210. Rhee Gold on Dance Education, Passion, Adaptability and Business Success

210 - Rhee Gold

[00:00:00] Welcome to Passion for Dance. I'm your host, Dr. Chelsea, and my mission is to create happier, more successful dancers through positive mental skills. And in today's episode, I am so thrilled because I was able to sit down with esteemed dance professional Rhee Gold to delve into his extensive journey in the dance industry.

Rhee shares wisdom on creating and sustaining a successful dance business, emphasizing the importance of mental toughness, resilience, and adaptability. He reflects on his early entrepreneurial days, the evolution of his career, and the crucial role of passion and community in today's dance world. I know you will hear valuable advice on staying true to your values, navigating challenges, and fostering a supportive environment for all dancers.

Many of you probably already know of his work, but Rhee Gold is a dance field pioneer who has led a movement that continues to change and improve the face of dance education. Teachers and studio owners from around the world flock to his retreats, seminars, keynote speeches and conferences to gain a [00:01:00] new perspective. With a career spanning over four decades, Rhee has dedicated himself to excellence in dance education and empowering studio owners. Rhee is the visionary behind the DanceLife alliances and a leader in dance education and studio ownership. His passion for quality dance education is palpable, and his dedication to nurturing the next generation of dance leaders is unwavering.

So whether you are a studio owner, a teacher, or a student hoping to one day own your own studio, this conversation offers timeless insights to help you thrive in this dynamic world of dance.

Dr Chelsea: Welcome to Passion for Dance. I'm Dr. Chelsea, a former professional dancer, turn sport psychologist, and this podcast is for everyone in the dance industry who want to learn actionable strategies and new mindsets to build happier, more successful dancers. I. I know what it feels like to push through the pain, take on all the criticism, and do whatever it takes to make sure the show will go on.

But I also [00:02:00] know that we understand more about mental health and resilience than ever before, and it's time to change the industry for the better. This podcast is for all of us to connect, learn, and share our passion for dance with the world.

Hi Ree. Thank you so much for joining me today.

Rhee Gold: Thank you, Chelsea, for having me looking forward to this conversation.

Dr Chelsea: Thank you. I know many listeners probably know about you and your work, but will you share a little bit about yourself and what you do?

Rhee Gold: A little bit about myself is that I started dance at the age of three. I am 63. I have never left the field, but my journey has taken, taken me into a variety of places within the field. I'm grateful for where I'm at and all that I've learned and,

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: um, this field in [00:03:00] general.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah. The dance field is lucky to have you as well. I want to talk to you about creating your business and, you know, advice for those who are building their dance businesses. 'cause I know that is one of your many areas of expertise, but specifically from this angle of mental toughness, because this industry is hard and can be very, uh, challenging to persist as many years as you have.

So will you talk a little bit about maybe those early years, like when you first started. What, on that side of it? Yeah.

Rhee Gold: I'm diversified. I'll just say this as quickly as I can. I have published, I have, uh, run seminars, conferences, dance competitions. Somehow this journey that I'm on, I. Um, was never a planned journey. It was almost like what was [00:04:00] the next obvious thing

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: go? Some people might not follow that journey because I don't know if it was the smartest financial journey, but it was my soul journey and I went on.

It early years. I'll just say this with a big smile on my face, and this will give you a concept for the younger people listening. You might not get this. In the old days, how I built my business was by sending out brochures and mailings to dance people trying to get them to come to this thing called Project Motivate, and I would spend five days sticking labels on brochures and then putting them in zip code order because it was cheaper to mail them that way. , I always feel like where I started was, [00:05:00] okay, is the bottom and now it's, we're gonna rise to the top.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: for those listening on the um, uh, side and wondering mentally how you hand handle it, you rise. And then you have to revise. I just made that up, but

Dr Chelsea: I love that.

Rhee Gold: And then you rise and then you must revive and whatever.

That revive doesn't mean you're going into a new business. It just means where am I at and where do I wanna go

Dr Chelsea: I love that. Yeah. And you definitely always need to adjust, but I, I like that you're saying you started with. At the bottom in your words, but so much hard work at the beginning, did you just have this faith or what was that like driving, putting in the [00:06:00] work at the beginning I think we wanna have this immediate like, okay, where's my paycheck?

