May 16, 2017

Meet Nicole Spagnolo of Collective Dance in Lincoln Park

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Spagnolo.

Nicole, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started dance and gymnastics at a very young age. I pursued both fields my entire life receiving various awards in both genres. Always knowing that Dance is my passion I had to make a choice when attending College what my path would be. My parents would not allow me to pursue a degree in dance. I had to have a solid plan A and plan B. So 4 years later I obtained my Business degree in Marketing. I worked corporate while teaching dance and dancing myself. I was about 27 when I realized I was not only exhausted but I needed more and needed a life plan. So I ruffled the feathers and took a huge leap to open my own business, ALL BY MYSLEF. I am a single female, minority female on top of it all. It was 2008 right when the modern day real estate “depression” hit our country, however I believed in myself and my business and grew Collective amazingly from the point the doors open. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and the best thing I have ever done. Owning a small business in Chicago is not easy, but us owner truly have passion and love for what we do. We choose to be happy and make others happy or anything and whatever it takes us owners will do!!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
NO NO NO NO!!!! And anyone who tells you it is a smooth road is lying. Everyday there is something different to deal with. When opening a start-up business from day 1 you have to be open to have horrible days, depressing days, amazing days….you just never know what will happen. I had to teach classes of one kid with hopes we can get another one to register by the following week. I had to sit there in the cold and just hope for the phone to ring or the doors to open. All while praying to make rent each month. It honestly takes about 5 years to feel “comfortable”.

Please tell us about Collective Dance.
Collective Dance is a Children’s dance studio located in Lincoln Park. We specialize in young kids 2 years through about 8 years old. We have Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tumbling classes.

What parents love is that we take in the 2 year olds without any moms or nanny’s. We help prep them for school when no parents are around.

Collective is set apart because I personally take them much younger that any dance studio.

Also I am from Chicago, in the city, which really interests everyone and I want to do this to benefit my home town neighborhoods.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The construction was the WORST part of everything. I would actually work backwards and far and signage and decor to attract people to “what’s coming”.

Also now I would use the social media more. Back then social media was not nearly as important.

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