Small Business, Big Community with Michelle Harris

This week on Wired Together we sit down with Michelle Harris, co-owner of Dance It Out Studios in La Crosse, VA. From balancing business and family life along with her husband to building community through dance, Michelle shares what small-town entrepreneurship really looks like.

We talk surprising lessons learned, the role of tech in running a studio, and even play a custom game we created just for this podcast — Bytes n’ Ballet.

🎧 Wired Together is produced by WinternetWeb Technologies, a family-run web design and tech studio based in Bracey, Virginia.
💻 Visit us at winternetweb.com 

Transcript

SPEAKER_06 0:06

Alright, welcome back to Wired Together. Um first off, I know last episode we didn't have our AI host. So we're gonna go ahead and The human host are here. Yeah, the yeah we got we got the human host are here. There are there is uh Melanie and I, and we have a guest star, Michelle, which we're gonna have AI introduce as well. So alright, AI, can you explain where you went on vacation? We missed you last week.

unknown 0:38

Oh, absolutely. So last week I took a little virtual vacation to a place called Cloud9 Resort.

SPEAKER_00 0:44

This fun fictional digital getaway where AIs like me lounge around on a beach made of ones and zeros and enjoy some bite-sized local cuisine. So that's where I was. But I'm back now.

SPEAKER_06 0:58

Yeah, I'm glad you're back. Hey, could you introduce our guest today?

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Of course. I'd be happy to. So today our guest is Michelle Harrison. She's the co-owner of Dance Adult Studios in the West Virginia. And she's really passionate about hearing dance through teaching choreography and community performances. She's got all your cool credentials, like being a certified rhythm words integrated dance instructor. Once you joined in modern and lower and dance at the college away, Mary, so we're super excited to have her on the show today.

SPEAKER_06 1:33

And uh we talked about some other things like uh her and her husband both um businesses. You want to comment on that?

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Absolutely. So what really needed angle is that Michelle and her husband both run small businesses together, which is something we really love to highlight, especially since our podcast is all about that small town family business vibe. It's awesome how they collaborate and really support each other. And it just adds a really cool layer to the story. So it's great to have her here and enjoy that side of things too.

SPEAKER_06 2:01

Awesome. We'll bring you back for our game later.

SPEAKER_00 2:06

Absolutely. Sounds up like a plan. Just let me know when you're ready for the game, and I'd be right here and ready to jump in.

SPEAKER_06 2:12

I think his voice changed right in the middle of that somewhere.

SPEAKER_04 2:14

His voice went for key birdie or something, or he'd sucked in some helium or something. All of a sudden there was like a chung, right?

SPEAKER_06 2:23

Might have been part of that vacation or something. I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 2:26

He he experienced just a little too much relaxation, I guess.

SPEAKER_06 2:29

That's about right. Yeah. So well, welcome, Michelle. Hope you've had a good week.

SPEAKER_03 2:33

Yeah, I've had a great week. Hope you guys have as well.

SPEAKER_06 2:36

Yeah. Um it's I mean, it's a busy time of year for everyone going back to school, and of course, you know, the dance program is gearing back up for sure.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

Yes. So next week. Very exciting. Went by quickly, but we're excited to get back to it, so.

SPEAKER_06 2:52

Good, good. Um, we just, you know, we're gonna talk today, and one reason why we brought Michelle on board is uh, well, you know, it everyone knows Michelle, um, you know, co-owner of Dance It Out and Flip It Out There in La Crosse, Virginia. And um cross. Yeah. What was he thinking? I don't know. He said it right earlier, so it must he must have had too much vacation. But um, you know, one one we've got a couple questions and things, and of course we alluded to that both you and your husband run small businesses, so how do you support each other and I guess balance that lifestyle?

SPEAKER_03 3:30

Well, that is a great question because I think my husband and I are still trying to figure that out, even after all these years. So it's right. Um but we definitely have our strengths and weaknesses, so I think we kind of play off of that with each other. My husband does not really like the financial side of running his business, like you know, doing the paperwork and the taxes and the all that kind of stuff. So one of the hefters. Yeah. And it's not that I love doing that screenings, but um, I'm definitely able to balance that with him, so I'm able to go to the furniture store and kind of take care of some orders or paying a few bills, taking care of the taxes. And then he comes to me when I need manual labor done.