Where's my win? And it's not very fast sometimes.

Rhee Gold: I, this is how I'll respond to that I was 17 when I went into business ventures related to dance. I kind of went about it not knowing what I was doing. How I got the addresses for those labels was going to the Boston Public Library and copying phone books for every city in the country.

Dr Chelsea: Wow.

Rhee Gold: I never looked at it, I think at that time with other than it was gonna succeed, like. I wasn't scared. I don't know that I had anything to lose if it didn't work.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: I look and I'm proud of that guy, but I'm not that same [00:07:00] guy. Like I wouldn't take the kind of chances I took back then.

Dr Chelsea: Sure. Well, I think it's chances, but it's also a belief. It's a, I'm gonna do the work and good things will happen, and I think that can carry through.

Rhee Gold: I'm a big at simple words, but I spread it everywhere I can in every session. You have to. You want it, you can leave no stone unturned.

Dr Chelsea: Hmm.

Rhee Gold: And then if you are done turning the stones, look around and go, what other stones can I turn? You are never done.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: If you are building your dream.

Dr Chelsea: Yes. Let's talk a little bit about that path. Like you said, you just like to follow what felt right and felt next, and, uh, so. I guess, I assume there was also up and down in there right times where things went well and then that you turned that stone and it didn't turn out so well. Uh, so talking through your, [00:08:00] resilience through those highs and lows as you've pivoted and changed.

Rhee Gold: So. The lows always come when you know the change is coming and you're not sure what's around the corner.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah, it's the uncertainty.

Rhee Gold: say I've done it three times where, okay, I'm just shifting completely. Probably scared like you wouldn't believe towards the end of what I'll call that cycle. Always had the ability to get back to work like this.

This a freshness. Now all the possibilities are open. What have you learned from these experiences? was a moment in time where the dance competition business, I went into it at age 17 I was in it for 24 years. [00:09:00] Made this really good income, but was so burned out and knew there was something more I needed to do. So. I can remember like announcing that I had sold the company, dah, dah, dah, dah, up to this beautiful suite, this New York hotel gave me and go, oh, I can't say the word 'cause I don't know who's listening, but oh my,

Dr Chelsea: Uh,

Rhee Gold: Um, what am I gonna do? And I started with a folding table with one person who had worked for me before and hired her for four hours a day.

Dr Chelsea: yeah. That's beautiful. And I think it's scary. Like you said, it's the uncertainty of, I don't know what's next, but there's such. Confidence in resilience. And I think it's confidence in, like you said, I know I can do the work to make this happen. It's not confidence that I'm going to be perfect. It's [00:10:00] confidence that I can do the work to do whatever's next.

Right. And I feel like that's what. I dunno if this came from your time as a dancer or something you feel like you've built, but I think that's what dancers learn. It's like, I may not have it right now, but I'll get it if I put in the work it'll happen. That sense of confidence. Uh, I dunno. I guess I, maybe I'm projecting, but I feel like that's what I hear from your experience.

Rhee Gold: I believe we can create anything we want if we focus on it. Put what it's going to take to make it happen. Now, could there be something that's high a reach possibly, but maybe if you set that and you get halfway there, how cool is that? If you are satisfied?

Dr Chelsea: Right. Yeah, how, when are you satisfied?

Rhee Gold: Ooh, I'm becoming satisfied.

Dr Chelsea: You're feeling it [00:11:00] now?

Rhee Gold: This is how I feel. Um, I wanna turn it over to a new generation. I'm ready to become papa and, and bring in a new generation ready for of today. The vibe of today. Hold on to my belief system and continue, but turn it over to the next generation.

Dr Chelsea: I think that's fair when you talk about your belief system. I think about values a lot, uh, you know, personal values or business values. Does that play into your choices as a business owner or deciding to sell and start over?

