Today we’d like to introduce you to Hope Crawford.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our studio has been open since 1979, we are currently entering our 47th season! What makes our Studio so special is it’s generational! Linda Surrency was the original director who opened the studio and after many years, she sold it to Jessica Sorrells who was a student of the studio and had an extensive dance studio ownership down in Ocala, Florida before moving back to Jacksonville and taking over the world of Dance. Hope grew up dancing at the studio and was hired to teach at 18 years old and Rico was a teacher at the studio for 15+ years. Jessica asked if we would like to take over the Studio and we were both ready to take the next step in our careers and we’re honored and happy to take over a Studio that we’ve already poured so much love into. Rico and I actually met in a ballet at Florida State College at Jacksonville and it was just one of those friendships where you met somebody and you instantly clicked. We both strongly agree that our friendships helps this run a great business together because we can communicate with each other on more than one level.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
After our first season of ownership, we outgrew our original location and we had to move down the road and build a whole new studio. Which was wonderful because we actually have bigger studio space and more rooms than we originally had but we had a very strict time limit to get the studio open for fall classes. It was very humbling to outgrow the studio and need more space but at the same time it was very stressful to think that we potentially could not get it open in time to start our next season. with the help of our amazing dance parents, our construction team and long hours we were able to get the studio up and running for summer classes, which was ahead of our original schedule.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The World of Dance and Talent ?
We are a dance studio serving the Arlington area of Jacksonville, Florida.
We offer all styles of dance from ages three even to adult. We pride ourselves and not being a dance studio, but a dance. When you walk into our studio doors, we want you to feel like you’re at home and we also want the dancers to feel like they have a second home in a safe place.
Any big plans?
Currently, we are just looking forward to the future to keep growing our students and providing excellent dance service to the Jacksonville area. Keeping the studio open for many years to come to carry out the legacy of people before us. I think the ultimate goal and dream would be to eventually be able to build another studio that also has a potential performance space in it.
Pricing:
- Classes at $75 a month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Theworldofdanceandtalent.com
- Instagram: TheWorldOfdancetwdt
- Facebook: The World of Dance and Talent