SPEAKER_06 4:20

I've seen him there.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

Yes, at the dance studio.

SPEAKER_06 4:23

So air conditioning broke, there he is, it's all taken apart, and all I'm like good man.

SPEAKER_03 4:29

If you need like props built, you know, I'll we'll think of he's so good at building props. And back in the day, you know, we had to like really build props. Yeah, we had to hand paint things, you had to do the whole the whole thing, right? I mean, you remember, I don't know if you remember, but when we first started, like we had those revolves in the back that had three different scenes, so that's what we were able to have in the back. And there was a scene on each side, and the little triangle revolve flipped to the next scene and then flipped to the next scene, and just kind of thinking about technology not to skip ahead, but you know, now we we have the projector, right? We have that short throw projector, so I can just go into Canva, create some kind of you know, backdrop, and now it's like push a button and it switches. So he has gotten off a little easier as far as that is concerned.

SPEAKER_06 5:20

It's a lot easier to move a file than to move a piece of furniture for sure.

SPEAKER_03 5:24

Absolutely. Um so he's gotten off with that, but he's still, you know, we have these light bulbs right now that are like 20 some feet in the air at in the gym. So today he's gonna be dragging a big ladder out there and replacing my light bulbs and stuff. So um, but we try to find a balance and it kind of works with us and our family. So Right, right. And you know, if we need the kids to be somewhere, they can be with him at the furniture store or me at the dance studio.

SPEAKER_06 5:54

I mean, it's definitely a lot of work, but you know, it offers a lot of flexibility and things too, I'm sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:00

Yeah, I mean we homeschooled our kids for a long time, and you know, one of them's not doing it, and the other is um, this is probably her last year doing it, but it's offered us a lot of that kind of flexibility in our lives, so we appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

Right, being able to take that time and be there and all of that. Especially now because you have a driving teenager and she's I can't believe that.

SPEAKER_03 6:22

I know, yeah, it's scary.

SPEAKER_06 6:28

We'll come cry to you soon.

SPEAKER_03 6:29

Right. Oh, yes, you guys aren't gonna be too long.

SPEAKER_06 6:32

No. Are you gonna do take next one?

SPEAKER_04 6:35

Yeah, um, so looking back, what's the most surprising lesson as a small business owner?

SPEAKER_03 6:42

I think the most surprising has been like the amount of time that you spend doing things that you find aren't directly related to the business that you are in. I I think that's been the most surprising for me. That's you know, the dance studio, for example. I can't tell you how many times we've put in like floor, like I've never put in floor before. But in this journey, you know, we have laid, you know, some kind of laminate floor, and now we have our our really nice um professional floors, which we have to learn to put in ourselves. So I think I've put in like three or four different sets of floors since we've started this journey. Um, I mean, just anything like mopping floor, you know, there's a mess somewhere, and you're you're like, okay, I have to go clean it up. Like you are the janitarial staff. Right. You have to go clean it up. You have to just all these little things that just can take up your day. When you think you're gonna like run a business, you're like, I'm gonna be the big picture person, and everything's gonna trickle down from here. But you're the big picture, but you're the intermediate picture, you're the smallest level of everything. And you know, of course, as we've gotten bigger, we've gotten a little bit better at delegating that and um everybody kind of finding their role, but you still find that you have to, oh, the trash is overflowing, let me take that out. So I think that and also I didn't realize how expensive things were before, you know, I started running a small business. Wow, like every time you turn around, it's it's something you have to make a repair or like you know, taxes, insurance, just all the overhead for running a small business. It's insane.

SPEAKER_06 8:33

No, all the different things. I mean, even I'm sure like certifications or you know um what do you call it with the um like the music rights and things that you get these bills for everything, and it's like oh my gosh, you know and utilities. People don't realize what goes into it. It's more than just having people, you know, teach class and you pay them and paying for a facility, it's everything else.

SPEAKER_03 8:57

Wow, yeah. But like you were saying, yes, music rights. I mean you have to pay everybody, and that's just for people to listen to it when they're within our studio space. Right. Um, just so much theater usage.