Rhee Gold: So, uh, 100%, those of you listening that are business owners, I'm gonna admit something on this [00:12:00] podcast. Almost every decision I made had a little to do with being burned out, but now when I look back, it was emotional. Okay, so dance competitions, teachers were all burned out stressing. And I'm like, I could do something about this.

Like, these teachers need to hang out with each other and talk. But at the time, teachers didn't talk to each other, never admit they'd have a problem. Uh, everything

Dr Chelsea: Right.

Rhee Gold: was wonderful. And so kind of where I went, but I didn't know what that would become. It was like, okay,

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: is, this is something I need to do.

And that turned into a magazine. It turned into conferences, organizations, and now I've created something [00:13:00] that. I wanna see carry on. I want it to be, you know, a

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: is what I, a legacy business is

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: the professionals refer

Dr Chelsea: Well, and I think it absolutely will be because of its impact. So when you are making those business decisions and you're being more. Uh, from the heart and emotional, which I don't, I don't think that's a problem. Right? You're following a need that you saw in the dance industry, right?

Where like you said, people need to talk and community, I personally value community as well. I think that's such a, an important part of what helps us keep going. But I think that sense of community started as a dancer, like I think I learned a lot of that from the positive communities I was a part of.

Uh, and so, and there's other skills, maybe confidence from time as a dancer. Will you speak to that of maybe your time as a dancer or what you see in today's dancers like that, your learning skills through dance that have helped you [00:14:00] throughout life?

Rhee Gold: hit me with the second part, which I'll consider the new generation. And I'll quickly

Dr Chelsea: Great. Okay,

Rhee Gold: I feel like, and please don't think I sound like an old man, but it was different from my generation

Dr Chelsea: sure.

Rhee Gold: We were willing to give up Friday nights. didn't have many, many, many activities. We did one our parents would say. made a commitment, you have to show up. So I think, and we weren't so distracted. I think I was brought up in a way because of dance that was maybe leave no stone unturned. But I didn't know it until I just said it just now. Like I can't. Uh, express [00:15:00] how much what I grew up experiencing who I am now and what I pass on to the teachers and studio owners that I get the chance to work with today. Tough.

Dr Chelsea: It is. Well, and I agree. I think that's why a lot of us who are teachers keep doing it because we learn so much. We want to carry it forward, or it's what we didn't have that we learned later. So we wanna help with it. Uh, but it is that I. That passion to carry it forward. So speaking to today, it is different.

Uh, are you, I'm sure you're hearing from studio owners and teachers about their challenges. What, what are you seeing right now?

Rhee Gold: Less and less commitment and frustration from those who are, whose expectations are that commitment. [00:16:00] But I think the future holds less of those committed. Us adjusting to the needs of what the current parent wants, whether or not. We would act that way or be that way or be that kind of parent in, in 2025.

You can't be a person who goes, oh, this way has always worked for me. It is evolving faster than a blink of an eye.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm. Yeah, we have to adjust. And I, I agree. I think there's a shift in, well, there's definitely parenting shifts. I, I have talked about that too. I can go off on the parenting shifts, but. I like your point about not trying to force, well, this has always worked, so it should continue to work. It's like, no, it is, it's it's different right now and meeting them where they're at.

Uh, have you talked [00:17:00] to studio owners or teachers or have your own thoughts about like, how do we do that? How do we meet today's parents?

Rhee Gold: I think, uh, yeah, I do work with studio owners who are figuring out ways to adjust, keep people within the community, but not having to be there many days a week. Focusing a little more on. The, I don't like to use this word, but I'm go going to, uh, recreational programs in their studio. The, the once a week student so I look at it like this. I can come up with something that is a commitment that's gonna make a little bit stronger of a dancer, and I'm going to keep that kid by saying, this commitment is three hours a week, and this is your requirement and this is what you get to do. Because [00:18:00] they're a part of the community.

Our community can't be only the most elite dancers in 2025. You have to build a community amongst all.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: add one more thing . We as dance educators and studio owners must realize that the children that we should put forward in our marketing and what we're all about should be the children that look like everyone else's children and not the best dancer that they have in their studio.

