02/27/2023
“A closure is not an excuse for leaders to go into hiding.”
-Unknown
"Life is a circle. The end of one journey is the beginning of the next."
-Joseph M. Marshall III
I want to first let everyone know how business is being handled before I share my heart and emotional stance on all of this.
[My professional message to everyone]
In this journey, setting the tone of this change is everything. I have worked diligently with those around me to make every decision carefully and seriously. To my loyal dance families, I feel that all the information received regarding this change has been consistent and positive but grounded in reality. The new studio team has sent every message with devoted intention. I hope you see that they’ve tried to keep everyone engaged through all the challenging and difficult decisions. It is important to me that all past and present Dance Co. of Minot customers understand that we will protect all confidential information ever shared within our business and highly recommend the responsible business practices of Magic City Dance Company. They are informed and consider their patrons’ needs and we want everyone to establish an amazing connection with them. While The Dance Co. of Minot is being phased out respectfully, Magic City Dance Company will not reduce the focus on quality. They will consistently measure and celebrate it amongst recreational and competitive families alike.
Magic City Dance Company will carry on my legacy and mission. My ultimate goal in making this change was to honor as many commitments as possible while still maintaining as much of my health as possible. After running this company for 6 years, I feel obligated to advise all employees and affiliates to put their trust in Magic City Dance Company’s values. They will take excellent care and will treat everyone equitably, with dignity, fairness, and respect.
To all my suppliers, partners, and vendors, you are valued and regardless of what happens, I want to do whatever is possible within the confines of my medical condition to honor our relationships and commitments to one another.
[My personal message to everyone]
Everyone that knows me can tell you, I could use an infinite amount of words here and it would never be enough to describe what closing this studio means for me.
There has never been a more difficult choice. There has never been a time when waking up to face the day has seemed so daunting. So much of my identity is found as the Owner and Director of The Dance Co. of Minot. With more than 30 years of existence in the Minot community, I tried for as long as I could to honor its legacy and tradition, while pushing past limits through growth and expansion. With the heaviest heart you can possibly imagine, I am deciding to step down as Owner and Director and close the doors of The Dance Co. of Minot, due to my cardiovascular and mental health. The Dance Co. of Minot was first owned by Kim Wilhelm (I hope the spelling is correct), and was passed on to Dani Lindee after that. Thanks to them, The Dance Co. of Minot was alive and breathing in the community for over 25 years. Upon taking over in 2016, my goal was to provide a safe and welcoming place for everyone to dance. I did not want the dancers and families to be without a studio home and it was the scariest decision I ever made. I was 25 years old when I purchased the studio and I did it without any family members nearby. My ultimate goal above all else was to train human beings in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Teaching them how to treat others with kindness and respect, while also respecting and loving themselves. For 6 years I celebrated and taught tiny humans and “grown-ups” with this philosophy at the forefront of my creative ingenuity.
I’ve worked hard to stand for what is morally right, to honor and preserve the beauty and innocence of childhood, and to color outside the lines. As P.T. Barnum said, “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.”
Ultimately, my health took a hard hit in 2019 and I never fully recovered. This impacted every piece of my life, including my beautiful dance studio. Everyone within its walls was impacted and I spent the last 3 years grasping for every ounce of patience and understanding I could get from everyone. After hitting rock bottom, I finally asked for help. Saying this as a human being, a person, not a professional, I owe a huge part of my sanity to Katie Ingerson, Brittany Busch and Tessa Jagoe. They stepped in and started helping me determine what they felt would make me happy and healthy again. Closing the studio has broken my heart and I know in time I will heal and recover.
While I am giving shoutouts I want to give one to Justin Mitchell Burchett (Ciak), who stood by me through these challenging yet rewarding years. Justin helped me do whatever was needed when no one else ever could. For the first 2 years, it was just the two of us and he helped kickstart the first two years of our studio success.
To Josiah Roise and Levi Schoneck for carrying the heavy things and being there to hear all the business owner stories and venting sessions. To my mom and dad who have done what they could to support me from so far away and to my sisters, Molly and Aricka, for being supportive of my ambitions and dreams. To Olivia and Kody Kimberlin for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. You’ve provided me with so much love and loyalty.
To my most loving, dedicated dance families, those of you that have gone ABOVE AND BEYOND. To those that have lost sleep so many times, to those that have sacrificed so much to help me and be there for me LAST MINUTE so many times. To THOSE THAT LIFTED ME UP when everyone else was tearing me down, you are appreciated beyond comprehension.
Last and DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, everyone that helped with the Oak Park studio renovation. The electricians, contractors, real estate teams and so much more, THERE ARE NO FREAKING WORDS. You took on the Oak Park project with no guarantees. You transformed an empty, abandoned and hollowed out building into the place in Minot where everyone is welcome. You made a place for dreams to come true. You believed in me, in my mission, in my vision, in my passion. You invested so much of your blood, sweat, tears, and money into making that studio incomparable and state of the art. You custom made it just for me, everything was intentional, every decision made was deliberate and nothing was half-way performed. Floor to ceiling, you made sure every single detail was up to my standards and that I was happy with every decision made. You’ve created an incredible facility for my legacy to live on and I have no idea if saying thank you even means anything at this point. With all the risks and sacrifices you made to make this happen, I am in tears, I truly don’t know how to thank you properly.
I will continue teaching contractually only with Magic City Dance Company and I would love to do private lessons with everyone that still wants to stop by and dance with me.
All that is left to say is, “To the entire Minot community and surrounding counties, it has been my absolute honor, privilege and pleasure to be a local small business owner and leader for so many years. My Smoky Mountains are very far away and so is my family. I plan to return home someday, but for the time being plan to stay in Minot and teach for as long as I can. I have an intense and burning passion for tap and clogging and want to continue teaching in my quirky, eccentric fashion for as long as I can. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support and kindness. For all the experiences and times when I saw so many smiling faces, helping hands and friendly hugs. I don’t know what is next in my journey but I have so many beautiful, special memories to bring with me. Whatever future adventures lie ahead, nothing will ever replace the magic I encountered while being the Director and Owner of The Dance Co. of Minot. Thank you Magic City, I’ll be seeing you around!”
-Haley Burchett 💙🩰
Owner, Director, Coach & Teacher
The Dance Co. of Minot
P.S.: I will be closing and or making inscribe the Dance Co. of Minot business officially on all social media (as well as our website) as soon as I can. They will remain online for the memories. For all future communication regarding dance classes and schedules, everyone should contact Magic City Dance Company.
https://www.magiccitydancecompany.com