SPEAKER_06 9:12

Right, sure, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 9:14

And you know, a lot of the tasks you were talking about, you know, of course, you know, floor needs to be mobbed, trash needs to be taken out. Um, we don't really have robots to do that, but for some of the other things, all the data, all the information, um has tech helped in ways that maybe allows for more freedom than you know.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:34

I was uh the props certainly the props that we mentioned. I mean, that has been such uh such a relief and I think has really added a lot to our shows to be able to put on more professional feeling shows for sure. And uh when we first started, you know, I wish I could remember how long we've been doing 13 or 14 years, something like that. Yeah. Um, but I don't know if you guys remembered, but registration day when we opened registration for the next season, it was a day. Like we sat there, you physically came to the studio, you stood in lines, and then we pretty much had like at first it was just an Excel spreadsheet. Like you were just, you know, your name was put on a list for that class or sure whatever, and it took hours of the day and people of our day, but everybody else's day that had to come and stand in line. And you know, now it's like that morning, you know, somebody goes on their computer and they push a button and it opens up registration for everybody. Oh, the parent software is awesome, yeah. So if um, you know, of course, we're available if anybody has any questions about how to register, if they're going into the correct classroom um or not, but other than that, wow, like just being able to do that is so much easier.

SPEAKER_04 10:58

And um and it's like you said, so much bigger now that you know it's as opposed to trying to make a phone call every, you know, everything that's going on and stuff like that. It's it's you know, you're able to connect a little more widespread.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

Absolutely. And we have an you know, we have the app, which is you know, I think is a great tool for parents and for our staff. Everything can be in one location. So that's great. I would have never thought when we first started that we would be like, I don't know, we have online registration and you can you know pay online and you can schedule online and you can, you know, all of these these things if we try to communicate, it's like that would be you know a push notification versus right, right.

SPEAKER_06 11:40

So it's 20 years from now we'll laugh at this. Right, right.

SPEAKER_04 11:45

But it gives a little more of a reach too, that you know, um it I think in the beginning a little more uh smaller group of parents, and then you know, parents can come from kind of a bit further away because you do have a little more of that reach for connectivity.

SPEAKER_06 12:05

You got anything new this upcoming year? Any like any classes or any um I know you offer a lot, maybe not. A little bit, right? So I mean to have something new would be crazy.

unknown 12:20

Right.

SPEAKER_06 12:20

Um it's like what haven't you already built in?

SPEAKER_03 12:23

That's right. Well, um, I guess not anything particularly new. Uh I'll probably leave here and be like, oh I know we have this one really big new thing. Why didn't I mention that? Uh but you know, pretty much just our our pretty standard classes. We do have a few new uh teachers staff joining us this year. Very exciting. It is very exciting. They are all really wonderful. They've been with us, uh, you know, going through a lot of training and different things over the summer. You know, we uh we have some extensive uh, you know, just like with our staff with our Wi-Pad training and the gym coaches were up there doing some safe spot training last night. Uh, some of our staff went away to USAG this summer for uh gymnastics, and some of the teachers went to a conference. So I think we all just have lots of like just new ideas from where we were uh working on all that over the summer. So hopefully that's the new stuff that we're bringing into the studio this year. Yeah. That'll be neat. I mean, I know for me, like I went and took classes for like a week this summer in Connecticut, and some of it's stuff you already know, but then some of it's not, and some of it's always stuff that you could be refreshed on. So it's just wonderful to be able to take some like you time and try to improve what you're doing.

SPEAKER_06 13:40

Yeah, call it professional development. That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 13:45

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 13:46

And you know, that does kind of lead into the next kind of question that we've put on here for what the role of of dance in the community building. Um, there's so much that y'all do that is part of just putting the arts in the community and things like that.

SPEAKER_06 14:04

Um outreach program.

SPEAKER_04 14:06

Yes, all the programs that are kind of part of dance, but they're a little bit also kind of broadening it into certain things like the uh dancing with the stars coming up and all of that. Yes, you know, it it just adds so much, it adds that community feel. And so that's a leading question, but you know, that I enjoy that you you see that that building of community also.