Because parents will look and go, my daughter can't do that. Give me. Everyone else's children, and even if you are the best, you'll educate them along the way. You don't have to show that mom something she's not seeing.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah. Oh, that's great advice. I think that follows along the lines of your culture in your studio, I think is what you're getting to with that sense of [00:19:00] community. That community can't. Like I said, just be your elite dancers or that you only spend your time and your energy and you're only promoting them.

That has to be everybody. We, we speak to culture in studio. Is that kind of what you're alluding to?

Rhee Gold: to culture, but I'll give you another example. I think it's equally important for me to go on my social media as a studio owner or a teacher and put my 10:00 AM Saturday morning preschool class, singing the song. As I do, we just won the super titanium trophy. I actually believe the other way is better for business.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: 'cause in today's world, parents look at competition as how much does that cost? 'cause they have nothing else

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: to reference it to. So can we get them in [00:20:00] with the joy of dance and then introduce them to all the other options.

Dr Chelsea: Oh, for sure. Right? I mean, yeah, the cost and everything is a whole other thing, but I also think about it. From a culture place in your studio, if you're only highlighting the super titanium sprinkle award or whatever is just happening this weekend, rather than your first year students, your second year students, the three hours a week, there's no sense of belonging to them.

It sends the message to the dancers that you're only worth it if you win, or we only care about you when you're successful. That's how I see it. When we focus on that on social media. Besides the business side, which is also very fair and relevant,

Rhee Gold: Um, wanna dig a little deeper on that

Dr Chelsea: I would love to please.

Rhee Gold: What if I said, and we have to think about it 'cause I'm using the word we.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: Could it be our ego?

Dr Chelsea: Oh, a hundred percent.

Rhee Gold: Could it [00:21:00] be that we want to put out this image of we're like the best? 'cause the other schools, maybe they're doing that too, and like, why don't we let go of that?

Like I, I look at it like this. We finished this weekend at a da da da dance competition. Lots of awards, lots of trophies, but I'm just so damn proud of my kids and how far they've come. I love my school.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: That's it.

Dr Chelsea: That's enough. Yes. Yeah. And letting the focus be, uh, the kids and the growth. I think, like you were saying, if your values and your beliefs drive your business, that also has to be what comes through. In social media and when you talk to parents and when you Right. Because if you say, we're about growth [00:22:00] and we're a happy family, everybody loves each other, and then your social media is, look at my top two dancers and the amazing things they did, and ignore everybody else, like, that's never gonna match.

I am breaking in here just to ask for a small favor. If you are enjoying the show, can you find one person who you think would get value from this episode and please share it with them. You can text them a screenshot of what you're listening to right now or share it on social media with your own dance community.

That simple share helps grow the show, but more importantly, it helps us as dancers and dance educators to build up our whole community. We all deserve to be happier and more successful. So if you can think of one person in your dance world who would benefit from today's episode, please share it with them right now.

And thank you for sharing your passion for Dance with the World. [00:23:00] Let's get back to the show.

Rhee Gold: I am gonna tell you a interesting thing. When I do seminars, I often say to studio owners, give me some words to describe your culture.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: then I. Everybody, inevitably, three quarters of them go family friendly

Dr Chelsea: Right.

Rhee Gold: first one. I always go, what does that mean to you? And they can't answer the question.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: So if you are family friendly, like you to actually sit down and say, what does that mean to me? And then live by it.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: And that could be different for you, Chelsea,

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Yeah, that's, I fully agree. It's your, whatever your values are, are yours, but you have to know how to [00:24:00] articulate it and then be able to live by that. And maybe they'll adjust as time goes on, or your own personal life changes the, you know, industry changes. But yeah, making sure you are in alignment with that.

'cause that also goes to comparison, I think, like you said, how studios like, well, the other studio or my, my competitors are doing X, Y, Z, I have to do that. So then we start chasing that image rather than who am I and what do I want that to look like when I'm.

