Temerity. Transformation. Teamwork.

by Elizabeth Denham

Lisa and Lindsey Bianco, mother and daughter owners of their own Fred Astaire dance studios in Arizona, each followed a unique path through the struggles of their individual lives that led them both to find joy and purpose in dance. Working together for 20 years, they evolved individually and in their relationship. And while, today, they own separate studios six miles apart, they are still an amazing team supporting each other, pitching in for each other and helping each other succeed.

“I look at us now, and I am really proud of us,” Lisa (mother), said. “I am proud of how we are able to communicate at a high level. I have watched Lindsey grow into herself and become this intelligent, sophisticated, high-level communicator as she grew into the woman she is now.”

Growing up in the business, Lindsey went through all of the ups and downs of childhood and the teen years while learning from her mother’s leadership.

“I learned everything from her,” Lindsey said. “Work ethic, strength, determination. She’s the strongest person I know.”

Lisa found her passion for dancing when she was a single, working mother. She wanted to learn country and western dance, and with no background whatsoever in dance, she found a Fred Astaire dance studio and started taking classes. She became obsessed with dancing, participated in competitions and found a new purpose for her life.

“What captivated me was the profound gift dancing can give people. What I found was so much personal joy,” she said. “I could not wait to leave work and come to the studio and take my lessons. I believe that because of dance, I became a better mother. I became a happier person. I had much more joy inside of me, much more confidence inside of me, and that trickled into my household.”

Lindsey also found her joy through dance when she was going through a rough time as a 12 or 13-year-old girl. She found herself overweight, depressed, shy and self-conscious.

“I thought Mom’s dance was the weirdest thing ever,” she remembered. “I was a problem child, a tomboy. I was into heavy metal and doing wrong things.”

At 5”11 and heavy, she had no desire to dance, but once she got a personal trainer and lost the weight, she decided to try. Little by little, she embraced the process and learned that she had a talent for it.

“I had one teacher who changed my life, and all of a sudden I was feeling a real purpose – like, I’m good at this,” Lindsey said. “I felt purpose. I was good at it, and I found community. I felt strong and confident and capable. Before I lost weight, I was not feminine. I began to feel feminine and have fun with the dresses and the hair. I went from not wanting to live to loving life. I know what it feels like to be transformed by dance.”

Lisa started working in the studio where she took lessons and eventually bought that location in 2000. Lindsey started working as a receptionist there at 14, worked as an executive assistant off and on. She began teaching at 19, was a manager for nine years and opened her own studio in 2019.

Working together while Lindsey was growing up, the two had to be very clear about their roles in different situations of their lives.

“We had to recognize if we were being mother and daughter or manager and employee,” Lisa said. “We both had to be very grown up in the moment and decipher how to navigate the different levels of our relationships.”

Lisa ran the business, one of the largest in the nation, while Lindsey managed the staff. Lisa said she struggled as a manager to listen to Lindsey’s perspective as a younger, more innovative generation.

“I think together we did an amazing job communicating, but I had to learn to drop my defenses and listen openly,” Lisa said. “And I made a lot of mistakes – I was a workaholic, and it affected my personal life. Lindsey has learned from that.”

Lindsey agreed.

“I take Wednesday off to spend quality time with my kids,” she said. “But mom taught me so much. I learned from her that if something isn’t going to affect you in five years, don’t worry about it. And that lesson has come in handy this year, especially.”

This year brought a lot of hardship to the Biancos. In addition to having to temporarily close their studios during the pandemic, they lost brother and son, Jason, to a terminal illness, and Lindsey contracted COVID-19. Lisa believes there was a gift from this hardship.

“One thing I learned, that was a beautiful, remarkable gift in working every day with Lindsey and having my son come home to stay with me when his illness became terminal was that you don’t really know who your adult children have grown up to be when they are on their own. And through this journey, I feel so privileged to have known these human beings – every single part of them – it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

“Mom helped my business survive,” Lindsey said. “She taught me perseverance and scrappiness. Seeing her and how she got through struggles is what taught me how to be a stronger woman. There is nothing like a mother.”