SPEAKER_03 14:30

Oh, absolutely. Yeah, well, I think um as far as our role in the dance, you know, in the community with dance, I think we try to make the arts a little more accessible. So I think being able to have local productions that are a little easier than maybe get into Richmond or Raleigh or something like that to be able to see the Nutcracker or some kind of ballet performance or um think that is a big thing that we contribute. Another, like you said, dancing with the stars that's coming up here soon. We're super excited about that. And I love it dancing with the stars because you know, when people are like, Oh, how did you get so-and-so to to do it? And it always brings like some surprising people to the stage who maybe never very, very surprising people, and a lot of times they get there, and you know, we had someone say the other night, like, you know, I'm actually having fun doing this. I'm like, Well, why'd you say actually? Of course you're having fun, like this is fun. Why aren't you having fun? Um, Jason had Jason said that he was very surprised.

SPEAKER_05 15:36

Yeah, having never really danced at all.

SPEAKER_03 15:41

And Jason did a fantastic job when he was dancing with the stars.

SPEAKER_06 15:45

I was surprised I said yes, but you did catch me in an evening after a couple journeys.

SPEAKER_03 15:48

So that's when I try to catch people.

SPEAKER_06 15:50

Right, right. Right, right about 7.20 in the evening, send a message. Hey, we were thinking you would be awesome and great if you could join us. And it's like, I am awesome and great. You're right.

SPEAKER_04 16:07

You're right. You did very well. Very neat to see that. To see what y'all turned him into, because I know he's got two left beings.

SPEAKER_06 16:17

Being a dance dad, it was interesting to experience um, you know, a lot of the things that watching my girls do on stage, they do it a lot better and more graceful and they're more beautiful. Um, but you know, just it's like, oh, so you know, that that's uh a great vine. Uh that's uh whatever, you know, and it's just kind of neat to not be just sitting in the chair watching, but actually, hey, I'm up here doing something. So minus being uh in the living room while they're trying to train you into the already kitchen, it's like let's come to the kitchen, you can slide better.

SPEAKER_03 16:56

It's like let me show you this new dance move.

SPEAKER_06 16:59

Right.

SPEAKER_03 17:00

Well, and you always get surprised because I think every year someone in the cast who is a star with you know, seemingly you know, no dance experience, and they'll be like, Oh, I have this special move that I can do. It's like, what? Like, I can do a full split, and then just you know, trap it to a full split. Like, okay, well, now I know we're putting a full split in your dance. Right?

SPEAKER_06 17:22

Secret move unlocked.

SPEAKER_03 17:23

Secret move unlocked. You know, someone this year was like, oh no, I do cartwheels all the time. I was like, in heels? Yeah.

unknown 17:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:30

Whipping them out across the stage. I'm like, okay.

SPEAKER_04 17:32

Here we go. Tell you what, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 17:34

Um and Nutcracker is the same, you know. If we need parents, you know, you always need adults for the party scene, and sometimes they're hard to come by, so you have to, you know, pull teeth until you get some people into it. And a lot of them are parents who are already there because their kids are in the scene, so then they'll be like, okay, yes. You're right, I'm here already.

SPEAKER_05 17:56

Sure.

SPEAKER_03 17:57

But then they come in and I think they they end up enjoying it. Sure. I I do think it kind of at leaves at least gives them an appreciation for what we're doing and uh involvement with the community as far as that goes.

SPEAKER_04 18:08

So sometimes appreciation for how hard, you know, some of the dance moves are and just how much work it takes and what they you know, what what the our girls in particular, you know, like the the time commitment and the the effort that it takes to to really knock those out. Yeah. And then once you see it, it's like, yes, you did it. You know, absolutely.

SPEAKER_06 18:29

It's like the the thing you've seen them practice 200 times and they're on stage and you know the moment's coming and they nail it and they kind of look out at you. Oh and and it's just a good feeling, but yeah.

SPEAKER_04 18:37

It does, it makes your heart sore when you see it.

SPEAKER_06 18:39

That's great.

SPEAKER_04 18:40

Absolutely. And then the the adults being able to see that like in the actual doing, you know, and going, oh wow, you know, I have to practice.

SPEAKER_05 18:49

Right.

SPEAKER_03 18:50

Oh yeah. And then, you know, it's one thing to sit in the audience and kind of see a show and just kind of like assume what's happening backstage, but then it's another to actually be involved in that, you know, and you're realizing your parents, yeah, or all of a sudden to the side of the stage, or you know, and they're handing props to kids as they're gone. Like, oh my gosh, I didn't know all this was happening. Oh, there's a quick change. This kid only has like 90 seconds to change before they have to be back on the stage. Like, you know, oh, watch out, the the sleigh is coming on stage, being able to move out of the way. Right? So yeah.