Rhee Gold: And imagine. Hmm. This is you. Here's my re going off a little. Imagine if the time we spend figuring out what the other studio is doing. We spent figuring out what we're really good at and what we can present that's different from them to make us stand out in our community.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: have uniqueness, but we're not recognizing it.[00:25:00]

Dr Chelsea: Yeah. Yes. And it's to the teachers and the owners, and then that task or that ability to look inward. Who am I? How do I show up? That trickles all the way down to your dancer. 'cause then you're, it's the same skill. And so being able for the dancer to say, I'm not worried about this dancer in the mirror next to me.

What do I look like? How do I portray this routine in my best way? What are my strengths? And I think teachers do a lot of, like we say, the right things. Like you said, I'm gonna say family friendly or, but then what are the actions and the behaviors that you're teaching? Yeah,

Rhee Gold: follow through, and

Dr Chelsea: absolutely.

Rhee Gold: that if you figure it out. got something that's guiding you on your journey.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah. Can I ask how you figure it out for you, what your values or your, your beliefs are like for, if somebody listening I'm imagining is like, okay, so yes, I hear you. I've been copying [00:26:00] people. Where do you start?

Rhee Gold: Oh. Honestly, here it is. And many people might not believe this 'cause the dance world doesn't the history. Do you know why I went into the competition business? There weren't any competitions,

Dr Chelsea: Yeah, it was what was different.

Rhee Gold: It was what was different? I went into the magazine business because I felt like all the magazines being published in 20, uh, it was 2004 when I did that strategies to Win at a Dance Competition or I. Like the content wasn't helping studio owners grow the mental health of a dance teacher, et cetera.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: mind I'm like, I know what they're thinking. I can do this. So I just did it. So what was the original question?

Dr Chelsea: I love it. [00:27:00] So I was just thinking about the, the teachers or the, uh, owners listening who feel like they don't have their own, like internal guiding beliefs and principles.

Rhee Gold: See, we must go with our instinct and

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: That doesn't just go on. Your business journey, your career journey, instinct speaks to you all day every day. And I work with studio owners who. like a week later, we'll say, knew this was gonna happen, and I go, why didn't you bring it up last week? Why did you allow it to go this far? I'm like, I'm, I'm like, my instinct is telling me this. And listen, sometimes when you go with your instinct in business or in your field. may get other people pissed off,

Dr Chelsea: [00:28:00] It's

Rhee Gold: believe in what it's, you are talking.

Dr Chelsea: mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: You can't bow down because you're wondering what other people will think.

.

A dance studio owner, I look at it like you are there for life.

That mom who might be complaining to you and you don't take an action because she, you think she's gonna be upset, will be gone in three years and you will have not made the changes.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: Of the one mom, so you must, if I could say anything, it's like use your instinct more than we tend to do.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah. Yes. Well, it's, it follow through to the action, like you're saying. You may have had that intuition and then you say, no, but I can't upset that person. Or what if I lose that one dancer? And right then you're making the wrong choice. You're shaking your head at me.[00:29:00]

Rhee Gold: And gain 10 because you a decision.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: your school,

Dr Chelsea: Sure.

Rhee Gold: only for the dancers themselves, but financially for you

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: better training. Even though the three moms who started with you seven years ago are so upset 'cause you're making this change,

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: they will be gone and you are going to be there for 30 years.

What do you want?

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah.

Rhee Gold: to stand up and say, I'm really sorry you feel that way. I'd love for you to continue with us, but if this is too drastic for you, I understand. And then let it go.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah, let it go. Well, it, it comes back to those values, like you were saying. If you say you're family friendly, if you can't back it up, that's when the complaining mom gets to you because you don't have anything to say or you don't know what the comeback is. But if you [00:30:00] truly can articulate this is what this studio is about and who I am and our philosophy, and then to your point, if it doesn't fit you, that's great.

I wish you well, but you have. You have a foundation rather than just the, the words on your website.

Rhee Gold: And your goals will change and the people will change. You must, like I said, the industry is changing.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: as people evolve.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: Our lives evolve. We have children for a while. Maybe we don't have any children. Maybe we have this going on and that going on. so our goals at those different stages in our lives could be different.

