We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Apra Bhandari. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Apra below.
Hi Apra, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I wonder if you find your purpose or if it finds you… For as long as I can remember, I wanted to pursue a career in Genetics. I was fascinated by the subject. I attended camps, went to Russia to do research in high school and was accepted into Cornell University as a Genetics Major. I had it all figured out! I was sitting in a lab dissecting a sheep’s eye (super cool) my first semester of sophomore year at Cornell, when a thought occurred to me.. ‘ Can I see myself in a lab for the rest of my life?’ A part of me said, Yes! But there was this little part deep inside that wasn’t sure. I brushed off the thought and went on to learn more about the eye of a Sheep. Over the next few weeks, the thought kept creeping up and finally I decided to talk to my counselor and parents about my options to switch my major. After much thought and discussion, I changed my major to media and communication with a minor in business. I graduated early from Cornell and decided to pursue acting in Bollywood films. With the support of my parents and disbelief by relatives, I moved to India with my mom for a few years and pursued acting. I was fortunate enough to get a few assignments but eventually realized I absolutely loved the behind-the-camera aspect of filmmaking. I was the First Assistant Director for a film with India’s biggest superstars and then the production manager for another film with India’s leading production house. So filmmaking was my purpose! Maybe..After my second project, I got married and moved back to the US. I was excited to start a new chapter in my life but was a little disappointed to leave the Indian Film industry where I really felt I could continue working. Once I settled in Orange County, I started teaching dance to a few children from my living room while I figured out my long term career plans. 11 years later, I am a proud owner of Adaa Indian and Bollywood Dance Academy and this is what I was meant to do all along. I had to navigate through a few different career choices before I realized how much I loved teaching, working with children, being my own boss and starting a business that brings me joy and fulfillment every single day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I own a Bollywood and Indian dance studio in Tustin, California. Over the past few years I have had to find a balance between the creative and the business aspects of the studio. I love creating choreography and working with the students in the studio but a business can not sustain without the systems and processes that are vital to its operation. So along with being a teacher and choreographer, I am learning to be a better CEO so that we can provide the best and most well rounded experience for our students and their families. I love that now my focus is on the creative part of owning a studio as well as the part that helps me bring in new instructors and programs for my students. I truly believe everyone should try the magic of Bollywood once in their lifetime and I hope each day we make that a reality for more and more people. Dance is one of the best ways to find happiness, feel young, find freedom in your creativity and connect with others. At Adaa Dance, we strive to bring that joy in everyone that enters our studio. They should feel part of the dance family. This allows for people to have a safe space where they can learn, feel connected and make long-lasting friendships while pursuing their passion. A lot of people ask me if I have a “real job” outside of teaching dance. I giggle on the inside. Owning a studio is a real job. It’s a full on business with employees, rent, events, marketing, finances and all the ups and downs of owning a business. I am incredibly lucky to pursue my passion as a career and be able to raise two amazing kids. Trust me, I am still learning to make it all work but the fact that I get up each day with so much gratitude and excitement for what I do is something I wish and hope more people can experience.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I attribute my ability to sustain and grow my business to being trained in a classical Indian dance form, having the mindset that there is always a solution, and being a positive and motivating leader/teacher. Owning a business is a constant roller coaster where there is never a dull moment. We had the grand opening of our studio 5 weeks before the shutdown in 2020. I was advised by those near and dear to me that I should give up the space because no one knew how long covid would last. I decided to listen to my intuition and teach virtually until businesses would be allowed to open again. I paid full rent for over a year while teaching over zoom from my house but as soon as we were able to open the doors to Adaa, I knew I made the right decision. I have always had the mindset of making it work. I don’t give up easily and since I come from a creative mindset, I love finding solutions. I also know the power of not letting the stress get to you. My mind becomes very calm in times of stress or chaos. I know my dancers and staff rely on me for guidance and support. I am so thankful for what I have and what I do that it really helps me keep a positive and calm mindset. It’s important to know what values and vision you want your business to build on. As long as you try your best to stay true to that you will always make decisions that align with your values. Never stop growing as a business owner. And finally, take calculated risks and don’t be scared of listening to your intuition.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
In order to be a balanced and well rounded individual in life and work, you have to trust your strengths and work to develop your weaknesses. More importantly, don’t shy away from those areas or ignore them. Being accepting of what needs work, recognizing its a process, and being patient is really important. For the longest time, I cringed every time I had to work on my finances and be financially literate. My mom is a CPA and I would immediately ask her to take care of my numbers. I quickly realized this can’t go on. I had to understand my finances so that I could make informed decisions. Business requires a budget that needs to be monitored and followed. I have rent, payroll, insurance, marketing and none of these departments can function without a proper budget. I started to work on this and feel much more confident now. Honestly, when you overcome your fears and become stronger from your weakness, you feel so incredibly empowered. Never ever stop learning, don’t be scared to make mistakes, and always ask for help. Join business groups that serve your industry. Be around people that support you and understand your business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adaadanceacademy.com
- Instagram: @adaadance
- Facebook: Adaa Dance
- Linkedin: Adaa Indian and Bollywood Dance
- Youtube: @AdaaBollywoodDanceAcademy
- Yelp: Adaa Indian and Bollywood Dance
Image Credits
PC: Ralph Palumbo