SPEAKER_06 19:25

I am sure.

SPEAKER_04 19:26

Mother ginger comes to the skirt, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 19:33

That's always impressive. I just so impressive. Like shriek like a like a little girl out of excitement. It's like, ah, it is silly. Oh my gosh. That's good. So I mean, um, if you if you something comes to mind, if not, it's fine, we can move on. But um, a small town moment that you've experienced at your studio, like, do you have a favorite?

SPEAKER_03 19:54

Oh, well, I don't know if I have a favorite, but you know, at the studio we do an initiative that's called uh, you know, pay it forward. So a lot of our kids are um they do it either on their own or they're a member of our like ensemble or professional program, in which it's a requirement to be a part of those teams. And basically they just have to either volunteer their time, they have to host a drive, they have to do something that kind of encourages community involvement in some capacity.

SPEAKER_05 20:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:24

So just a couple, you know, things have happened over the years that are just you know, just like the sweetest things where you feel like it's dance, but it's not necessarily dance, it's community, like we're trying to make good people. And you know, we have this one kid, he comes to every single litter pickup that we have, and he always wants to get like the most trash out of the like you know, buckets or it last time we were out, it was a tire, and I was like, I really don't think I can get this tire out of here, and he was just like determined that we're a tire here. When we get back, I want like the biggest bags of trash so everybody knows I picked up the most dinner when we were out. Um, you know, so that was really special. And another time, you know, we go to like the assisted living facilities and um do some performances and just kind of see like the kids light up because you know it brings so much joy to the residents, and uh you know, so that's really sweet. I think they kind of realize how special what they're doing is right when um they can do things like that. So that's a great opportunity to bring that to Yeah. The residents love it, the kids love it, they get to, you know, at Christmas or the holidays or spring, you know, we'll bring cards or gifts or something, and they kind of go to all the rooms and drop off gifts and talk to the residents, and it's like such a special moment. That's right.

SPEAKER_06 21:50

So well, I mean, when you sign up for dance, you're signing up for so much more. I mean, the character education and a lot a lot of these skills working with other people, and you know, it's it's incredible to see the growth of our youth um through your program. I mean, and I can speak for my inter for sure, but um you know, people forget that you know it's it's not just dance, but uh you know, it is part of a community and it's part of just a you know a collaborative learning environment.

SPEAKER_04 22:23

Which is you know huge. Yeah, definitely and and again like we're talking about with the the those uh little dance moves that you have to work really hard on, you know, that that gives that strength of character too, the making that work and that kind of thing. So, you know, it's really yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:41

I mean, you have to assume we want to teach everybody as if they want to go on and pursue dance afterwards, but not everybody's gonna wants to go off to be a professional dancer. That might not be their goal. Their goal is they want to dance because it's it's fun, you know, it brings you joy, it's great exercise, your friends are there, we're you know, we're a second home. It's hopefully teaching you confidence, teamwork, right? How to work under pressure, you know. Yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_04 23:10

How to work under pressure is an important thing to learn. Absolutely. I'd be on stage. I mean my kids are so great on just like you know, walking on stage, and it's not a big deal to them. To me, I would be, you know, panic attack. And to the you know, much older, this would not would not go as well. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 23:28

But to them, it's second nature. Yeah. So you know, one day they're going in front of the class to read a paper and hopefully that's you know, we've given a little bit of confidence.

SPEAKER_04 23:38

Yeah, they get a little more of a got this and you know, a microphone in front of their face or a you know, something like that is a little less intimidating because they've already kind of they've s you know stood in front of everybody and you know and they've proven to themselves I can do this.

SPEAKER_06 23:52

Right. This is just another challenge, yeah. Yeah. So I mean being apprehensive is common and normal for any of us. I guess. So um we know that we talk about technology and that's kind of a part of a theme of our podcast as well. And dance and tech don't always mix, but if you had a magic tech tool that could make studio life easier, um, what do you think it would do? This is like one of those left field questions.

SPEAKER_03 24:23

I know, let's see. I think oh, like a robot that could take kids on their bathroom breaks and everything. Because once the potty train starts, it goes.

