Meet Trailblazer Dante Burl

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dante Burl.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in Denver, yes I’m a rare breed, went to Cherry Creek High School and ended up getting a full-ride scholarship to play Soccer at Arizona State University. I played 2.5 years there and then decided to come back to Colorado and earned my degree in Apparel Design and Merchandising from Colorado State University! After years of working retail, managing, buying for small boutiques and bartending I finally found my calling in Real Estate! My husband, Cameron, has been in the mortgage business since college and when I had had enough of bartending and had no direction for a career, he suggested I get my Real Estate license, I agreed, and five years later here we are! Real Estate is my career and passion and I absolutely love it, but I am also a Barre Instructor and studio manager as well as the Co-Founder of a Women’s Organization! These “side gigs” fill my cup everyday and push my limits mentally and physically. I am at my happiest teaching at the studio, getting a little sweaty and knowing I am helping women reach their goals everyday, in a strong and empowering way!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. It took me a really long time to finally get to a point to feel like I know what I want to be doing and to feel like I AM doing what I should be doing! Getting a degree in such a specialized field was hard because if I didn’t move to New York of LA, there really weren’t a ton of jobs here in Denver. So for a good five years after college, I really felt like I was in limbo and didn’t know what I wanted to do/should do. Even when I first started in Real Estate, it was HARD! I think people underestimate the amount of work a Real Estate career takes and the amount of capital it takes as well. So I definitely struggled that first year and felt like I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Even after settling into my Real Estate career, I still felt like something was missing. People also don’t tell you how hard it can be transitioning from being an athlete to just not anymore. I knew I was lacking something in my life that sports brought me for 20+ years of my life, and that something was not being fulfilled by simply working out everyday. When I was approached by my local gym to be a spin instructor, I was scared for sure, but knew it might be exactly what I needed to fill that void and get outside of my comfort zone! I did it and never looked back. Teaching was it! It was what I was missing.

After teaching spin for four years, I stumbled across Barre, and admittedly went into my first class thinking, this sounds dumb and easy. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong, and I was instantly hooked! Became a member that day, and a year and a half later was approached about auditioning for the new round of instructors. Already being a spin instructor, I thought, why not, and figured it would come natural. Well, I was wrong there too. Teaching spin and Barre are completely different, and I went through a six weeks intensive training program at The Barre Code and came out the other side challenged, out of my comfort zone, but definitely stronger and better for it! I knew after my first class that this was what I was supposed to be doing and it absolutely filled that void for me. I think the biggest struggle I’ve had is trying to balance Real Estate, Barre, being a friend, daughter, wife, dog mom, etc. etc., BUT I can’t imagine my life without any of it, so I know I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing, and am ok with the sacrifice and craziness that is my life haha.

Advice I would give to young women just starting their journey is don’t get caught up in thinking you have to know what you want to do right away. For me it took almost ten years to finally feel good about my journey and where I am, so try new things, get out of your comfort zone and don’t pre-judge anything before you try it. It might be just the thing you were looking for!

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Well, now you know that I have two jobs and a side passion. So, lets start with Real Estate! I have been in Real Estate for five years now, and like I said before, it hasn’t always been easy. It still isn’t! Each day brings a new challenge or obstacle, but that is why I love it. Every day is different. I am a part of the most amazing team, Mile High Lifestyles and we work for the BEST company, COMPASS! My team is made up of young, badass (can I say that), agents that are on the grind to take their business to the next level, and my company COMPASS is the most amazing, innovative and tech forward company I’ve ever worked for. For me, I really pride myself in my work and helping clients through one of the hardest, yet most rewarding transactions of their life. I feel like I’m a part-time therapist, haha, which is ok though because I know in the end, I am helping people realize their dream of homeownership or helping people sell their home to gain the capital that they need/want to fund their dream lives. It really doesn’t get much better than that. I think what sets me apart is that I’m a Denver native so I know this city like that back of my hand. My husband is a mortgage lender, so I know more about lending than most agents do, and my parents are contractors, so I know a lot about home construction etc. so when it comes to inspections or renovations that clients are thinking of doing, I can lend some quick expertise!

Now let’s talk about being a Fitness Instructor and studio manager! Like I said before, being an instructor is what really fills my cup! The minute I walk into those four walls of class, I can forget about everything else, release my tension and know that I am there helping women reach THEIR goals! Little do they know that THEY motivate me and push me everyday as well. The Barre Code is so different than any other barre studio or any studio for that matter in the sense that we have an incredible community of Women that really believe in creating a community that strives to strengthen and empower other women, not compare or tear down or judge others. It’s not about losing weight, inches, etc., it’s about GAINING strength and empowerment for yourself and others. I could not be more proud to be a part of such an incredible community and company!

The women’s organization that I Co-founded with my work wife, Lizzy Confalone, shout out to you girl, is something that we kind of fell into! It started as a way to network and get clients and has since grown to an organization where women can come together to network, learn and grow as people! It’s really fun and pretty amazing to see the relationships that are cultivated through an organization that we built! Pretty fun 🙂

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
I would say the most important piece of advice I could give would be, know that through struggles, growth and change happens. If someone tells you they’ve never had something bad or a hard time come up in their career, they’re lying! It will happen, and it will be hard, BUT know that it will make you stronger and better and the next time you are faced with a challenge, you will be better equipped to handle it. That being said, know that it is ok to feel discouraged at times and like you don’t have all the answers or have it all together! Cry it out, do whatever you have to do, and then wake up the next day and keep going. Never give up or let anyone steal your shine!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 3032490297
• Email: dante@milehighlifestyles.com
• Instagram: @denverdante, @the.pink.door

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