Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Cinquemani.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I am the owner, founder and designer of my dance and activewear line, Jule Dancewear. I also recently retired after 11 years as a professional ballerina with Miami City Ballet and Los Angeles Ballet. retired after 11 years as a professional ballerina with Miami City Ballet and Los Angeles Ballet. Altogether, I danced for 11 years as a professional ballerina, and it is my 12th year in business with Jule Dancewear. I now live in Austin, TX, where I pursue Jule full-time.
I started ballet when I was four years old. Ballet has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and my dream was to become a ballerina. I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and trained at Dallas Ballet Center and concurrently at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. I spent my summers training at The School of American Ballet summer intensive for five consecutive summers in New York City. I was named a Texas Young Master by the Texas Commission on the Arts. I left home at age 16 to train for two years with the Professional Division at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington. I lived independently, trained and rehearsed during the day, performed with the company at night, and came home to do homework almost every night to finish high school. It was an intense two years, but I was rewarded by landing my first contract as a professional ballerina with Los Angeles Ballet. Throughout my career, I have danced many dream roles such as “Odette/Odile” in Swan Lake, and “Aurora” in Sleeping Beauty, “Giselle,” “Kitri” in Don Quixote, and “Juliet” in Sir Frederick Ashton’s Romeo and Juliet at Los Angeles Ballet. Most recently, I performed “Hippolyta” in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and “War Girl” in Alexei Ratmansky’s Symphonic Dances with Miami City Ballet.
Even though ballet has been first and foremost in my life, I have always had entrepreneurial interests and a love for fashion. I started designing, sewing, and selling wrap skirts at my hometown dancewear store in Dallas at age 14. After I made enough money with that small business, I decided to invest in more ideas I had for creating better-fitting dancewear.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The dance world is very subjective, and you cannot please everyone. I had to learn how not to take rejection personally. If I had not been my own cheerleader to pick myself up after all of the “no’s,” I wouldn’t have been able to dance in my dream company years later. I practice having a positive mindset to reach my full potential. I am always striving to better myself as a business owner and create new goals. Do not let your shortcomings or failures define your limit.
As you know, we’re big fans of Jule Dancewear. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
I started Jule Dancewear in 2011 with a goal as a young professional dancer and female entrepreneur to “reshape dancewear.” My mission is to design and produce dancewear that offers support, conforms to all body types, is high quality, and incorporates the latest in fashion with a commitment to make in the USA.
When I created Jule Dancewear, I was in my teenage years, and my body underwent many changes. I found the need to create a leotard that offered coverage and support for dancers with curves. I hated that my ill-fitting leotards made me self-conscious in a profession where confidence is key. That is when I asked a pattern maker to incorporate the support of a sports bra into a leotard. As a result, we are known for reshaping the dancewear mold to support all body types. I now design all types of dancewear I see a need for. Every detail of each design is carefully tailored to function and flatter all body types. I test and choose the highest quality fabrics and incorporate the latest in fashion—all products made in the USA where quality is high, and our standards are met. I believe in the importance of doing my part to sustain my local community of garment manufacturers in my hometown of Dallas, TX.
In this industry, self-love and confidence are very important. Every dancer should have the confidence they deserve! If I can help someone feel good about themselves with something as simple as what they are wearing, I have done my job. Seeing my designs come to life on dancers worldwide brings me so much joy.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
If I have learned one thing in my ballet career, it is to persevere. When you don’t think you have enough energy left on stage in front of a full audience, you have no choice but to push through. In these difficult moments of struggle, you find out what your full potential really is and set the bar higher for yourself. I recognize the parallel between the lessons I have learned in ballet and in growing a small business. From ballet to business, perseverance is key.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juledancewear.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juledancewear/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsb7h5p0mQ0HkNiEJj5gEtw
Image Credits
Luis Alvarez, David Teran, Kent Barker, Neil Gandhi
