Meet Marcela Lay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcela Lay.

Hi Marcela, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
It all started after the pandemic. I decided to give myself six months to devote my life and career to dance. I started teaching Salsa lessons outdoors (in a parking lot). That’s when I met one of my students, Michael Adler. He seemed a little lost in the class so I approached him and offered some extra help. He started to take private lessons with me.

In our first lesson, he said he had a space to dance. It was a small, cozy, and lovely studio. After our lesson, I told him how much I liked the space and if he knew who to contact to rent the studio. He said, “You can ask the landlord”. I asked, “Do you know him?”. He responded, “That would be me”.

I started renting his studio to teach private and group lessons, along with producing dance events. After six months, Michael and I decided to become business partners and make the space bigger. In November 2022, My Boulder Studio was born. Since then, we have hosted large local and international events like “A Lo Cubano”, Social dances with Denver Bachata, Timba Nights, and Brown Sugar Nutcracker among others.

Today, we offer a variety of classes, and workshops along with dance events with almost 20 different instructors from all over the globe. My Boulder Studio has brought so much to the community by having a space where people can gather, dance, meet friends, and experience different instructors from different countries and different cultures.

We are so proud to say that we have been in business and celebrating our FIRST anniversary on November 4th, 2023! Please come and celebrate with us.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The main challenge was to start a business from zero. Managing a studio was new to me, but I am surrounded by wonderful people who have been very supportive. I would say it’s been a smooth road after all.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a dance instructor. Latín dance event producer. Choreographer. Owner of a dance studio.

What makes me proud is being brave to quit my job as a schoolteacher, and start a completely new journey. Dancing was always my favorite thing to do but I never thought I could make a living. I am proud to say that I am a full-time dance instructor.

I have also opened a space for everyone to shine, to teach, to be themselves, to give to the community, and to gather to celebrate each day for being here and willing to dance.

What do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is to bring people together. Happiness is to see my student’s faces when they feel so proud of themselves for learning how to dance or being part of the community.

I love to make friends and students feel confident with their dancing skills. I enjoy being inclusive with my classes and events.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.myboulderstudio.com
• Instagram: My Boulder studio
• Facebook: My Boulder studio
• Youtube: Marcela Salsa dance