Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ingersoll.
Hi Mary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since Kindergarten, Dance Class has been the highlight of my week. After college at Missouri State University, where I earned a degree in Public Relations, I relocated to Savannah, Missouri which became my permanent home. The studio that had been in our small town for more than twenty years went out of business. I opened a few months later.
That was eighteen years ago, which seems like forever and also no time at all.
Since then I’ve been married, had kids, built a home, bought a church and turned it into our dance studio.
Kids are the Mission!
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?
Some times have been smooth, but there have been plenty of struggles.
One of the biggest challenges was continuing dance class, and demonstrating the value, during the pandemic. We shifted to virtual classes, set up google classrooms, and had 80% retention over that Spring. We extended the season by several weeks, held rehearsals outdoors, and then had 75 individual class recital performances.
As I have overcome each challenge, I have learned. Now that I know better, I continue to strive to do better.
We’ve been impressed with Inspirations Academy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Inspirations Academy, Kids are the Mission. We offer excellent classes in all styles of dance using proven curriculum, including Tap Roots and Acrobatic Arts Certifications.
This is our second season offering a Musical Theatre program. This year we are producing Peter Pan, Jr.
Our weekly Art Classes and Music Lessons are favorites with lots of local children.
And our After School and Summer Programs offer safe, fun places for kids while their parents are working.
What sets us apart are our small class sizes, experienced staff, and our two dance performances every year. We also offer rental costumes to keep the experience affordable for families.
I am very proud of the company, particularly our strong culture of Family First and Age Appropriate Excellence.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
We use several industry-specific tools, but also began using Google Workspace in 2020. This remains an invaluable tool for the entire team.
Our affiliation with More Than Just Great Dancing has been invaluable over the past 5 years. The business and industry support and training are top notch. I even became a Certified Coach with MTJGD two years ago to pass on what I have learned to other owners.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://inspirationsacademy.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirationsacademysav/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspirationsAcademySav
