Cassity Conley has been dancing since a very young age.  She began dancing when she was just two or three years old and did so through a dance studio in Creston.  Cassity eventually became a teacher and instructor at the studio.  When the previous studio owner was getting ready to retire and possibly sell or close her dance studio, Cassity took on more responsibility and stepped into that studio director role. 

Once Cassity learned how to operate a dance studio, she was ready to open the doors to Project C Dance Company The dance company opened in early September 2021.  Conley currently owns Project C; she has two part-time teachers.  Those two teachers help Conley with many things, from creating routine choreography to constructing the website.  Cassity will look to hire more part-time employees and grow and expand the studio in the future. 

Currently, the studio is already larger than Cassity expected in the beginning.  They have around eighty students and get one to two more new students every few weeks.  The students can enroll in recital, competitive, and recreational programs at Project C. Many different options are available to students at the studio. 

Working with Jamie David at the South Central Iowa SBDC has been helpful to Cassity.  Jamie has been an asset to Conley, from helping her construct a business plan to answering questions.  Conley notes that her experience with Jamie has been positive; she could text or reach out to Jamie at any time and never felt rushed when asking questions.  Cassity says, “people like Jamie are out there to help make your goals possible to help make those dreams happen!” 

Opening her own business has been a wonderful experience for Conley.  To anyone looking to start their own business, she offers some simple advice, “Get experience in the field, and know that it takes a lot of time.” From having danced from a young age, Cassity had lots of experience in a dance studio.  She still goes to conventions and learns from other teachers.  Her training never stops.  Cassity chose her career because “when you truly love what you’re doing, you never work a day in your life.” She says, “if you love it, work hard at it to make it happen.”

Learn more about Project C Dance Company by visiting their website https://www.projectcdanceco.com/ or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/projectcdanceco/