Episode 148 // Libby Timmerman of Heart and Sole Dance and Performing Arts Studio
On today’s episode of the Rural Revival podcast we’re with Libby Timmerman of Heart and Sole Dance and Performing Arts Studio in Cherokee, Iowa (pop. 5,099).
Libby’s sharing how she unexpectedly became a dance studio owner at the age of 14, and how she’s grown from teaching 25 students in her first year to now having a multifaceted performing arts studio with 145 students and a staff of 10 that offers tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater, hip hop, tumbling, acrobatics, and more. WOW! She’s also expanded from one studio to three and restored two historic buildings in the process.
Libby is all about creating opportunities for others to be part of the studio and stay in their hometown — just like she did. You’ll love her heart to impact future generations through dance and provide artistic opportunities for all ages in her community!
“Just go for it. Don’t be scared to do it. It is terrifying and it seems like a huge undertaking, but there are people that will help you. Living in a small town, go find any business owner and say, can I sit down and talk with you, how did you do this, how did you start this? And they will be willing to help you, I can almost guarantee it. Because they all started in the exact same place. You’ve just got to put yourself out there and be willing to ask the questions.”
- Libby Timmerman
“I never saw it getting like this, ever. And there are some days I have to sit at home and be like, is this real? Is this really what God has given me? I never knew God’s path for my life. I always wanted to be a performer, I wanted to move to New York, I wanted to go do the big things, and this is where God has led me. And now I’m blessed with my husband and my daughter and all of these young women and men who I get to work with every single day. And that is what means the world to me is I get to touch the future generation through dance.”
- Libby Timmerman
“It was actually never my idea. I had no intention of ever being a dance studio owner at all.”
- Libby Timmerman
“It’s not everything it’s chalked up to be to move off to a big city and get away from things of your small town. It’s actually better that you go back.”
- Libby Timmerman
“That’s been the most amazing part for me, is watching the girls that I trained become teachers for me. That’s why I make the high school training that I do so important because I want these girls to know that if you want to stay and go to a community college or you want to stay and do online classes, there is an option for you. You can stay and you can do this.”
- Libby Timmerman
“If you feel like you’re called to be in your hometown, if you feel like you’re called to start that business, you’ve got to just take the leap, find the people who can back you up, find the people who can help you, and just go from there. And put your faith in God.”
- Libby Timmerman
PODCAST SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:
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WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | LIBBY FACEBOOK
We’re challenging small towns to create opportunities and shift the mindset of our kids so they choose to stay in our rural communities instead of leave.