By: Thaniuska Vivas / Staff Writer
FIU public administration senior Catalina Nemmi has turned her passion for dance into her own business. From dance styles ranging from hip hop fusion to bachata, Nemmi has danced along with South Florida’s entrepreneurial spirit.
During her senior year of high school, Nemmi opened Unique Starz Studio. Located on 1953 NE 148th Street in North Miami, all dancers are welcomed to take their skills to the next level.
“I opened the dance studio before I even started college,” Nemmi said.
Unique Starz Studio offers classes for beginning and intermediate dancers in various styles of dance. These styles range from hip hop fusion, beginner and intermediate hip hop, Afrobeats, Korean pop, Haitian folklore, and more.
Nemmi chose to open the dance studio during a time her mother got sick.
“My mom got sick and she was afraid that she wasn’t going to leave me anything, so she wanted to open a business for me,” Nemmi said.
With Unique Starz Studio, Nemmi has been able to connect with dancers across the world. Nemmi shares that she has made connections with dance instructors from Italy, Chile, Argentina, California, and many other locations.
The dance studio has also hosted dance competitions across South Florida. During the beginning of the pandemic, the studio participated in “Performer,” an online dance competition rewarding a $300 grand prize to the best dancers.
“The biggest thing that I’m proud of – besides surviving a pandemic as a small business – is the fact that I’ve been able to create a community in Miami and a community kind of worldwide.”
Nemmi not only juggles online classes, but the responsibilities of owning her own dance studio. The passionate dancer handles her business’ marketing, teaches dance classes, and prepares the studio for classes. She also has a part-time job to pay for her living expenses and the business.
“I would say that what keeps me going is the quote, ‘This is where I have to be to get to where I will be or where I want to be,’” Nemmi said.
Nemmi shares how her business was able to open up after the pandemic and how it bonds her and her team.
“I just wanted people to come out and spend time with us safely and feel like they’re reconnecting to the world,” Nemmi shared. “It brought more than just us as instructors… as a team together. It kind of just brought the entertainment community in South Florida together.”
Unique Starz Studio hosted free events, such as movie nights and dance classes, when lockdown restrictions were lifted. All dancers were welcomed to have a place to dance and unwind.
“When we were put back in our homes and forced to stay in, we lost that connection to each other,” Nemmi said. “But when I reopened the studio, we still kept our distance from each other. But it was like the music didn’t stop.”
Nemmi shares how she measures the success of her business not by profit, but through the impact it makes on the lives of others.
“My success comes more from how I feel in my heart or how I see people smile and have a good time at the studio,” she shared.
Nemmi has future plans for making her dance studio into a non-profit organization. She shares how her business has a zero-violence environment and serves to give dancers a safe space to practice the craft.
“If I’m not gonna do it, who else is gonna do it,” she said.
Nemmi also shared advice for students who want to give back to their community or want to open up their own business.
“If you have a passion and there’s people around you that have that same passion, then work on that idea. Work on that business,” she said. “Find someone who will fund your dream or give you the opportunity to do it low-cost.”
The young business owner explains how a person does not have to be born a dancer to take a class. Instead, she advocates for them to take on the challenge to learn something new one step at a time.
“The great thing about dance is that it’s something that can be learned,” Nemmi said.
For more information about Unique Starz Dance Studio, check out their website and Instagram page.
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