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For This Mother/Daughter Dance Duo, the Show
Must Go On
Despite shutdowns and dramatic drops in enrollment last spring, their tenacity and dedication kept their dream alive throughout the pandemic.
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Carla’s mother opens Farnsworth
in Indianapolis -
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Carla falls in
love with dance -
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Carla appears
on Broadways
& London’s
West End -
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Carla and Juliet
join Farnsworth -
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Farnsworth
flourishes in
Vallejo, CA -
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COVID affects
the academy
& community -
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Juliet pivots
to teaching
classes online
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circle
Farnsworth
flourishes in
Vallejo, CA -
circle
COVID affects
the academy
& community -
circle
Juliet pivots
to teaching
classes online
Farnsworth Dance Academy is a family affair.
Long before Carla and her daughter Juliet opened their Vallejo, California studio, the business originally began in Indianapolis—started by Carla’s own mother and aunt.
It was there that Carla nurtured her own love of dance, from classical ballet and tap to jazz and gymnastics. She went on to appear in multiple shows on Broadway and in London’s West End, sharing the stage with some of the top talent in the industry. Today, she’s kindling that love of dance in a new generation, alongside her daughter and business partner, Juliet.
It’s been a long journey, growing their business over the years. They moved into a beautiful new location in 2018 and experienced some exciting growth. But, despite their tight-knit community and phenomenal reputation in the industry, pandemic shutdowns last spring were devastating for their business.
“They lost half of their students. Everything shifted almost overnight as people lost their jobs. It was a really scary time,” recalls Andy Henry, Carla’s ex-husband and Juliet’s dad. Still, he says their heart and dedication never wavered.
“One of the many beautiful things I love about both of these women is their deep commitment and care for their students,” Andy says. “Juliet came to me multiple times last spring saying, ‘I’m just really concerned about our students. I just really want them to have a place where they can come and dance.’”
…they just really care about the families and the students. There’s no ego there, and that’s not always the case in this industry.” – Andy Henry
And while her heart certainly makes him a proud papa, it’s no surprise. “There’s such a tight-knit family atmosphere at Farnsworth Dance Academy,” Andy explains. “It’s a credit to Carla, it’s a credit to Juliet, and to the parents and faculty— they just really care about the families and the students. There’s no ego there, and that’s not always the case in this industry.”
So Carla and Juliet scrambled to find new ways to keep students and families engaged. “The response has been really cool. They were doing Zoom classes at first, then they moved to some outdoor classes. And the parents and the students realized, it’s okay. This works.”
Andy says Juliet really leveraged Instagram over the past year, too, and has seen some incredible results. “Juliet will post videos on social media of her students. And that joy and passion on their faces is contagious. It really resonates with people.
“Just this week they’ve picked up 10 brand-new students. It blows my mind. But when she posts, there’s a flood of amazing comments from fellow students and parents, saying beautiful things about Farnsworth Dance Academy. It just speaks to these women, who they are, and what they’ve built.”
While the past year was no doubt trying, Andy couldn’t be prouder of his family. And he thinks there’s a clear takeaway from all that they’ve experienced. “These are just crazy times. But I think by staying positive and believing in your passion, believing in what you do, you will survive. They’re proof of that.”
Carla and Juliet’s story is part of a powerful series highlighting the hope and resilience of small business owners across America. Whether your business is well-established or just starting out, U.S. Bank has the banking tools and support you need to keep your business dreams alive and thriving.
