What's Your Story with Jaime & Stan

What's Your Story, Michelle and Matt from Ovation? The magic of performing arts and personal growth

Episode Summary

In this episode, we sit down with Michelle and Matt, the dynamic duo behind Ovation, a theater and performing arts school that transforms children’s lives. With a background in ballet and musical theater, Michelle shares her journey from professional ballerina in Europe to co-founding a theater school in Florida. Matt, with his experience in acting and directing, talks about his passion for guiding students to become confident performers. Together, they discuss the importance of discipline, perseverance, and passion in the arts, along with the life-changing impact Ovation has had on students of all ages and abilities. They reveal how they’ve adapted to challenges like the pandemic and share their exciting future goals for the school. This episode is full of humor, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes stories that reveal their dedication to fostering creativity and self-confidence in young performers.

Episode Notes

What you’ll hear…

The Founding of Ovation:

Matt and Michelle talk about their serendipitous meeting through a local theater production, which led to their decision to open Ovation.
The initial challenges of starting a school, and their vision to create a place that goes beyond just theater education.

Performing Arts and Life Skills:

Michelle and Matt highlight the transformative power of performing arts, helping children gain confidence, discipline, and resilience.
The structure and discipline of ballet and theater, and how it instills a strong work ethic in students.
Matt’s focus on improvisation and the importance of listening in both acting and real life.

Overcoming Challenges and Reinvention:

They share how the pandemic impacted their school and the decision to rebuild from scratch, along with their busiest summer yet.
The importance of constantly reinventing and evolving, both in life and the arts.

Inspiring Success Stories:

They share touching stories of shy students blossoming into confident performers, and others going on to successful careers in theater, including their daughter, who recently toured with Broadway productions of Anastasia and Chicago.
Ovation’s mission to provide a space where all children, regardless of ability, can thrive.

The Joy of Teaching:

Michelle reflects on the satisfaction of passing on her extensive knowledge and seeing students grow.
Matt shares his joy in watching students and Michelle teach, emphasizing the importance of doing something for the love of it.

Future Goals for Ovation:

Michelle and Matt discuss their aspirations to expand the school, offer more scholarships, and continue providing top-level education to aspiring performers.
Their dream of bringing in more guest artists and expanding their theater performances.

Insights:

“What we do is more than just teaching theater. We’re helping kids become better people, more confident, more resilient.” – Michelle
“The joy of doing what you love is what keeps us going. We want that for every student who comes through our doors.” – Matt
“We teach discipline, structure, and how to set goals. These are life skills that go beyond the stage.” – Michelle

Resources:

If Michelle and Matt’s journey inspires you, please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review. Share this episode with anyone interested in the performing arts or personal growth through creativity. Stay tuned for more stories of passion, perseverance, and success in future episodes!

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Send us your feedback, questions, or guest suggestions at connect@jaimemarco.com.

Thank you for joining this heartwarming conversation with Michelle and Matt. Remember, whether through theater or life, it’s about the journey, the discipline, and the joy of growth. Keep pushing forward, keep dreaming, and keep performing!