22/05/2026
I dug up this yellow piece of paper from my computer.
It is my (now invalid) Certificate of Registration as a sole trader. Experience Dance. Registered the 13th of May, 2008.
I still have it.
The address on that certificate was where I lived. There was no store yet. Just a name, a yellow piece of paper, and a feeling I didn't yet recognise.
The day I registered, I went alone to South Quay in Port of Spain. A helpful clerk walked me through it, and I walked out holding that yellow paper genuinely giddy, and giggling. I had no idea what the next 18 years would look like. I thought I was going to do this with friends.
I ended up doing it alone. And I did it anyway.
There were hard years.
2015 was the hardest. The year I thought I was losing everything. It was also the year the business grew the most. I have learned that my lowest moments and my greatest growth tend to occur together.
But during every valley, every single day that I worked in the store, I met at least one customer who inspired me to keep going.
And now, here we are. 🧡
I thought I was building a dance store.
What I actually built is a community. And my mom leads it with me 🖤
Teachers and students and dance moms and little girls in their first tutus. Worship dancers and fitness lovers and people who walked in for ballet shoes and left as friends. Relationships I didn't plan for and now can't imagine my life without.
Eighteen years ago, a yellow piece of paper made it official.
Today, it's you. Every single one of you, the ones who have been here from the very beginning in Tacarigua and the ones who just found us.
Experience Dance is 18. 🎉
We're celebrating — and we want you to celebrate with us. For the next 18 days, we're saying thank you the only way we know how. With new things we've created just for you, and some very good reasons to finally treat your dancer. 💃🏽🩰
Up to 18% off storewide. Yup. More details later (or check your inbox 😉) ✨