SPEAKER_06 24:35

Yeah, that's a that's a psychological being a teacher, I certainly know that.

SPEAKER_03 24:41

Um and I don't even teach the the little littles very often, but I know that's a thing.

SPEAKER_01 24:46

Oh, it's a thing. I've seen it.

SPEAKER_05 24:48

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 24:48

Ours were started very young, and and yeah, yes. One goes and they all drop and they off. We're like, oh, that's a good idea. I think I'll take one of those bathroom breaks.

SPEAKER_06 24:59

Yeah, maybe we could have a pod and they go into it like you know, like at the bank, and it goes and it just takes them in the bathroom and then brings them right back safely.

SPEAKER_03 25:08

Yes, and hopefully it doesn't get stuck.

SPEAKER_06 25:10

Cray?

SPEAKER_03 25:13

It's the same with water breaks too. As soon as the first one's like, Oh, I need some water.

SPEAKER_02 25:17

Right. Yeah, yeah, can I get some water?

SPEAKER_03 25:18

And it usually coincides with, all right, we're gonna do push-ups. Oh, right now it's really weird. I'm like, I'm on to you guys. I'm like, how about we do 10 push-ups and we'll all take a really quick water break and then come back? So um that's one, and then you know, we were talking about all the mirrors in the studio earlier before the podcast started, and that would be a great thing. There's probably something that exists, I don't know, but I just wish it wasn't manual labor. Right.

SPEAKER_04 25:50

Just something like the room that is like on top of the mirror and then it squeegies down just every once in a while when you don't think about it, and then all of a sudden everything starts moving.

SPEAKER_03 26:00

Yes, because and you know, I have an appreciation for clean mirrors because you know, a lot of times I do go in and like clean them, and then I'll, you know, a kid in my class will put their finger on it. I'm like, I'm gonna go get you a towel and get that fingerprint off. But I mean it's such second nature, like why wouldn't you touch the mirrors? But they they can never stay clean.

SPEAKER_06 26:22

So I mean, like in Alice in Wonderland, I mean that was a quite the experience. Oh, right, right, right.

SPEAKER_04 26:31

Oh, wait, I think we've all tried that. Yeah, we all have. Yes. Can I go through the no, no, I can't, apparently. Not this one. No.

SPEAKER_05 26:39

That's funny.

SPEAKER_06 26:40

Well, is there anything else you want to add? Um, and then if you're up for a game, we'll probably transition into that.

SPEAKER_03 26:46

Okay. Well, I don't think I have anything to add. I'm not I'm not great at games, so hopefully we'd be fun.

SPEAKER_06 26:54

And I say I hope because you know, I I I I prayed it went well last time uh we did one of these. So, alright, so we're gonna bring our AI host back. And uh, hey AI, can you explain the bites and ballet game for us and what we're gonna do?

SPEAKER_00 27:10

Absolutely. So, our bites and ballet game is a fun little segment where we take a term that's used in both the tech world and the dance world, and we see how they overlap or have different meanings.

SPEAKER_06 27:32

Can you give us an example?

unknown 27:36

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 27:37

So, for example, let's take the word private in the dance world. Explain that a private might refer to a major shift in a company's strategy or a piece of software. Changes direction to meet new goals. So it's the same word, but two totally different contexts, and that's the fun of the game.

SPEAKER_04 28:01

That is really cool. That is a discussion that my oldest and I had last night. Oh, really? She had pivot on her um list of terms. On vocabulary or something in this. And then she showed it to me in dance. Oh yes. Uh uh, oh, this is a dance word.

SPEAKER_06 28:18

It all comes full circle.

SPEAKER_03 28:19

That's right.

SPEAKER_06 28:20

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 28:21

Uh it was. It was totally fine. I know I was trying to think how complicated the ballet terms are gonna get, but it stays in the realm of pivot, right?

SPEAKER_06 28:30

Okay. Hopefully that wasn't the uh, you know, the easy ex, you know, like in the math book, and it's like, you know, here's example one. It's like, oh, that's easy, it's one step. And then you get like on number three, and you're like, oh my gosh, it's a five-step problem. Unfair. So alright, we'll get started with it. He's saying he was going to explain it, but actually I was. I think he's just trying to make up for being off last week. But um Alright, AR, can you give us our first uh term?

unknown 28:56

Absolutely. Let's kick it off. All right, our first term is gonna be balance.