So don't be afraid to evolve.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah. Well, and it's like you were saying earlier about. Ha. Being able to reassess, you know, to revive and be able to say, it has to be something different. And that's okay too. And I'm hearing that in a lot of studio [00:31:00] owners or coaches, teachers, having that sense of, it's so different. I don't know if I wanna do this anymore.

So it's that, that choice of like, okay, is it too different or is it just I'm not willing to adapt and change. I don't know how to know.

Rhee Gold: I think we're losing some good people 'cause I do hear

Dr Chelsea: I think so too.

Rhee Gold: Burnout being just too much. And they were passionate. They were, know, I also would say that since the pandemic, it's uh, more thought about what do I really want or what do I wanna, the, how much stress can I really deal with?

And it's a different world and it's, I get it.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: it's hard because I see people exit and

Dr Chelsea: Yeah,

Rhee Gold: I once knew their passion.

Dr Chelsea: sure. Well, and I think that's what has [00:32:00] shifted, like passion alone isn't going to prevent the burnout. And I think there was a time where that was enough or like, I love this enough. It doesn't matter what comes my way. And that's not true anymore. And I don't know that that's necessarily a bad thing that we've taken a step back to reevaluate, but it is different.

Rhee Gold: It is different. And listen, that is what's evolving.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: Okay. I'll say one thing that's a big change that I keep laughing about. I keep hearing about within my community. You know, it's okay to take a day off in the studio so you can go see your kids play or go to their basketball games, and I. Wow. Look it in 2025.

We say that. That's okay. My mother in 1965 missed everything. 'cause if you were a business owner and a. [00:33:00] You had to show, you would give up whatever to keep your business going. And like, I'm, I'm a man and I see this 50 year evolution. I go, look at us now. I wish my mother could have had these women around them

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: who were willing to stand up and go, oh no, I have a family too.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Rhee Gold: is that?

Dr Chelsea: No, it's a wonderful evolution. Yes. As a, a woman and a mother and a business owner, how amazing it is to have that. It's almost like permi, I dunno if it's permission, I dunno what the word is, but that sense that I can live in my values and if my value doesn't mean that I spend 60 hours and, you know, seven days a week, like I, that that's okay and that I'm not lesser because of that.

Rhee Gold: Knowing what do you want?

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: Just decide and do that. What do you want? Do it.[00:34:00]

Dr Chelsea: I love that it's so simple and yet we complicate it. We make it so messy and it's doesn't have to be,

Rhee Gold: No, and I think mines say what if, what if? What if?

Dr Chelsea: no. Yeah.

Rhee Gold: Maybe get rid of some of the what ifs. 'cause what ifs can be a good thing and go, how about this happens? How about that happens? Like

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: good that could come out of it and then make a, a balance or a decision.

Dr Chelsea: Oh, there's some science behind that. What if game? Uh, but making you dig, it's like if you get to at least four or five. 'cause it really makes you figure out what's at the underneath this, right? When you're thinking, you know, what if I, so what if I do, um, I. Make this big change for my studio. What if I do close the competition team?

What if I do add this other program? Okay, well if I do that, then this would happen. Well, maybe these parents would be mad. Well, what if this happened? And you go, I think, you know, four or five times and you get to [00:35:00] like, what am I actually afraid of? Or what am I actually, you know, willing to stand on? I'm like, Nope, I am, I am actually good with that.

That's, that's okay. And. Hard choices, take that level of reflection. But I like, that's good advice. What if play the game good and bad? Yeah.

Rhee Gold: I also say as an entrepreneur. I didn't have children. I didn't have that kind of a responsibility. I think for moms, families, moms, dads, always, when it comes to being a business, you have a responsibility to maintain. I think it's, uh, the fear comes more into play for those people than a single guy who

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: build it.

Again. That's a point I wanna

Dr Chelsea: Hmm. Yeah. Oh, I think that's very fair and heard and, and whatever your circumstances are, I think what I'm hearing you say is that bottom line, you know what you want and you build that, [00:36:00] whatever that looks like, and not worrying about your competitors or the shiny object or the title. It's what building that life that you truly want.

