We recently had the chance to connect with Kathy Dupuy and have shared our conversation below.
Kathy, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I feel really proud of having all 4 of my grown kids working with my husband and I on our various businesses, in some capacity or other. They range in age from 20-28 and are such a joy to work alongside. They bring youth and energy and great ideas from a different generational perspective and it gives us an added dynamic to our relationships. I get to see up close and personally where their strengths lie and get to pair them with amazing mentors from our businesses.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
HI! My name is Kathy Dupuy and I am the owner/founder of Balance Dance Studios and The Dance Spot (as well as Mom’s Best Friend and Jovie – household staffing and nanny/sitter services). Even though I started in the childcare space (31 years ago), most of my days now are spent at the dance studios, taking classes myself and spending time collaborating with our fantastic leadership and executive teams! Balance Dance Studios is in south Austin and has 10 studios in two buildings, including a black box theater space, outdoor covered dance deck, parent viewing areas, outdoor playscape, etc. The Dance Spot is in Round Rock, about 35 minutes north of Balance, and is a state of the art, built from the ground up, facility, housing 7 studios, including a black box theater, plus a rooftop dance deck. We offer dance and fitness classes for ages 18 months through adults. recreational and competitive, as well as pre-professional. We have multiple companies at each studio so there is something for everyone, including a hip hop crew, ballet company, competition team, musical theater troupe and pre professional convetion team. We have Nutcracker performances in December and a spring recital in May. Free trial classes are available to come check us out!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I love being an entrepreneur and developed this bug early on, walking my dad’s shopping centers with him on Saturday mornings. My husband, Stuart, and I have started multiple businesses together and have sold some, kept and grown others, acquired and merged others into our existing operations, etc. It has been quite a journey but we have learned a lot, some through painful experiences and loss and others through grit and determination. These experiences have taught us so much and we have tried to pass on these learnings to our kids and to those we get the privildge to work with. Being able to successfully build a business from nothing has built up our confidence to be able to be less risk adverse and more open to taking on new challenges. We have been successful in creating businesses that are well oiled machines with incredibly talented and tenured staff and have made the shift from “success” to “significance”, changing the focus to how we can impact others positively with our time, talents, and financial resources. This focal shift brings much more meaning to the work we do and the life we live.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I always reflect on the verse in James 1: 2-4 that says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This has been an inspiration to me during the tough times in my life where circumstances felt hopeless and it was hard to maintain positivity and momentum. To step back and realize that these valleys were an opportunity for me to learn and for my character to be shaped in a way that would make me stronger and more effective in the future was an encouragement to me. Sometimes, seeing the same thing in a different light can make all the difference in how we walk through times of suffering and hardship, which can feel hopeless at the time. But, thankfully, we are not without hope! And we are made stronger on the other side!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am in the process of building a Performing Arts Center that can be utilized as a resource/venue by all of the creative community in Austin and surrounding areas. I have been wanting to do this and planning for it for years, waiting for the right space to open up. When the building next to ours down south became available for purchase as business condos, we took the leap and purchased 33k square feet of space out of the 110k building that used to house a large AT&T call center. It is by far the most ambitious project we have ever taken on but one I believe will truly make a difference in the Austin community. For years, the only available spaces for rent for recitals and other performances have been churches and schools, which have limited availabilty, due to their own programming needs. The city desperatdely needs additional performance space available to rent, particularly given the closure of the Austin Convention Center for the next 4-5 years. Next fall, we will open our Luxora Theater with 430 seats (and will be available for pre-rental prior to the official grand opening). In addition to the theater, we will have 7 more studios including a Pilates studio, rehearsal and dressing rooms, a cafe/coffee/smoothie bar, offices, photography/content creation studio, costume and scene shops, a childcare space and little gym, and small salon. This is such an exciting undertaking and we can’t wait to start construction in December!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that people remember me for my generosity. I love the word picture that we are not to be a reservoir, but a river, to let resources flow through us (to others), not just to us (as the final destination). I believe we have been blessed to be a blessing, and we have a responsibility to use what we have been given to help others in need. It’s not just an obligation but a privilege! It’s something that truly brings me joy, much more so than receiving anything myself. This is a legacy from my parents, who are probably the most generous people I know. I grew up getting to see this role modeled first hand and it was contagious! When I see a need, I am immediately thinking about how I can meet it. With my own kids, I have to be careful not to do more than I should and potentially handicap them from working hard. This is tough sometimes because, as parents, we want to give our kids everything! We have to be smart about when, how and how much to do, to keep them motivated, but be able to jump in when it makes sense, and to help in constructive ways!
Contact Info:
- Website: balancedancestudios.com, dancespotx.com
- Instagram: balancedancestudios, thedancespotx
- Linkedin: Balance Dance Studios, The Dance Spot
- Facebook: Balance Dance Studios, The Dance Spot
Image Credits
Grace Dupuy Photography
