block Tango” chapter of construction when the studs of the new wall were up for a few days as well as the super sweaty classes while our A/C was temporarily knocked out during the construction process.
Question: Your new marketing agency, Hidden GEM Creative, will also be part of this new space. What made you want to integrate your second business within the dance studio?
Gabby: I used to day dream about how cool it could be to combine all of my interests in one, but I truly never actually thought it would be possible. I love marketing, photography, and dance but who knew each of those passions could actually be housed under one roof? The offer to expand our footprint came with a question: do you want just the space for the studio room or the entire back unit? At first I thought, well just the new studio room, what would I possibly do with the rest of the space? And then, as I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep one night, it hit me. Why not create a photography studio and use the other extra space to set up a little office for myself to finally go full-steam ahead with freelancing in the marketing space? Big risk, big reward, right? After those ideas came to mind, I couldn’t be convinced otherwise that this go-around and the timing of expanding was exactly as it was meant to be.
Question: As you take on this expansion, what do you hope clients take away from this project?
Gabby: I hope our clients feel the dedication I have for DanceWorks and my commitment to finding new ways to improve their experience at our studio. I pour my heart and soul into this studio not because it’s a “business” but because I truly love the impact a positive dance community has on our lives, particularly as adults when many of us thought we wouldn’t get to dance again. I have invested a LOT in this expansion, and I hope the clients are as excited about it as I am but also grateful for all the new opportunities to come.
Question: Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for DanceWorks Indy? Where do you hope to see the studio go in the next 10 years?
Gabby: I just want to continue providing the safe space we have come to love at DanceWorks over the next decade and hopefully longer. I would love to continue to offer more class types, great instruction, and performance opportunities. It’s just an extra room right now, but I would still love to see a whole other DanceWorks location down the road.
Question: Anyone you want to thank for this new chapter as an entrepreneur/studio owner?
Gabby: This question is my favorite because oh my goodness, I have SO many people to thank. While I have taken on a lot throughout this expansion, I have certainly NOT done this alone. A huge shoutout needs to go to my dad and brother for the hours they have poured into the new studio room. From hanging the mirrors, to helping me transport new items, to installing the subflooring, they have given up many weekends to help me with this next chapter. I want to thank Hallie Schwartzkoff for the mural in room 4. It honestly almost makes me tear up to look at. She perfectly captured our DanceWorks community and produced something that completely surpassed my expectations when I first approached her about the project. Madison Mitchell. This girl has been my rock. She reads my mind, she’s helped me with things before I have even asked or known I needed them. She is ALWAYS raising her hand to offer assistance with literally whatever I can throw her way. Emma Nolan has lent her interior design skills to help me layout my photography studio and has put some hours into studio projects. Gabby Villalobos, Matt Reynolds, Jess Castanzo, Casey Wright, Morgan Thomas, Travis Bernard have all lent a hand in some way and I am grateful for good dance friends who have generously offered their time to assist me. To my construction crew and other vendors, I have been extremely lucky to work with some of the nicest people who are dedicated to their own crafts and have ensured everything has been done to my liking. These folks have put some hours in and always communicated with me kindly and respectfully and for that I am grateful. And finally, thank you to my DanceWorks community. Truly none of this would be possible without you. I am so thankful I get to be immersed in this community and have the support of so, so many. Your excitement over the new space has been so reassuring and reaffirming that this decision was the right one. You have kept me forging ahead and not living in the “what-ifs.” I would literally do anything for you guys!!
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Don’t miss your opportunity to dance in our newly added space! Join us today by purchasing a two-week trial for only $29.