#NYCShopSmall — Interview with Myrca Caceres from Swing Dance Swing.
#NYCShopSmall is about giving those small businesses a voice in a different kind of way.
I had the opportunity to interview Myrna Caceres about her business, Swing Dance Swing. She tells me why she loves to do it, how she got started and a few other interesting facts.
I’d like to start by thanking Myrna for spending her time with me and really diving deep into her past. It really sheds some light on the people behind the businesses we pass every single day. This project was started in hopes to do just that, connect deeper with the small businesses that are the heart of New York City. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of them, a little better. The whole city is my backyard, and yours, time to get to know your neighbor.
Let’s help each other grow.
Myrna Caceres is the director for the Swing Dance Program at the 92nd Street Y, where she is also launching a new Hustle/Disco class this summer. Myrna takes pride in teaching both Swing and Hustle by preserving the authenticity of the dances, yet making all her classes fun in a supportive environment for all her students.
#NYCShopSmall: Tell everyone about your business, how you started and why.
Myrna Caceres: I’m in the dance business that helps serve the community. I was born dancing, my living room was my stage! Took some modern dance classes as a kid. Once I started working I started with tap.
Fred Astaire was my inspiration.
Eventually I got into Social Dancing, a little bit of everything but specialized more in Swing and Hustle (Disco).
What helped me prepare to teach was assisting Frankie Manning, one of the founders of the Lindy Hop, during his swing dance classes at Sandra Cameron Dance Center. I began picking up teaching techniques from him and others including my tap teacher Chuck Kelley, who was internationally known as the teachers teacher.
One day Frankie didn’t make it to a class. My previous dance partner, Nat Watson, asked me to teach the Swing line-dance, Shim Sham, on the spot since we were there anyway. I took up the challenge and it was of course a little nerve racking (lol), but great to have subbed for Frankie!
I didn’t charge for the class but the experience was priceless!
It was in November of 2005 that my dance events business, Swing Dance Swing, launched.
It was through a school that needed new folks to take over. We were given about 5 months since from the date my proposal was accepted, we were given a set date in November to launch. After the launch I gave myself at least 2 months for each event, to prepare for them and get the word out. I was lucky to have about least 5 months to work with, to learn the business of event planning. The previous event producers were a lot of help mentoring.
I took what I felt was great and made improvements on what I felt could give it new life. The goal was to keep the events going! You never stop learning and pick up along the way new ways to reinvent your business.
I officially started teaching starting at my Tribute to Nat, a dance event after he passed from pancreatic cancer, teaching the class in his place making his dream of me teaching swing come to life and I kept going since then! That was the beginning of finding my passion for teaching dance.
My dance classes and events not only help maintain physical health but also spiritually bringing together folks from all walks of life in our dance community, which is the reason why I started it. Dancing helps keep your brain stronger as dancers develop new skills placing the steps together in different combinations.
I found my purpose in life when I started teaching, which is why it’s the best thing for me to build my business around!
#NYCSS: 5 months seems like a short amount of time to put together an event. Did you have any help?
Myrna: For the first event I launched with Nat, we both threw ideas back and forth. Since then I have volunteers who help me out to help keep the costs down.
#NYCSS: I can see how passionate you are about teaching, what is it about dancing that you love the most? Why do you personally love to dance? Is it the free movement of expression? Is it the music? Is it showing others how much fun you’re having, so they should too?
Myrna: It’s a combination of all! How much joy dancing brings!
The music, expression, just having fun and yes, we love to show off too (lol). Always wonderful to inspire others to dance!
I always keep my students laughing during class.
When I get asked which dance genre they should start out with, such as swing, salsa, etc. I ask what music they like listening to. It’s usually the best way to start! But then, try other dances.
They may surprise themselves and find themselves enjoying other genres!
Doesn’t matter how your day was, you walk out from dancing, smiling!
#NYCSS: That makes sense because if they enjoy the music, chances are they will enjoy learning the dances as well. What’s the one genre you would love to learn and teach?
Myrna: The one genre I would like to learn to then teach, I think old-school locking. I do a little freestyle which is a bit similar to it in some way.
#NYCSS: In your line of work, knowing what you know now and everything you’ve experienced, what is something you would tell someone just starting out in the business?
Myrna: One thing I learned when I was an intern for a TV show, was learn from every position even as boring as it may seem, there is always something to learn. I became even more observant. I would tell someone who’s starting out in any business to seek out other business folks and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Like I always tell my students, the worst question is the one not asked.
#NYCSS: What is your biggest goal over the next year? Where do you want your business to be on this day in 2019?
Myrna: My biggest goal now is to launch and grow my CPR/FIrst Aid teaching business. After teaching for others for 11 years in the hopes to continue helping others obtain the skills to help save a life in case of an emergency. I have taught for folks after they ran across an emergency and would like to encourage them to not wait until after an emergency to learn what to do. Better to learn the skills and not use them then the other way around.
Biggest reward is hearing of students who have used these skills to help save a life!
Teaching both lifesaving skills and dance are equally important to me. One helps save lives, the other enriches your life!
Get to know Myrna, a little more:
#NYCSS: So for this last portion of the interview, I like to ask interesting/fun questions. It’s my way of seeing where different people stand on the same kind of subjects. Would you rather be 10 minutes late or 20 minutes early?
Myrna: I’m usually 20 minutes early. No stress in being early. Much stress being late, lol.
#NYCSS: Would you rather have free Wi-Fi wherever you go or be able to drink unlimited free coffee at any coffee shop?
Myrna: Free Wi-Fi!
#NYCSS: Would you rather live in a house with see-through walls in a city or in the same see-through house but in the middle of a forest far from civilization?
Myrna: City, I’ll invest in a lot of curtains (lol).
#NYCSS: That’s one way around it! Would you rather travel the world for a year all expenses paid or have $50,000 to spend on whatever you want?
Myrna: $50,000.
Put on your dancing shoes!
Swing Dance Swing is giving lessons in Salsa, Swing, and Hustle for those who’d love to learn or just love dancing. Their event takes place on Saturday March 24th from 4:30 to 10:00pm at 120 West 97th Street in Manhattan. Sounds like a lot of fun plus there will be snacks! Who doesn’t love snacks!?!
