We had the good fortune of connecting with Sylvie Gilbar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sylvie, what matters most to you?
Support! It’s important to me that all my students feel supported inside and outside the dance studio. Dance is supposed to be a community. I treat my students as if they are my family (they ARE my dance family). I support them unconditionally!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The services I provide are: weekly heels classes, bachelorette/private group parties, wedding dance lessons, and private 1:1 training! Each of these sessions include professional videography and editing by me!

My journey:

Dance has been a North Star for me, no matter what I’m facing in life it has been my therapy, my safe space to self express… basically my happy place! Why I teach is because I want others to experience all that dance has given me over the years — joy, freedom, creativity, healing, and confidence!

It took me 20 years to get where I am today. In the dance industry, you never stop learning and you never stop growing. Since, I started teaching heels over 4 years ago… I have moved 4 times! I basically started my business from scratch 4 times! I only moved to San Diego in July. Which was definitely not easy.

I run this business completely on my own. I don’t have any backend employees. It’s tough work, but it’s such a rewarding job. As I said before, dance is a safe space. It’s a form of therapy. Dancing in heels gives individuals a confidence boost, a sense of empowerment, and a safe space to just let go! My students are my family. In every class, you can hear students cheering each other on. That’s why I teach. I don’t teach/create in hopes to ‘make it big’, I created this brand because I love creating meaningful connections, building a sense of community, and help individuals discover that they are baddies!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve only lived here for about 4 months, so I have a lot of exploring to do! One of my favorite things to do in the area is visit the local farmers market in Hillcrest, Little Italy and North Park. I love shopping small, and there are so many amazing vendors at the markets.

When any of my friends come to visit I make sure to take them to Civico 1845, in Little Italy, followed with a beach walk along Pacific Beach or La Jolla cove.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Paris Davison, was one of my first heels teachers and really pushed me to start teaching heels. She truly gives her all to everyone around her. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today!

Instagram: @Certifiedxbaddie

Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/Sylvie-Gilbar

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCzeeEqR8Qn-AHcpuK1J_RtA

Image Credits
Lexa Nicole

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