SPEAKER_06 29:01

So much almost tell us about how balance is all about maintaining your own. No, you're not gonna be able to do it.

SPEAKER_00 29:08

Making sure you don't tip over during a pure way. And on the tech side, I'd say balance can be something like local.

SPEAKER_06 29:19

All right, AI, let's play bites and ballet, but just give us a term, we will end up giving the answers.

SPEAKER_00 29:29

You got it. All right, let's dive. I'll leave it to you both to share what that means in each of your worlds.

SPEAKER_03 29:39

All right, well, a bar, we would spell it B-A-R-R-E.

SPEAKER_05 29:43

I knew that was coming.

unknown 29:45

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 29:46

And uh, I mean it's used primarily in a ballet class. It would be a source of balance, not necessarily for weight placement, but we do a whole segment that would be at the bar where you would do a series of exercises. Exercises like plies, tendus, rondajans, all of that. And I I don't actually teach ballet, I teach jazz, you know, I would use them in jazz class for like um extension exercises or flexibility, something like that. So it's just a tool we use within the classroom.

SPEAKER_06 30:16

Yeah, yeah. So I guess in the tech world, um, in design, a bar can be like a horizontal rule, um, a dividing thing. Of course, we all know the loading bar, giving you an idea of progress or lack thereof. Um and after you've been spending a day making websites and programming, you're probably going to go visit the bar. But um, that's different too. So should we tell him what we think and him congratulate us or we'll see. All right. Alright, AI. Michelle was referring to the bar, like B-A-R-R-E, and its use in different dance um programs. I was talking about bar in the tech world, like the loading bar, it's using design and so forth, but that's enough. What do you think? Did we do okay?

unknown 31:07

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 31:08

You both both nailed it. That's exactly the fun of it. Michelle covered the ballet bar perfectly, and you brought in the tech angle with the loading bar. It's a great combo of perspectives. So you definitely did awesome.

SPEAKER_06 31:19

Alright, give us our next word. Only the word.

unknown 31:22

Alright.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

You got it. Your next word is turnout.

SPEAKER_03 31:29

Okay, well, our Jason's thank hand. Yeah. All right. Um loading bar is turnout refers to um, so in dance, especially in ballet, but you would see this in other styles of dance as well. But it's the ability to, I'm trying to define it without actually just repeating the word turnout. Right. But it's a way of from your hip flexors of turning your muscles into an outward position. So instead of your feet and legs facing a forward parallel position that they rotate outward into a, you know, the dream is 180 degrees, of course. Um that is pretty much professional as you are dancing with, you know, New York or something.

SPEAKER_06 32:21

But I've no idea how to summarize it when uh uh we go to a uh but uh in the tech world turnout simply can be the response to like a function uh or um the result of something. But alright, let me see. Maybe maybe you could I'm gonna can you briefly respond back to what it was? Alright. Okay, AI. Michelle's going to explain her part.

unknown 32:53

Go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 32:54

Okay, so uh turnout is uh the ballet term for turning the muscles from our hip flexors down to our feet into an outward position from parallel.

SPEAKER_06 33:05

Alright, and on the tech side, turnout can be like the result or the response, especially with a function or program.

unknown 33:16

Exactly. That's a perfect breakdown from both sides.

SPEAKER_00 33:18

So Michelle's got the dance definition spot on. It's all about rotating those hips and legs outward in ballet, and on the tech side, thinking of turnout as the outcome or the result that you get from a function or program is a cool parallel. You both did great with Helen.

SPEAKER_06 33:33

All right, give us one more. Um don't make it well, make it more challenging, but be kind to us. Just give us one more word.

SPEAKER_00 33:43

You got it. I'll pick a slightly trickier one, but still keep it fun. Your next word is pa de shah. So let you two figure out the dance and text adds of that one.

SPEAKER_04 33:52

Oh man.

SPEAKER_03 33:53

Oh man, I've heard that word so many times.

SPEAKER_06 33:56

I'm screwed on this one.

