Today we’d like to introduce you to Reilly & Madison Hughes.
Hi Reilly & Madison; thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Reilly & Madison Hughes – We both started dancing at the age of 2 years old and began our competitive dance journey at the age of 6 years old. We have both been very successful in the competition dance world and have always enjoyed sharing our passion for dance with others. We grew up working very hard in both dance classes and as homeschooled students.
At the ages of 15 & 13, we started teaching neighborhood kids private tumble lessons in our front yard. We quickly booked all of our available spots and started a waitlist. During this time, we approached the owners of a new building in Nocatee, The Link, about renting space from them to offer indoor lessons to more students. The owners of The Link offered space for us to teach jazz and tumble classes. This was the beginning of Level Up Dance. We started Level Up Dance with just 5 students, and within a few months, we grew to over 70 students and added 12 additional classes that same year. With the exponential growth, we decided to start our dance competition team, the only competition team within Nocatee.
We conducted auditions hoping to have a few dancers wanting to participate, and we ended up with 21 dancers on our competition team in the first year. At only 16 & 14, we knew this was going to be a busy year, between keeping up with our schoolwork, teaching all of our recreational classes, and adding a competition team in which we teach all classes, create all choreography for group dances, solos, and duets, book and perform at community events, travel to conventions and competitions, and ensure there is time left to participate in community service projects throughout the year to give back to our community. Our team was made up of dancers new to the dance competition world. We trained hard and had a lot of fun in the process. When our first competition season approached, we were hopeful and wanted our dancers to gain experience and feel the joy and love of dancing that comes from performing at competitions. Not only did the team have a wonderful experience, but in our very first year, our dances won 1st place overall in large competitions, and all of our group dances placed in the top 10 overalls at all 3 competitions we attended! This was an overwhelming success, and we were beyond proud of all our team had accomplished. The dancers, parents, and community members were so excited for the Level Up Dance Company competition team for an incredibly successful first year! In May of this year, we held auditions for the 2023-2024 competition season, and we had over 80 dancers audition for the team! Our schedule will go from teaching 14 classes to teaching 26 classes this season and attending performances, conventions, and competitions. We are so excited to have the opportunity to welcome all of our new dancers to the Level Up Dance Company family. We know that our success has come from a lot of hard work, but most importantly, it has come from our love, respect, and genuine care for our students. Since we are so close in age, we have a unique and special bond with all of our dancers, and we truly believe in every dancer on our team. Our goal is to provide a safe place in which we help to develop each dancer into the best version of themselves, building confidence and lifelong friendships along the way. Our dancers know that we are always here for them, and we truly love every second we are blessed to share our passion for dance with them all.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Although rapid business growth is good, it can also pose some challenges at our age. Level Up Dance grew quickly, and we needed to adapt to that growth by adding many classes. As homeschooled high school and dual enrollment college students, we had to quickly learn how to get all our school work done while maintaining good grades and having time to teach and learn how to run a business. We learned quickly that teaching dance is only part of owning a dance studio with a competition team. We had to learn invoicing, bookkeeping, accounting, how to register for conventions and competitions, measuring for, choosing, and ordering costumes, as well as arranging opportunities for our team to attend community performances. We work just as many hours outside the studio as in the studio. Time management became our biggest hurdle, but we are fortunate to have our mom, who could step in and help us. She ensures that we get everything done and have some downtime to be kids and spend time with friends!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Level Up Dance offers recreational and competitive dance for dancers ages 5 and up. We offer instruction in many different genres, including jazz, tumble, acro, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, tap, and stretch & strengthening. We teach proper technique in a fun and encouraging environment. Level Up Dance is unique since the teachers are young (now 17 & 15) and still relatable to all students. We enjoy having fun with our dancers. We are known to play games, run around, and play outside of the link with our students after classes! The unique relationship that we have with all of our students is what sets us apart. We also see the potential and challenge our dancers to push themselves to do more than they could have ever imagined possible. It all starts with us believing in them, and we see that has made such a huge impact on our dancers. We are so proud of every one of our dancer’s growth. Since we are still young, we are fully aware of what is trending, and we choose the best, most fun music, dances, conventions, and competitions for our dancers.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
We aim to continue creating and fostering a dance community within our studio. Level Up Dance will continue to provide a safe place for dancers and their families to feel like they belong and are welcomed by our dance family. A safe place in which we encourage each other and build each other up. A competition team in which we cheer for and support our teammates rather than competing against each other. A dance community that fosters community service and being good and loving neighbors. That helping others less fortunate is something we all should be a part of. We have created “25 Days of Giving” for our team to participate in. Our dance team participates in giving back for the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Creating a special, one-of-a-kind environment in which our dancers and their families always feel welcome, appreciated, and loved. Level Up Dance Company we are so much more than dance!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.levelupdanceandtumble.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/level.up.dance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/levelupdanceandtumble
Image Credits
Kim Hughes
