Meet Morgan Revier | Dance Studio Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Morgan Revier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Morgan, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am originally from Birmingham, AL. I grew up dancing at a competitive studio there (Birmingham Dance Theatre), and was super into dance. I was always at the studio, 7 days a week most weeks… It was my home away from home. I ended up going to college for musical theatre in New York City where I found my second “family” in my peers in NYC. I worked on various Broadway and Off Broadway shows as a choreographer, assistant stage manager, production assistant…. you name it, I did it. I went on to dance as a Radio City Rockette for 6 years and really felt a sense of accomplishment. It wasn’t until a few years after my first child was born that I got the opportunity to own my own dance studio. The woman I was teaching dance for in Jersey City moved to another state and asked if I would be interested in owning her studio. Well, I had never considered this path before. ABSOLUTELY! I had to do it. Little did I know that Growing up at my hometown studio, doing various Broadway jobs, and performing as a Rockette would have been the magic life-education-cocktail that I needed to succeed in owning my own dance studio. I knew I had what it took to create a home away from home for dancers in my community. I have done just that!

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?
Four years ago I purchased the recreational dance studio I was teaching at in downtown Jersey City, NJ. I am very proud to say that we are different from the other dance studios in our neighborhood. Over the last four years, I have tried to make the studio my own and grow the programing to suit the needs of the students. We offer a wide range of dance instruction for ages 18mo + and offer classes for every level at any age. Whether you want to take one class a week, be a part of a community performance team, or compete at a higher level,… We got you! I believe that dance class is about more than just learning steps. Dance class teaches you commitment, dedication, time management, accountability, and discipline. The list goes on and on. One of the things I have learned over the last four years is to trust my gut. There have been many times in hiring staff, choosing music, or making a hard decision about level placement of a dancer that I have let something get in the way of my instinct telling me the right thing to do. My years of professional dance and behind the scenes work for various shows and dance studios has given me my natural instinct… I have to trust that! I am excited to continue to grow the studio into what my community of dancers need. To let their strengths guide the programing and push them to their highest potential.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Welcome to Jersey City, “Chilltown” as they call it! You should definitely stay near the NJ PATH train near the new and improved pedestrian walkway on Newark Ave. The PATH train takes you to NYC in 2 stops (about 6 mins.) and you can use your NYC Metro card! Near the Grove St. train you will find some of the most delicious restaurants and coolest speakeasy bars around. If you can snag a hotel room or apartment rental in one of Jersey City’s mid or high-rise buildings, you may get to enjoy NYC views from the comfort of your couch. Jersey City, by far, has the best views of Manhattan! That takes me to the waterfront. JC has an incredible waterfront walkway that ranges from Liberty State Park where you can see views of the Statue of Liberty, all the way to Hoboken. There are many public parks along the way to grab a seat and take in the NYC skyline , or let the kids run around on a playground. Don’t sleep on the JC food scene. On the pedestrian walkway check out the burgers at Skinner’s loft, and the Pizza at Razza or Porta. Hamilton Inn over in the Hamilton Park neighborhood (next door to my studio) has the coolest outdoor seating area and bar, thanks to Covid. You can’t leave JC without trying Chickies and Rumba Cubana in our beloved Hamilton Park neighborhood. If it’s summer time you will be ever entertained by the seemingly daily street fairs, farmers markets, or movies in the park. Enjoy JC!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I purchased my business there was a ROCKSTAR team running it. The previous owner (Amy) and manager (Keisa) had set me up for success. The systems, teachers, and overall vibe at the dance studio were top notch. This made it easier for me to step in and make some things my own without having to reinvent the wheel. For the first year Keisa stayed on to guide me and I got some of the hard growing pains of being a new business owner out of my system. I then hired my current manager (Louisa) who has been working with me every step of the way to stay true to Next Step Broadway’s mission and to be my eyes and ears inside the studio when I am not able to be there. I feel like Louisa and I have very different styles, balance each other out well, and provide support to one another daily to make this business everything it should be. A happy place for the dancers to come and get a dance education. A home away from home! Thank you Louisa!

Website: https://www.nextstepbroadwayjc.com

Instagram: @nextstepbroadwayjc

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