We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyra Bouie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I am born and raised in NOLA, which is a very small and tight knit community that is desperate need of more positive outlets for our youth. I have been dancing since the age of 2 so I have always had a way to express myself through my passion studying under my own mother who owned a studio. I would often go out and support other dance studios and community teams in the city and would see so many instructors and coaches treating dancers any kind of way and talking down to students. I would see dance technique and proper dance education being taught wrong, that’s when I knew I had to start my own studio. To not only expose all styles of dance to girls preparing them for the future but life skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s in the name! I built my business to be unique on purpose. To be separate and set apart. We are big on God and sharing the gospel with our kids. We have brought so many girls to Christ through our ministry and that is what makes us different. It definitely has nit been easy. We started with only 14 dancers and a building that doubled as a workout gym. We would ride around the city and hand out flyers hoping to grow the team that way and didn’t get much success within the first few months but God had a plan all along. 6 months later we grew triple in size and have been growing exponentially ever since then. We currently have 100+ dancers in our program with a waitlist of 60. With that being said, we have just learned to trust the process and God’s plan. WE are U.P. and the only way is UP!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
NOLA is absolutely full of great food, drinks, beautiful scenery and things do! A 1 week itinerary wouldn’t nearly be enough time to enjoy all the things this city has to offer. 9 times out of 10 there is festival of some kind to explore or a new restaurant to check out. The seafood here is the best seafood the entire world has to offer. NOLA is definitely one of the top places to visit in the US!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I am nothing without God! He gets all the credit! Sometimes in life we have a plan all mapped out and God turns it all around and sets you on a new path that exceeds your expectations. Also, my cousin “Coach Cam” is my right hand woman. She has been on this journey with me since the very beginning. We have worked and dedicated so much time to these girls and this team over the years. I would not have been able to dot his without her.

Instagram: uniquepurpose_danceco@gmail.com

Facebook: Unique Purpose Dance Company

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