The “Ruby Red Slipper” is truly a young person’s dream coming true. Adrienne Terry, just a few years out of school, had been working giving dance instruction but longed to open her own business.

Terry and her mother, Nicole Britney, came to SBDC Tulare Kings early in 2010 and after a series of consultations, completed her business plan, found a location but the immediately ran into a road block. Lenders were not willing to finance her new business start up.

Not to be deterred, they self-funded, leased building, 4,000 square feet building and renovated it to include two dance studios, one stage area and front office. They opened for business in September 2010. They’ve grown to 51 students (signed up paying $45 per class with a sliding scale if they sign up for more classes) and the staff has grown from two to six. They have a troupe of eight that performed at the Tulare County Fair and several other events.