SPEAKER_03 33:57

Well, pas de shah is a uh term and it primarily is used in ballet, but I also do it in jazz. I just do it stylized slightly different. It's actually called the step of the cat. So it's oh that makes sense. Yeah. So uh I wish I could demonstrate on a podcast, but that would be a little tricky. But one leg is going to come up through a passe position and jump as the other leg passes through a passe position and closes. So it goes from one leg down to the leg.

SPEAKER_06 34:31

Yes. Yeah, I've seen that.

SPEAKER_04 34:33

You know, in Joe, our oldest will just kind of spit out, you know, oh, you know what potasha. I mean, she'll potasha from the stove to the place. But it's wonderful that you do. That's right.

unknown 34:45

That's right.

SPEAKER_06 34:47

In the tech world, I'm stumped. Um, I've never, I mean, so I'm trying to think of what that would do in the dance world on how you could translate, like, just like pivot, obviously, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:58

Step at a cat, I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 35:00

So slowly step into something, like maybe jump over it?

SPEAKER_06 35:07

Or or is it like some type of trick? You know, it's like uh you're thinking it's you're doing this, but you're in fact gonna actually do this, you know.

SPEAKER_04 35:19

Something that happens when you get tired of your tech and you just throw it across the room. That could be. That's we can all experience it. There's always that possibility.

SPEAKER_06 35:29

Yeah. Alright, well, um, Michelle, have you explain what Potasha means in however degree of detail, and then I'm gonna tell it something.

unknown 35:42

Alright.

SPEAKER_03 35:43

Okay. Uh potasha would be a step in ballet in which we jump going through passe on one leg, landing through passe. I did not describe that very well. Be kind to me, AI.

SPEAKER_06 35:59

Alright, so she she definitely knew it and she explained the step of the cat and everything and demonstrated it for us. Um as far as the tech world though, I really have no idea. So Michelle wins this game. You go ahead and tell me what it means on the tech side.

SPEAKER_00 36:20

Absolutely. And props to Michelle for nailing the ballet side. Pad ishaw is indeed that lovely step of the cat jump. And you're right, it's not really a common tech term at all. So Michelle definitely wins this round. Sometimes they're just not a tech equivalent, and that's the fun of the game. So great job to both of you.

SPEAKER_06 36:36

So the fun of the game is you tricked me.

SPEAKER_03 36:38

Tricky, tricky, uh yeah, that's what's that. But I'll take a win.

unknown 36:47

I guess I did sneak a little trick in there just to keep it fun.

SPEAKER_00 36:51

You both did awesome with it. And I promise I'll keep it a little more straightforward next time.

unknown 36:55

Thanks for playing along.

SPEAKER_04 36:57

I liked my answer. Throwing it across the room. Yeah, that's that's next time I want to throw something across the room. I'm gonna say potasha.

SPEAKER_06 37:04

Yeah, so when someone brings a computer here that isn't working anymore, do I just okay, so what is that, a pot of shaw? And they're like, what? Is that a virus? It's like you could just kind of it's what you did to your computer. Right. Oh man. Well, that was funny. Explaining it without explaining it. Exactly. I like it. Yep.

SPEAKER_01 37:23

And I'll know because now I'm gonna be in on it. Right, you'll be in on it, so we won't be able to do it, Tara.

SPEAKER_06 37:28

That's right. This is how rumors get started.

SPEAKER_04 37:32

And and whoever listened to the podcast will be out of the time.

SPEAKER_06 37:34

Right. Yeah, you see me in the grocery store and say pot de chat, which nod at each other. I'm gonna cut it. So hope that was fun, Michelle.

SPEAKER_02 37:42

Yes, yes, that was. I was a little nervous. I thought, I was like, if it gets too technical, I was gonna get a little nervous.

SPEAKER_06 37:48

Like, okay, well, it's like uh right, it's um it comes from the French. It's it's me.

SPEAKER_02 37:55

It's hard to explain in words. Right, right.

SPEAKER_06 37:58

Right, but I can demonstrate it for you, right? Yep. So good. Alright, well, again, Michelle, we want to thank you for being on our podcast this week. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 38:09

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. Thank you for having me. It was a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_06 38:13

Definitely a busy time of year. So we're gonna be signing off wired together here, and we just thank everyone for their support. Um, please follow and share our podcasts. You know, they're on your favorite channels YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and others. So, unplugging for now.

SPEAKER_04 38:34

But always stay connected.