Three Minutes Across the Counter With Dany Holdstein

Today we chat with Dany Holdstein of Dany Holdstein Two Worlds, a dance and fitness studio. The company is located at 340 Wheatley Plaza in Greenvale.

Patch: How did you first start in business?

I was serving in the Israeli Air Force and as a hobby started folk dancing.  I was asked to join a performing troop and went on tour with them; one of our stops was in the United States.  I knew I wanted to make a career of dance and in order to achieve my goal I decided that when I finished my service I would move the United States and study dance.

Patch: Tell us something your neighbors don’t know about you
 
Most people consider me to be an Israeli native; however, I was actually born in Egypt.  My mother literally escaped with me and my older brother to France, while my father was detained until he was finally released after paying “officials” an “exit” fee.  My mother, brother and I reunited with my father in Israel where I lived until I came to the United States.

Patch: How long have you lived here?
       
I moved to New York City in 1976, on a student visa to study at the Martha Graham School of Dance.  I’ve been here for 38 years.

Patch: How did your parents influence you as a business owner?
       
Well, I actually rebelled against them when I made my career choice.  Before moving here, I was trained as an electrician, and my parents wanted me to follow that career path.  Eventually they came to accept and respect the choice I made for myself.

Patch: What is your favorite thing about living here?

The freedom, size and scope of choices everyone has in this country.  Also, that this country is made up of so many different cultures.

Patch: What is a business mistake that you made, that later you were glad you did?
       
In the early nineties, I was expanding my business to include a full service gym. Not knowing enough about running a gym, I went into partnership with a young couple who were trainers.  It wasn’t a good match, in fact the partnership was an absolute disaster.  I was able to work myself out of the situation and learned a great deal along the way, not only about running a gym, but also loyalty and not to be so naïve about the character of people I would work with in the future.

Patch: What is the best business advice you ever received?

Someone told me to treat my business like a baby.  Take really good care of it and watch it grow.

Patch: What advice would you give to a small business owner just starting out?
       
Exactly the same advice I was given when I started out.

Patch: What do you look for when you hire?
 
In this business, I look for people who are creative, talented, professional, dependable, motivated, responsible and they must be good at interacting with people.