Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Mannella-Hoffman.
Hi Angela, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Moore Than Dance opened 14 years ago to provide “wholesome and family-friendly performing arts training.” We offer classes in dance, musical theater, singing, and acting. We also have an extensive special needs program. As a professional actor, I wanted to ensure that our students were Triple Threat and had experience singing, dancing, and acting. So, we have a traditional spring recital and produce 2-4 full-length musicals each year. Our studio serves children aged 18 months through adults.
Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
One of the biggest struggles was during Covid. We were not allowed to stay open while other businesses were. One weekend, I had to pivot and turn our entire studio online. We offered all our classes online, and only 10% of our students stopped taking classes. Instead of doing our musicals in person, we ended up recording our musical and showing it in a movie theater. I also created an online course called “Teaching to the Camera,” an 8-episode series for dance teachers to learn how to teach on the camera. With over 300 commercials under my belt, it was an obvious choice to try and help other teachers. The program was sold to studio owners worldwide, including Greece and Italy.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As the owner of Moore Than Dance, I am most known for changing dance studio culture. Instead of a studio where dancers wear lots of makeup and look, and all look the same, at MTD, we are wholesome and family-friendly. Our dancers look their age on and off the stage. I also have an extensive special needs program, and our dancers perform and compete just like our other students. I am most proud of starting one of our state’s first special needs dance programs. I also believe in creating “Triple-Threats.” We not only have our dance productions, but we also do 3-4 musicals a year. These musicals incorporate students from ages 3-adult.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as following God’s design for my life. Each morning when I wake up, I am grateful that I get to do a job that I love and inspire others. One of my major successes is the former students who still come up to me and tell me that the studio has changed their lives.
Pricing:
- $60
- $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.moorethandance.com
- Instagram: @moorethandance
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/moorethandance/