Rhee Gold: Okay, and here when you build your thing. gonna copy your thing, so you must now, 'cause this is 2025, it used to be harder to do that. Somebody's gonna copy your thing and instead of getting angry, you have to say, what's the next step of my thing?

Dr Chelsea: Hmm. Yeah. Keep evolving. It doesn't have to be a threat. It doesn't have to be the end. Yeah. It's, it's what's next. Has that fueled some of your evolution along the way?

Rhee Gold: Oh yeah, I, and I'm like, even now it's like I'm in wonderment where we are because when I first started talking to people, one of the debates was, should I do phone book ads or not?

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: Like Yellow Pages and now you know, marketing companies that are [00:37:00] doing the work for you and website builders and strategies for retention.

And I'm loving the world we're in. I think I actually look at, we are in one of the greatest times for opportunity. For

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: Now, it's not all, it's in dance, whether that's kids with disabilities, you focus in on early childhood and preschool. You are focusing in on adults. You can find a niche and run with your niche

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: in a way we couldn't.

Dr Chelsea: Oh, I like that. I don't know if we, if there's more to that or maybe that is the answer to this question, but I was thinking how we're talking about what's different and what's harder and more challenging. What do you see as the positives of right now or the, the good things [00:38:00] about being a studio owner today or having, you know, maybe the young listener who's like, I want to do this someday, but it feels so hard.

Rhee Gold: Don't think of it as hard. Okay. It is hard, but.

Dr Chelsea: I think it can be, but that doesn't mean that's the end.

Rhee Gold: Yeah. That's like, okay, you have the drive. If you are a young dancer, you have the drive to become that dancer and go to class and make that commitment. Then you probably have the drive to become a teacher, then a dance studio owner.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: If you are a young person who would one day like to become a teacher or a studio owner. My advice is don't become an elitist. And what do I mean by an elitist? That you only wanna teach the best kids.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: a dance educator, you must learn. All of what you [00:39:00] offer at your a studio owner, all of what you offer at your school, you have to continue your education. You must diversify yourself in 2025. You must know how to teach kids who have learning differences. is like. That's where you need to focus and not say, oh, I'm, I'm just gonna be a competition school. Or I'm gonna pull all the great dancers from other schools and just work with those kids. You want longevity? Learn how to do this from the bottom up

Dr Chelsea: Yes.

Rhee Gold: one day. Okay. We did really well in competitions, but I don't have anything to speak of

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: when it comes to security.

Dr Chelsea: Right. [00:40:00] Well, I, it's, it's the root of like, dance itself is hard. And so we learn how to show up and be disciplined and play that long game, right? Like, I'm not gonna perfect my ballet technique and then in ever in let alone in the, for, in a few years. So it's that same mindset, but I do see that in some of today's dancers or like, or I'm not successful unless I make.

That specific program or that team, or if I get a job right away in LA and then to the, to the point, the teacher version of that is like, I'm not successful unless I'm winning all these competitions. And, uh, I don't know. I like, I don't that, uh, how, I dunno what the actual, I was like, I don't know what the question is.

That's just how I'm feeling.

Rhee Gold: who created that? Like how did that happen? That every one of us, well, maybe not now, but a while ago we became teachers. We taught anybody who would [00:41:00] take our class, and we were like so proud if that kid got their first shuffle and made two sounds.

Dr Chelsea: Right. I remember my first little kid class when I got a little girl, learned how to skip it. Took her the entire semester. But yeah, when she learned how to skip it was like this huge celebration. Yes.

Rhee Gold: How, how did it become, I'm not answering the question, but you can ponder it. How did it become that's not a win for.

Dr Chelsea: Right. Well, and I think it, to me, I don't know, and I love maybe if you, if thoughts come to mind for you too, it's that sense of success that I've been a little bit of a broken record talking about lately. Uh, but. It's our definition of success has become all external, all somebody else's praise and awards and titles and money, uh, and social media fame, you know, whatever that external looks like, where if your sense of success is.

Internal, [00:42:00] like I said, like that sense of success of I hope that little girl skip like that feels amazing and that's a win. And her mom's never gonna say anything. And I don't even remember her name. I don't know what she went on to do, you know? But, but it was that sense of I did something well today and I think we've lost sense of that.

