Meet Courtney Laves-Mearini of Cleveland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Laves-Mearini.

Hi Courtney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up dancing serious in Houston since I was 8 years old. I graduated high school early to pursue a professional ballet career. I danced with many ballet companies including Atlanta Ballet and the former Cleveland San Jose Ballet for over 10 years.

When I retired I stayed in Cleveland and received my degrees in Anthropology and Communications from CSU. All the while I was teaching ballet for area schools including the University of Akron and Cleveland City Dance. In 2004, I became the owner of Cleveland City Dance when my friends, the previous owners, were going onto different career. In 2007 I moved the school to its current location at Shaker Square. In 2009 I created the non-profit pre-professional ballet company City Ballet of Cleveland to create more performance opportunities for students from Cleveland City Dance and other area dance schools.

I just celebrated my 20th Anniversary at our May 17 performance with alumni coming into dance and well wishers who could not make it in for the show.

We have alumni who are now doctors, teachers, lawyers, artists…. professional dancers are with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet. Two of our alumni will be dancing with Grand Rapids Ballet and State Street Ballet this fall. We also have a dancer pursuing his dance degree at Butler University and he will graduate next year to what will be a lovely career.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road. Just like any career there will be ups and downs, but it is how you work through the journey that helps us grow throughout life. When I relocated to Shaker Square we had to rush out of our old location due to them pushing all the businesses out of Cedar Center and finding a new home that was convenient for our clientele with the amenities they expected was difficult.

We weathered through the 2008 recession, the Covid pandemic, the changes at Shaker Square (I was part of the Strategic Planning Committee) and we are seeing the recession take a stronger hold since the fall.

We also had severe water damage from upstairs May 2024 after our May shows that caused us to have to find a location for our little ones performance, restructure our class schedule for May and completely change our summer schedules. We showed our families how to adapt. We went from three studios to two, from three bathroom stalls to one and could not use the front entrance from May-mid August while we dealt with water damage assessments, insurance claims…. Even though we had signs posted that we were open, sent out emails, and increased social media people thought we were closed.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I say its always about the students and how they grow throughout their lives. Instilling confidence, passion, dedication, perseverance, camaraderie and life skills.
I am proud how our dancers become well rounded individuals. Education is important and the artform benefits them in many ways. It helps with gross motor skills, spatial awareness, social connections, math and physics, critical thinking and so much more. I am proud how all our dancers flow into college and other careers with intelligence and passion

Of course I am proud of those who are dancing professionally and I am so proud of all our alumni are achieving in so many other fields as well. I love how they stay connected with one another and how they stay in touch with me as well as their families. We truly have a family community here.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I listen to many podcast to reaffirm and enlighten myself It is not only about the dance, I have a passion for anthropology that is one of the BA’s I got at Cleveland State University. I worked on the Maya Mountains Archaeology Project under Professor Dunham for three years, I keep exploring still. You never know where a little nugget of an idea can come from.
Any good book recommended by family and friends. I do love histories and biographies, we can learn so much from those who came before us!

Pricing:

• Monthly pricing options
• Weekly camps and intensives
• Adult class card option
• Trial and Drop in

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clevelandcitydance.com
• Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandCityDance/
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/stories/clevelandcitydance/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9316239
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClevelandCityDance
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cleveland-city-dance-cleveland