• Detroit Dance Center is a Black-owned, woman-owned dance studio specializing in dance classes for ages 2 to teen with additional offerings for adults.
• Motor City Match has awarded $9.1M in cash grants, 82% of overall winners are minority-owned businesses and 71% women-owned
• 137 new brick-and-mortar businesses are open and operating

July 22, 2022 (DETROIT) – Detroit Dance Center, celebrated the opening of its new brick and mortar location on Thursday, July 21st. The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Mayor Mike Duggan announced that the Motor City Match (MCM) Round 18 Cash Track awardee received a $35,000 cash grant to help open the studio. Located at 831 Selden St. in Detroit, the studio is Detroit Dance Center’s new permanent home after years of operating in shared and temporary spaces. Detroit Dance Center focuses on ages 2 to teen and offers individual classes or a full year program. The center also sells a full selection of leotards, tights, ballet shoes—including brown ballet shoes designed to match with darker skin tones – and DDC branded apparel.

The dance studio is operated by partners Linda Hendricks, Jasmine Woods, and Dominique Hamlett offering dance classes and lessons to anyone ranging from ages two to teen.

“The bulk of our students are under the age of 7 with the hope that they will grow with us. We hope to keep them long-term and hope that they enjoy it,” says co-owner, Linda Hendricks. Hendricks attributes her business idea to her feeling of nostalgia as a past dance student, “Detroit Dance Center started as Detroit Dance Studio in 2009. I was laid off from my job in New York during the recession where I was an auditor while simultaneously taking dance classes. I felt nostalgic towards my years as a student and wanted to start a studio to fill the void. This went on until I got married and had a child in 2013.” says Hendricks.

She continues, stating, “Myself, Jasmine (Woods), and Dominique (Hamlett) taught at Detroit Windsor Dance Academy. Once the pandemic happened, the studio stopped teaching classes due to the stay-at-home order. The idea sparked as a playful banter until it was developed into a serious notion. The Detroit Dance Center was rebirthed in 2020 and officially began in 2021. We had over 80 students at the start and ended with over 125.” Hendricks, Woods, and Hamlett were overjoyed that the work they were doing was giving back to the community and

decided to commit to the growth of Detroit Dance Center. What began as a response to the uncertainty of the pandemic, has evolved into a new anchor for the community

“I’m so glad that Motor City Match was able to help Linda, Jasmine and Dominique realize their dream of creating this studio to give children in our city the opportunity to learn the art of dance right here in Detroit, said Mayor Duggan. “This neighborhood is rapidly growing and the Detroit Dance Center will be a great addition to the area and an important part of its growth.”

“Motor City Match connects business owners to a growing network of support, offers critical business services, and maps out the path from idea to open. We are elated to continue supporting Detroit’s small business community as it thrives,” said Drew Lucco, Motor City Match Program Director.

After 19 rounds, Motor City Match has awarded $9.1 million in grants and leveraged an additional $54 million in investment for start-ups and new businesses located throughout the city of Detroit. Through the pipeline of resources provided by the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation’s small business teams, more than 1,400 businesses have received assistance along their entrepreneurial journey. This is all part of the organization’s greater goal of using small business programs to create more walkable the commercial corridors and vibrant neighborhoods.

Motor City Match continues to grow Detroit’s small-business landscape. Combined with its other small business programming, DEGC is creating a sustainable small business environment that nurtures new concepts and ideas. Motor City Match offers business owners a wide range of assistance in four tracks: Plan, Develop, Design, and Cash. The program helps Detroit entrepreneurs plan, formalize, and launch their business by providing business planning classes, site-selection assistance, financial planning, legal aid, design services, and gap funding.

• Through 19 rounds of Motor City Match:
• Total cash grants: $9.1 million (Total leveraged investment: $54 million)
• Total business open: 137
• 82 percent are minority-owned businesses
• 71 percent are women-owned businesses
• 65 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents

About Motor City Match

Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations including, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, New Economy Initiative, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. More information is available at www.MotorCityMatch.com

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