United by a passion for dance, Armel Omatoko and Jackie Traoré are co-owners of Studios Uplift514 in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie neighborhood. A key player in the Montreal dance scene, this dynamic space is dedicated to promoting Afro-urban dances and Afro-descendant cultures.
Armel et Jackie | Co-owners of Studios Uplift514 | ©Saphir Optimiste
Armel and Jackie, Co-owners of Studios Uplift514 | Dance Studio and Cultural Space
Armel and Jackie both considered themselves citizens of the world before settling in Montreal. It was in 2015, after meeting on a dance floor, that they decided to go into business together by founding Uplift514.
At the time, Armel was working with youth. It was at the youth center Maison des jeunes l’Escampette that he first began teaching dance, which later inspired him to take the leap into entrepreneurship.
“I wanted to take something that had always been part of my life [dance] and turn it into something serious, something I would commit to fully,” he explains.
As for Jackie, she was completing a bachelor’s degree in English Literature at the Université de Montréal, which sparked her passion for all things art-related—a major shift for her, as she had initially studied computer science.
Growing Your Business While Managing Risk
To build their clientele while minimizing risk, Armel and Jackie initially rented various spaces to launch their project. Based on their skills, they agreed that Armel would be in charge of teaching while Jackie would handle the administrative side of the business. Step by step, they developed their service offering and succeeded in building a regular clientele that has become like a real family to them.
To better meet the growing needs of their clients, they decided in 2023 to take a calculated risk and open their own studio—an artistic and community-centered space. At that point, Armel and Jackie began questioning their business model and how to ensure its long-term viability. That’s when they first connected with Microcredit Montréal.
Entrepreneurial Support: A Key Factor in Their Success
In addition to helping them secure a loan to finance their business, Microcredit Montréal provided strategic advice in marketing and business development, as well as significant support in improving the physical layout of their new studio. “Getting into entrepreneurship is diving into the unknown. Having people who supported us, advised us, helped us think things through and offered us tools—that really helped us,” says Armel.
Despite their many successes, the business partners also faced challenges. Hiring teachers and assigning roles and responsibilities within the team has involved a lot of trial and error. “Beyond that, there’s also an inner struggle to not give up—to keep pushing and to lean on each other,” Armel adds.
Today, Studios Uplift514 has four teachers and a clientele from across Montreal and surrounding areas. “We love what we do, but we’re still growing—both as individuals and as a project,” Jackie notes.
©Saphir Optimiste
More Than Just a Dance Studio: A Movement
Since the beginning, Armel and Jackie have aimed to create a community space for learning, expression, and growth—well beyond just classes and performances. With this mission in mind, they look to the future with great enthusiasm and optimism.
There’s no shortage of projects at Studios Uplift514! In addition to recently launching an intensive program for semi-professional dancers specializing in Afro-urban styles, they also plan to invest more in cultural projects.
“We want to offer artist residencies and collaborations with various businesses and institutions. Our goal is to create initiatives that further promote Afro-descendant cultures,” says Armel.
In this spirit, Armel and Jackie also plan to organize trips with their students to immerse them in the cultures they celebrate.
With an unwavering sense of community, Jackie adds that they also want to take concrete steps toward becoming a socially responsible business. “We’re a cultural business, but also a social enterprise, and we want to have a bigger impact in society,” she adds.
Lately, the entire Uplift514 team has been busy preparing for the summer season, during which they will offer outdoor performances and a summer camp. Their full programming and class offerings are available on their website.
Like Armel and Jackie, would you like to benefit from financial support and guidance from Microcredit Montréal to bring your business projects to life?