Meet Hillary Parnell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary Parnell. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Although I grew up dancing and spent most of my childhood in a dance studio, I actually went to college with the intent of becoming a pediatric dentist. But after receiving my BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I realized that wouldn’t be the best fit. Instead, I took a job in advertising to try my hand at something a little more creative. 

Then, the market crashed in 2001, the company I was working for closed, and I, as a very naive 21-year-old, thought starting my own business would be the easiest next step. Luckily, I have extremely supportive parents and I just dove in headfirst with no backup plan. The rest is history… And although my field has not changed over the past two decades, my passion has continued to evolve and I am excited to see where the next phase of my journey takes me. 

My husband Ben and I have four boys; Cooper (12), Spencer (10), Schaefer (8), and Ledger (6). Our lives are crazy and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have always considered every challenge to be an opportunity and it’s a good thing because I have been reminded of that more than ever over the past 18 months. Because of Covid, we have been given countless opportunities to grow, pivot, re-invent and adapt. Like most small businesses, our goal was simply to make it- but for us, it was about more than our bottom line. Dance is an outlet for so many of our students, a therapy. The last thing our dancers needed during a time of crisis was to stop dancing. We did everything we could to provide that therapy for our students because their mental health and well-being depended on it. My staff and I knew that we needed to be strong and positive role models for our students and we were committed to doing whatever it took to make that happen. We aimed to not only survive the crisis but to thrive despite it. That was how we approached each day with our kids and that was the message we worked so hard to send as their mentors. As we continue to navigate through the pandemic, our driving force is knowing that the work we do with our dancers is so much more than teaching dance. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the founder and CEO of the Academy for the Performing Arts (APA). APA is a dance studio in Apex, NC that specializes in providing excellent dance education while caring for our dancers’ emotional, physical and social well-being. Whether our dancers come once a week for a recreational class or are preparing for a career in dance, we provide the tools and resources to help them become stellar humans all around. 

About 10 years ago, we added an academic half-day preschool to our growing company. Preschool for the Arts is the only preschool in our area that offers a program that not only prepares our students for success in kindergarten but offers a curriculum focused on the fine arts. I am super proud that both APA and Preschool for the Arts have recently won the Indy Award for Best in the Triangle! 

In addition to owning the Academy for the Performing Arts and Preschool for the Arts, I am an author, growth coach, and consultant for the Dance Studio Owners Association where I provide business advice to over a thousand dance studio owners. Through this program and other training courses I’ve developed, I help entrepreneurs around the world find financial freedom and a healthy work-life balance while doing what they love. 

I’ve come to find that my true passion is helping others find joy in THEIR lives. Whether it’s helping one of my students decide what to do after high school, providing my staff with certifications and professional development, or helping studio owners remember why they started their business in the first place- it all comes down to helping others find what lights them up. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Personally, as a business owner, wife, mother of four young boys, and self-proclaimed “do-it-yourselfer”, I have learned over and over that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Balance is key. I have found that setting boundaries, giving myself grace, taking care of myself and my family, and being disciplined so that I am consistently productive, are ways I stay balanced. 

Professionally, the most important lesson I have learned is innovation. Looking for ways to evolve and being willing to adapt in our ever-changing world has been key to our success. I do my best to stay 3 steps ahead and always prepared for anything. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info@apanc.com
• Website: www.apanc.com
• Instagram: @apadancenc
• Facebook: @apadancenc