After two decades, studio owner bows gracefully out of business
For more than 21 years, Cherrilane Blackburn has taught ballet, tap and jazz to aspiring young dancers in her Lakewood studio.
But last month, Blackburn retired from her role as business owner, choosing to dedicate her time to choreography, teaching and her 7-year-old daughter Anabelle.
Contemporary Ballet Dallas took over the Cherrilane School of Dance at 1902 Abrams Parkway. Blackburn moved her school into the space from a nearby location four years ago.
“It was the studio of my dreams, but my dreams when I was 25 or 35 and without a child,” she says. “And now my priorities have changed. My child needs me.”
Blackburn and her husband, Greg, adopted Anabelle from Russia when she was 1 year old. After six years of trying to balance being a mother and business owner, Blackburn says she decided to surrender one role.
“I tried to figure out a way to still keep my obligation to my students, and I couldn’t,” she says. “For so long, my priority was my students; now I need to make it my child.”
Managing the school also took its toll on Blackburn’s passion for dance, she says. Daily tasks such as paying the bills, restocking the toilet paper and organizing class schedules left little energy to give her students, she says.
“Running the business began to stifle the love of teaching,” Blackburn says. “When the business started to take away from my love of dance, it seemed time to let the business go.”
Blackburn plans to continue some teaching at the studio and will serve for a year as a consultant for the new school.
“She built this school; we’re just taking it to a new level,” says Kelley Calhoon, artist director and co-founder of Contemporary Ballet Dallas. “We love her. We want to keep her around. We’re really excited about the transition.”
The School of Contemporary Ballet Dallas is the only dance school in Dallas associated with a professional ballet company, Calhoon says.
In addition to teaching, Blackburn plans to re-enter the choreography field. She previously choreographed for Six Flags, AstroWorld and numerous beauty pageants. She also plans to be active with the nonprofit Dance Council.
“I’m not quitting dance at all,” she says. “I’m actually getting back to dance.”
