55 small businesses located in the Windsor Essex region will showcase their goods and services at the Giovanni Caboto Club from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2016. “The ‘Small Biz 2016 Expo’ is a market showcase of Windsor Essex products and services,” states DeMarco. Last year’s inaugural expo was an overwhelming success and attracted 40 small business vendors and over 450 attendees. “We were blown away by the enthusiasm of all the participating businesses, corporate partners and the response of the community who came out to support small business, network, shop and enjoy the best of our thriving local small business scene,” she comments. Running a small business is a delicate dance that takes dedication, determination, and industry insight. And speaking of dance, as the expressive art form has become increasingly popular in recent years, local businesses are reflecting this trend. With mega-hit show “Dancing With The Stars” now in its 23rd season, Biz X decided to spotlight a few of our very own local dancing stars to celebrate “Small Business Month.” Read on to learn about just some of the local businesses (and non-profits) that have managed to dance their way into our hearts! Dancing Star #1: Nancy Pattison’s Dance World Inc. Sixty-three years ago in a church basement with 12 little girls, Nancy Pattison began her then humble business, Nancy Pattison’s Dance World Inc. Now, the business has flourished and has four locations with 46 employees across Windsor Essex. At one time, there were 14 locations and more than 1,200 students. Disciplines taught at Nancy Pattison’s Dance World Inc. (NancyPattison.com) are: tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and pointe. The company also offers classes for children with special needs and is home to the Essex County Dancers Competition Team,
which has been around for 35 years, and the Encore Performing Arts Company, which has existed for 20 years. “We provide quality dance instruction and many other disciplines that will last a lifetime for these dancers,” states Cindy Pattison-Rivard, Vice President of Nancy Pattison Dance World Inc. and Nancy’s daughter. The little ones just love to dance! Pictured are Isabella Worley (left), Quinn Fram and Lily Lebouef during a dress rehearsal at Nancy Pattison’s Dance World. Photo courtesy of Emily Rivard.
ourselves in making our dance studio a safe place that our dancers can call their second home.” She adds that small businesses are an important part of our community for a simple reason: because they care. “They are family-orientated and understand personal customer care,” she states. “Your customers are not just a number. With a small business you have the opportunity to get to know your customers.”
Cindy Pattison-Rivard, left, and Nancy Pattison of Nancy Pattison’s Dance World Inc. are photographed at the “ECDI National Finals” in Orlando, Florida earlier this year. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Rivard.
And in 2007 Nancy was the Biz X Award Winner for “Come Dancing Only With This Instructor.” Pattison-Rivard says they are constantly giving back to the community by performing all over the region for many local charities, nursing homes, retirement homes, fundraisers and more. Some advice she gives to other small business owners is to provide quality service for whatever it is you are offering. “Let the customer know that you are genuinely interested in helping them,” says Pattison-Rivard. “We have always prided
Dancing Star #2: Ballroom At Its Best Dance duo Claire Hansen and Richard Tonizzo not only own Ballroom At Its Best, they’re world-renowned professionals in the industry. “As competitors we are Canadian Amateur Standard Champions, and as professionals, we are currently second in all of Canada and are World Professional Standard quarterfinalists,” states Hansen. “We are currently ranked 17th in the world.” At Ballroom At Its Best (BallroomAtItsBest.com), ballroom dancing is taught through group or private classes to all ages and levels, both recreational and competitively. “We teach both the standard and Latin style which include dances like the waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, jive, salsa, merengue, bachata, swing and
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