Company: Relevé Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Company Description: Relevé Studios is the premiere performing arts center for children in Los Angeles offering mentoring and training programs in the performing arts on-site as well as within the Los Angeles Unified School District. Founded in 2007 by Jodi Shilling, Relevé is the recipient of several awards recognizing achievement in character-building initiatives utilizing the performing arts in child development.
Nomination Category: Entrepreneur Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Entrepreneur - Hospitality & Leisure
 Nomination Title: Jodi Shilling, Founder
- Which will you submit for this nomination, an essay of up to 650 words about the achievements of the nominated entrepreneur since January 1 2021, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes about the same? CHOOSE ONE:
An essay of up to 650 words
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:
- If you are providing an essay of up to 650 words, place it in this space:
Total 549 words used.
Through strategy, innovation, and perseverance Jodi Shilling grew her business revenue by an extraordinary 328%, helped local families and children through the pandemic and post-pandemic, and earned the Los Angeles Small Business of the Year from the United Chambers of Commerce and Studio of the Year Award from the Dance Studio Owners Association.
Imagine sitting alone on the sprung floor of your brand new state-of-the-art performing arts facility in the heart of Los Angeles, California on January 1, 2021. By this time the pandemic was in full swing, and for the past 10 months since the grand opening in late February 2020, not a single student had been allowed to dance through the halls or sing in the corridors. You’ve poured your savings into the vision. Your A-team of 22 employees is on standby, still drawing a paycheck because it is the right thing to do, and there is no…end…in…sight.
A small business falling under the “gym/fitness” umbrella for Los Angeles county Covid-19 guidelines was basically a death sentence, especially for smaller companies. Most entrepreneurs in this unique position didn’t make it through the pandemic. Mathematically there was very little chance of survival, but Jodi not only survived, but she also thrived under adversity and helped her community along the way.
Relevé Studios was established in 2007, and in 2019 Jodi took a calculated risk to relocate the performing arts center to a highly-trafficked shopping district. “Relevé” is a term in ballet that means “to rise or lift up.” To lift others up is the centrifugal mission of Relevé. As CEO of Relevé Studios, Jodi’s focus and vision for the brand is to lift up as many students as possible utilizing the performing arts to help each student rise in all of their endeavors as well as character.
Jodi was the first to respond to the crisis of students who were unable to do virtual learning for their school education, and she converted her studio into a learning pod for students with special needs and emergency workers. In addition, she provided support for 16 LAUSD elementary schools providing movement and theater classes virtually to students. This served to relieve weary school teachers for 45 minutes each day, help establish some Social Emotional Learning for virtual students, and get them up and moving after many long hours sitting in front of the screen while also providing work for the Relevé Studios instructors. Jodi’s vision to lift up her community during the crisis gained her local and national recognition and several interviews on KTLA, CBS, ABC7, Good Day LA, FOX11, KFI 640Radio, and NPR. After the interviews aired, Jodi provided resources to over 50 other small businesses that reached out to start learning pods as well. Jodi helped save numerous businesses and by doing so provided additional support to children through those businesses.
Jodi Shilling went on to create Elevate School Arts performing arts curriculum and initiative, and it is now being used in schools across the world to help children through developmental delays due to lengthy shelter-in-place.
Jodi also received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Member of Congress Brad Sherman, a State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition, a California Legislature Assembly Recognition, and a County of Los Angeles Certificate of Recognition all for Service to Community.
- In bullet-list form, briefly summarize up to ten (10) of the chief accomplishments of this nominated entrepreneur since the beginning of 2021.
Total 135 words used.
- Grew the business bottom line by 328% in 2022, with weekly on-site membership going from 70 members to 712 members, and off-site classes reaching over 5000 students weekly
- Los Angeles Small Business of the Year from Los Angeles United Chambers of Commerce (2022)
- Dance Studio of the Year 2022 and Customer Experience Award 2021 from the Dance Studio Owners Association
- Created virtual educational arts relief for LAUSD schools and on-site learning pod for students with special needs and emergency workers (2021)
- FOX11 “Business Turning Office Space Into Learning Pod”
- Good Day LA “Businesses are Turning Their Office Space Into Learning Pods for Lease”
- KCAL 9 “Business Offers Learning Pods”
- CBS “Business Offers Learning Pods”
- ABC7 “Business Creates Learning Pods for Elementary Students”
- NPR & KFI AM 640 Radio “Wake Up Call” discussing dance and children
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