Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Beran.
Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was a dancer my whole life and when it was time to go to college. I, of course, wanted to dance. Everyone said, “you will never do anything with a dance degree, or make money,” Graduated in ’96 with a Dance degree, and well, I sure proved them wrong.
I started my company, Dance Moves of Charleston, in 2002 as a mobile dance studio where I, solo, traveled to different schools around the low country, just me and my boom box… haha, that is how old I am. I hired my first employee 4 years into the business in 2006 when I was pregnant with my son and realized that I could add many more and grow the business around the Lowcountry. I began to rent a small room in a local church to offer classes to the community on James Island as a “mini studio” and eventually landed a space on James Island to start what is now a 3500 sq. foot dance studio that employs 15 + employees. We are still in all the schools, when Covid allows, and continue to grow all parts of the business.
Three years ago, I decided to become a life coach and am now a Reiki Master and Coach and have opened and founded the Authentic Coaching and Reiki Center for Healing. It is located right next door to the studio (convenient) and I have three amazing full-time employees who run the day-to-day of the dance studio, while I facilitate one-on-one sessions with my clients and teach meditation classes, adult dance classes, and workshops at the center.
I am honored and grateful for my path and to be able to contribute to the community in these meaningful ways. My business is not my work, they are my passion and my purpose.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been many struggles through the last 19 years, tons of mistakes made, and lots of lessons learned. Covid, by far has been the largest obstacle I have ever faced. I used to joke around that the kid business was resilient to everything and it was, even the recession, but then Covid hit. At the time I actually had two locations and 22 employees.
I ended up closing down one studio in Hanahan and focused solely on saving my James Island business. Things have been tough, but we have made it through, we are strong, and one thing is for sure we are not going anywhere!
I continue to learn daily, I never feel like I have it all figured out and I am ready to roll with the punches. I run two very heart-centered businesses so I know and trust that everything will always work out.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the studio, we are known for our very strong modern program. My lead staff all have degrees in dance and are or have danced professionally. We are not competitive but we do have a preprofessional track and a performance company that has two concerts per year.
In my coaching business, I am an intuitive healer. I have studied traditional energy work, but I ad many other sources of healing such as sound, breath, and aromatherapy. I have a clear knowledge of what my clients need and we share intimate moments to help them get through their healing journey.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Change is constant, never say never, and you cannot please everyone, and that is OK. Everything is always happening for you, not to you. Some beautiful things have come out of this pandemic. I am so much less stressed than prior and things just do not bother me as much. I have also learned it is OK to let clients go because the ones who were meant for you will show up.
Contact Info:
- Email: jessica@dancemovesofcharleston.com
- Website: www.authenticcoachingandreiki.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess_beran/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanceMovesCHS
Image Credits
Black Sheep Media LLC
