Choreographing success

 “As I continued to study the art form, I learned that I am an analytical artist and love the business side of it as well,” says Slatt.

As a double major in business and dance at the University at Buffalo, Slatt assumed she would need to begin her career in a corporate job to fund her passion. Then, a School of Management faculty member stepped in to offer inspiration that changed the trajectory of her journey.

Professor Randeree, who taught her capstone senior management course and advised Pi Sigma Epsilon, the professional fraternity for students and industry professionals in marketing, encouraged her not to postpone her dreams.

“He recognized my passion and skills and told me to just go for it — which I took to heart,” she says. “He also coached us on applicable skills, not just theory, and I quickly learned what it looked like to be employable and valuable in the workplace.”

Now, as executive director of Perfect Pointe Music and Dance Studios, Slatt manages two studio locations in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., with plans to open a third studio this year — and credits the skills she developed in the School of Management for her success.

“My management courses helped me launch my studio immediately after graduation,” she says. “I completed a competitive analysis and demographic research, and we enrolled 250 students in our first year.”

Currently, Slatt’s studios serve 850 students and provide a safe, nurturing space where aspiring performers can become confident and resilient.

Her business background also helped her achieve a personal goal of making dance a sustainable career both for herself and those she hired to work at Perfect Pointe.

“Dance can be a really hard industry in which to make a living wage or have long-term stability,” she says. “Even the best performers only have stability until their bodies can’t continue. So, I wanted to create a viable business, not just a fun place to teach dance.”

Slatt employs a staff of 30 (23 part-timers, seven full-timers), several of whom have nearly 10 years with the business.

She is also committed to promoting equitable access to dance education as the president of Perfect Pointe Foundation, a nonprofit that provides need-based scholarships for aspiring dancers in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

“I always encourage students to consider the double major or minor when they pursue their passion,” she says. “Combining business and the performing arts or even education can empower students to transform passion into long-term success.”

Written by Alexandra Richter