When you really want something, the entire universe creates strategies and makes sure that you get it. The story of Tarun Barot is a living example of this theory. Series of events had left him with just a thousand rupees in his hands. Today he is living a luxurious life and owns Indore’s best dance academy – 8 Tarun Barot Dance Studio.
We were lucky enough to have a conversation with him. Here is what he said.
1.For how long have you been into dancing?
I started dancing at the age of 3. My mother is a trained classical dancer so it won’t be wrong to say that dance is in my blood.
2.What did you do before you started your dance studio
I am from a humble background. In the very beginning, I knew that I’ll have to work hard enough in order to earn money. I went to Mumbai after I completed my education. There I worked as a Marketing agent with Airtel. One day, at a company event, I was dancing and was spotted by few people from Z TV. They asked me to audition for a show after which I landed up getting a job as an assistant choreographer. Due to some reason, I wasn’t receiving my payment. I had to come back to Indore where I started working again in Marketing. Luckily for me, after some time, I started getting work as a dance teacher in different organizations.
3.When did you decide to start your own dance academy?
I wanted my students to learn a more advanced level of dance; the organization I was working for didn’t let me to it. We had some conflicts after which I realized that in order to grow as a dancer, I’d have to quit. The very same day, I submitted my papers and left that organization with the vision to start my own dance studio.
4.What were the difficulties you faced?
At that point in my life, I merely had a thousand rupees in my pocket. I used to sit with my friends and discuss opening a dance studio. A gentleman who used to come there often offered me to use a place he had. He said that we could pay him the rent later. When we went to look at the place, we were surprised to see that it already looked like a studio. Once the place was sorted, we needed some money to make posters and hoardings. My sister sold her gold chain and gave me 15,000 rupees.
Luckily we got 80 students in the first month itself. I could buy my sister another chain and also pay the rent in that month itself.
5.What do you think is the biggest challenge that you face while running your Academy?
The dance instructors we train very often leave us due to differences of opinions or to start their own venture. To retain our dancers is amongst the biggest challenges.
6.What has been the best day for you as a dancer?
A few years ago, I was called to attend a NASA related event in Ahmedabad. There I got the opportunity to train almost 2500 people at the same time. Teaching such a large number of people was blissful.
7.What would like to tell the budding entrepreneurs?
If you do something with all your heart, nobody can stop you from achieving it. In order to have a life you want, you will have to work in that direction.