Small Business Saturday: Mom LuAnn
This Small Business Saturday Mom is perfect for the upcoming holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. LuAnn O’Rourke-Boyd, a mother of 3 is behind the O’Rourke Irish Dancers in White Plains and Yorktown. Have you thought of having your kids do Irish Step Dancing? Well read on to find out why she started her business, manages her day and how to contact her dance school.
When did you start your business? 1995
How did the idea come about? Irish Dance was always my passion and I always knew that I wanted to open a school and teach Irish Dance.
What is special about your business? It’s a unique form of dance that kids and adult’s love. You don’t find a lot of Irish Dance studios around. Our studio is dedicated solely to Irish Dance and we are home to Regional and National Champions. Many of our students compete locally and internationally and some dance just for the love of it. We also perform throughout the year at many parades and functions throughout Westchester County.
How do you manage having your own business and motherhood? I have great support from my husband and my mother who is my baby sitter.
Walk us through a typical day: Wake up at 6:30 am, get the kids on the bus for 7:20 am. Get a work out in a the gym at 8:00 am. Catch up on errands, grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, etc. and do administration work while the kids are at school. Get the kids off the bus at 2:45 pm. Get them started on homework and transition to my mother / after school caregiver. My daughter and I leave for the studio at 3:45 pm. I run classes from 4:30-9:30 pm Monday-Friday. I have amazing assistant teachers that help out at both locations!
If you had to give one piece of advice to a mom wanting to start her own business what would it be? Pick something you are passionate about and make sure you have a good support system in place.
Share info about your business:
Studio: 77 Tarrytown Rd., White Plains and 1974 Commerce St., Yorktown (the recreation building). You can find us on line at http://www.orourkeirishdancers.com and on Face Book. Call 917-453-0375 or email: Luann614@optonline.net for more information
