Today we’d like to introduce you to L.A. Gold.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2017 I started the dance program at the Brentwood YMCA. It started off with the hopes of getting my name out there and gaining clientele. The program began with 2 classes on Saturday mornings for an 8-week session that summer. In the fall, it was the same thing until I said “no, in order to grow this program things have to change!”
During the Fall of 2018, I had 6 classes and then was asked to take over the dance program for the Minier Preschool attached to the YMCA, in which I gladly said yes! In 2019 we had our first recital complete on stage and with costumes. This was a dream come true for me; however, it still wasn’t enough for me.
By the Fall of 2019, I was adding in classes wherever I could, 45 minutes here, 45 there, classes on Sundays in between working a full-time job and a part-time job. Things could not be better for the program. Our enrollment was now holding steady at 45 families! We were getting ready for our spring recital until the Coronavirus hit.
Once the pandemic hit, all programming at the Y stopped, I immediately said, “Let’s go virtual!” I was informed that was a no-go. I tried to hold onto hope and keep engaged with my families and ensured them we would have a recital. Again, that didn’t happen as this pandemic was getting worse and worse. I was told by the Y senior staff that I would be able to resume classes for the summer. That did not happen as enrollment was not there. The same promise was made to me for the Fall 2020 season but with the pandemic things were not looking good and dance class would not run.
I moved to Saint Louis from Boston 6 six years ago for two reasons: to be closer to my family and to open my dance studio and I would be damned if the pandemic would stand in my way. So, I thought about it, put my head together with my sister’s and we created “Mid-County Dance: The Virtual Edition.”
I cleaned out the spare bedroom and made sure I had the right setup with lights and sound to create a virtual dance studio. It wasn’t much but it would work for the meantime given that we were still in pandemic mode. In 2020-2021, I taught over 350 dance classes completely online to dancers aged 3-18. But I still knew I hadn’t achieved my dreams.
I spent free time looking for property, calling to inquire about leasing the space. I was beginning to think this was a done deal and was going to throw the towel in but knew that if I did, I would be letting myself down and my dancers.
This past May things became official when my lease for the studio got signed. It was a very surreal experience and moment. Construction wouldn’t begin for a few months but the space was mine.
Mid-County Dance has been on quite a journey in the last year, between virtual classes, an in-person recital where kids dance together for the first time that day who had never met each other, to summer classes held at a temporary location, to now being able to have a dance home!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
This has been the complete opposite of smooth! I never thought I would open my dance studio in the middle of a pandemic. Dealing with real estate companies that didn’t want my business in their strip mall because it would use too many parking spots, or not calling back. You name it and I have likely dealt with it during this time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a dancer, it’s what I was born to do. While most people would run from the idea of being on stage I thrive in that environment. It was only natural that I pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Being from Boston, I have been fortunate to have had a lot of great training with lots of different professionals in this industry. I was chosen at 16 to tap dance in New York City Off-Broadway with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. My training, dedication, and passion for dance has also led me to dance on the National Tour across the United States as Cheer Bear in “Care Bears Live: Caring & Sharing Friends” as well as being able to work on many television shows and major motion pictures such as Grown-Ups, Edge of Darkness, and my favorite movie I have worked on, Ted.
I love being able to work in the studio now as a teacher and help dancers to find their passion in the dance world, but also love to see them grow as dancers and people.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I have a few thoughts about where I see MCD going over the next few years and what I plan on accomplishing with it, however with the entertainment industry changing all the time it is truly hard to say. This pandemic caused dance instructors worldwide to shift how we are so used to teaching and working. Broadway was shut down but the producers of those shows figured out how to get those shows streamed on platforms such as Disney + and Apple TV. The dance world definitely did the same and figured out how to have classes continue, recitals happen and competitions went on. The age-old saying of “the show must go on!” is definitely alive in the entertainment world these days!
Contact Info:
- Email: midcountydance@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.midcoountydance.com
- Instagram: @midcountydance
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/midcountydance
- Twitter: dancemcd314
