Meet Paulina de La Valette | dance 101 operations manager & Co-owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paulina de La Valette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paulina, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The students. We used to think we were in the business of dance classes but it’s actually the business of community. It’s what has kept us afloat during the darkest times. And it really showed up during the Covid shutdown. Pre-Covid, people would tell us what dance 101 meant to them but when we were endangered of closing, it became very real of what dance 101 really was/is to people. You can’t manufacture that. This is why we survived – we had to, no matter what it cost us. Our students needed us.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
dance 101 is an all adult dance studio that has been open since April 1st, 2004, offering a wide range of dance styles for instruction, for fitness and everything in between. When it opened it was a trailblazer for the dance community as “Adult beginner dance classes” was a concept that hadn’t existed before. So if you had developed a love for dance later in life, you were pretty much SOL…. until dance 101 opened. But we didn’t just offer those beginner classes, there was also higher level for the trained/pro that just wanted to have fun and get away from the strict regimen of their training. I mean who wouldn’t want to take a Ballet class to the sounds of Massive Attack and Jay-Z?! We weren’t a regular dance studio, we were a cool dance studio!

But with that of course presented a bit of an identity crisis… how do you market yourself to two very different students? Make your classes accessible to the beginner student, but without taking away the integrity of technical training in a way that attracted professional dancers who thought we were just a “fitness” studio. The answer? Post photos of the cute studio pups dressed in ridiculous outfits haha. Just kidding. Balance, setting a progression for growth and having a kickass faculty that no matter the level, you want to be in the room with… aaaaaand posting pics of studio pups. Our teachers will champion you with encouragement, tough love (you’re an adult after all) and an interest in your success. There’s no taking, only giving.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a resident of Old Fourth Ward, I rarely have a reason to drive anywhere, so if I’m getting in a car, it’s a big deal! Starting out in my neighborhood my recommendations for a good time would include jumping on the beltline and getting off at Vinoteca for wine tasting, then walking across the street for a little shopping at local boutique, Bridge. After developing a post shopping appetite head up to Victory Sandwich Bar around the corner to nosh on some tasty sandwiches and cool off with a Coke Slushie. And Friday/Saturday guarantees great people watching in this area.

If we’re getting in the car, we’re heading south to the Summerhill neighborhood for delicious tacos at D Boca N Boca, a refreshing pint at Halfway Crooks (big fan of their Radlers), shopping at The Press (maybe a little wine tasting there too) and then dinner at the very cool Talat Market.

Activities wise, catching a show at The Eastern, watching Atlanta United play at The Benz and taking a dance class(es) at dance 101, obviously.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Feels like I can’t talk about the studio without a shoutout to Ofelia de La Valette, the reason I’m even here (on so many levels). But I’d also like to show some love to my super supportive, work/life balance champion and fighter of the good fight, partner Josh Gray.

Website: www.dance101.org

Instagram: @dance101studios

Facebook: @dance101studios

Image Credits
Rasa Perkunas Leah Perry David Rams