Rhee Gold: I can't disagree, but know this, I often think I'm old. Now I'm not old. Okay. For your

Dr Chelsea: Nope.

Rhee Gold: I'm, I'm a spring chicken. Really? But I think I'm old because I don't always understand this culture that's going on right now. I'm trying, and I'm trying to see what I can find that I believe is really positive, but, um, I'm feeling like, okay, another reason why to turn it over to the next generation

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: This is tough to figure out if you were taught [00:43:00] integrity, if you were taught. I don't know.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: not true.

Dr Chelsea: Right. Yeah. Well, I think both can be true. I think it can be different and hard and challenging and very rewarding and absolutely worth putting everything into. Uh, like it's, it's both ant, but like you were saying before, like admitting. Going into it like, this is hard and I'm good with that. And it's just like you would approach, you know, go to a micro level when your ballet master starts doing angio and you go, oh no, I can't do that.

But going, no, this is hard, but I can do this. Up to the largest macro level of teaching today. Running a studio today, it is hard, but you can figure it out.

Rhee Gold: I am with you.

Dr Chelsea: I'm with you. I'm just trying to reiterate what you're saying. Not putting words in your mouth, but I feel like that's your. What you're getting through.

Yeah. I just wanna tap your wisdom. You have so much that you were always able to share with, [00:44:00] with studio owners and teachers. Like what's your, message, your, advice from all your, from your years of wisdom.

Rhee Gold: give you two things.

Dr Chelsea: love that.

Rhee Gold: Um, do it for the right reasons. 'cause people know it, they feel it, they understand it. It's a culture you can feel when you walk into the door or the classroom. And give it all your, all in every class and give your all to every child, regardless of the ones that might run around in the back of the classroom who might not learn like everyone else learns and you're frustrated. You are that mentor for them.

Dr Chelsea: Mm-hmm.

Rhee Gold: they don't learn the dance, but they love being in the class, you should welcome them.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: here's the other thing I said too, 'cause I'm getting into this now. If you are a business owner, fifties, sixties, [00:45:00] surround yourself with young people.

Dr Chelsea: Absolutely.

Rhee Gold: and take their input, even if it seems really strange to you. it's something you absolutely would never do, don't discourage them by going, I'd never do that. Say, that's certainly something I'll consider and then never bring it up again.

Dr Chelsea: Uh, well, that's the value of community is it's not that everybody is always right or that's right for you. It's the open-minded to be able to listen. I think that's wonderful advice and for sure to reach, to reach everyone in the room. I love that. That's a great, great place to wrap this up. Will you please share how people can find you and your work if they're not already connected?

Rhee Gold: Um, really the main hub is rhee gold.com, R-H-E-E-G-O-L d.com. That will take you. all [00:46:00] of our organization's events, and I'm on social media, Facebook, Instagram. I do have a TikTok, but I don't know how to use it. So, you know,

Dr Chelsea: Fair. I love that. rhee gold.com. I'll make sure that's linked. Wherever you're listening. Rhee any last thoughts that you wanna share?

Rhee Gold: um, thank you for having me and. I guess my last thought to your listeners would be something I say all the time, enjoy this journey. You actually, um, lucked out because you probably had a dream that you were gonna become a dance teacher or studio owner, and you accomplished that. So many people don't get there.

Dr Chelsea: Yeah.

Rhee Gold: cool is it that you pulled that off?

Dr Chelsea: Oh, that's a wonderful perspective. Thank you so much, Rhee for sharing your time and your wisdom with us today. I really appreciate it.[00:47:00]

Rhee Gold: Thank you. It's been fun.

Dr Chelsea: Thank you.

Thank you for listening to Passion for Dance. You can find all episode resources at passion for dance podcast.com and be sure to follow me on Instagram for more high performance tips at Doctor Chelsea dot Otti. That's P-I-E-R-O-T-T-I. This podcast is for passionate dancers and dance educators who are ready to change our industry by creating happier, more successful dancers.

I'm Dr. Chelsea and keep sharing your passion for dance with the world.