Gary chats this week with Angelo DeTorres, one of the owners of Steps Dance Studio, and a real estate investor. Why are we talking dance on this show? Health, wealth and everything in between. Dance was introduced into Angelo’s life at a young age, but didn’t turn back to it for 15 years, after an ACL injury cancelled his NBA dreams. His passion for dance was reignited at a chance encounter in Cuba. Angelo had moved from the Philippines to Toronto, and got involved with Steps Dance Studio as a customer as a way to express himself, then ended up co-owning the business! Angelo relays experiences of seeing seniors dancers prolong their lives with movement! And, how his dance partner became his life partner, with two kids!
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- Who recommended that Angelo read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”
- He was working at Bell, Steps and real estate investing
- How his growing family played into his lifestyle choices
- Why in 2016 he decided to leave 9-5 and what it was like
- His first house was $286,000 and he still owns it
- What the steps were to transition from 9-5 to full time entrepreneur
- From 500 members to 50 due to the pandemic
- What the lockdown has done to his business, how he stayed resilient and kept moving forward
- How they’ve moved business at Steps to go fully virtual, and were the first studio to do so
- They have daily courses online
- They got some members back before the 2nd lockdown
- How they will create online courses to allow people to learn 24/7
- How he’s repurposed his dance space during the pandemic
- His feelings on Big Box stores vs small retailers and service providers
- Why he initially ignored dance and what he would tell his younger self
- And MORE!
Angelo’s Bio
As a co-owner of Steps Dance Studio, Angelo is a full time instructor, choreographer and performer. He is currently managing all of the Steps performance teams, and is choreographing for couples as well as competitors.
Angelo is a professional competitor having won the Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress as well as the Chim Pum Callao Salsa Congress in the professional Bachata division. He also coaches and competes in Pro-Am showcase and heated divisions at local and international Congresses.
Angelo has trained with multiple world-renowned artists such as Tito Ortos, Tamara Livolsi, Anya Katsevman, Billy Fajardo, Katie Marlow, Nelson Flores, Adriano Ieropoli, Samantha Scali, Grupo Alafia and Raul Santiago. He has completed the Salsa Certification course with Tito Ortos in both 2017 and 2018.
Angelo has taught and performed with the Steps Professional team in various Salsa Congresses and events including Mambo Nights in Bermuda, the New York Salsa Congress, Hustle & Salsa Festival in Puerto Rico, the Montreal Salsa Convention, the Canada Salsa & Bachata Congress, the International Hustle & Salsa Competition in Miami and the Ottawa Salsa Congress.
His love for Latin dance is reflected in his teaching technique. He is truly passionate about sharing his knowledge and in return seeing growth and advancement in his students.
Website/contact info for guest
Web: https://www.stepsdancestudio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StepsDanceStudioToronto
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepsdancestudiotoronto/
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Interested in learning more about Real Estate Investing? Visit https://www.smarthomechoice.ca
To learn more about Gary’s mentorship program, visit https://garyhibbert.ca
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