Ep 76: Reading the Room: Angela Hartley-Drube on ADHD, Flexibility, and Letting Dancers Lead

Robin talks with Angela Hartley-Drube, who has run Live 2 Dance in a small Wyoming town for 20 seasons, built a multi-purpose venue during the pandemic, earned the More Than Just Great Dancing Perseverance Award, and recently won Wyoming Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.

Angela is open about living with ADD/ADHD, and she and Robin get honest about what that actually looks like day to day: no early morning routine, no five year plan, a figure it out as you go energy that turns out to be an asset in running a studio.

They talk about what it felt like for Angela to be recognized for perseverance in front of more than 300 studio owners, how she reads a room of teenagers to decide whether to keep them at the barre or pivot the lesson, and how she designed her venue, Arts and Celebrations by the Creek, with rolling bars and removable walls so the same space can host dance classes, weddings, graduation parties, and aerial classes.

Angela also shares the story of her daughter wanting to pursue Cirque du Soleil and what it took to step back and let her find her own path. The conversation wanders into a Cirque du Soleil tour of five Las Vegas venues, why wall mounted ballet barres are a mistake, and Angela's tips for scoring comped hotel rooms in Vegas.

Let’s Connect on Socials:

EMC Performing Arts Studio on Facebook

EMC Performing Arts Studio on Instagram

In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Facebook

In The Spotlight: Raising Leaders in the Performing Arts on Instagram

Interested in Classes at EMC? Learn More About Us Here

Work With Robin:

Rising Leaders Training Course