Ballet Trauma Club Turns One!
Starting Ballet Trauma Club
The hardest part of Ballet Trauma Club was not designing the merch. It was actually starting the business. The legal process was not only time-consuming, it honestly made me question if I should even launch this as its own brand instead of just selling on a platform. It was a major cold-feet moment. But with costs already sunk, I decided the most cost-effective move was to keep going, “Full Out With Feelings”, and see where this new adventure would take me.
On top of that, making sure paperwork was filed, legal documents were drafted, signed, and notarized felt like its own full-length performance. I even went through two web developers before the site finally came together, which delayed the launch. Honestly, it makes sense that Ballet Trauma Club has a Virgo birthday. The perfectionist vibes track.
The Struggles Behind the Scenes
There were sheer moments of panic when things failed on the backend and I had to put in extra hours just to fix it. Supplies got backed up during the holidays, which slowed down fulfillment, and the uncertainty of tariffs and shipping rules pushed me to pivot from international shipping to pre-orders. It was stressful, messy, and very “cries in turnout.”
There would be nights when I questioned, “What if the jokes don’t fly? What if people don’t laugh? WHAT IF THIS ALL WAS A MISTAKE?” The doubt was real. But so was the drive to create a community where we could talk about the realities of the dance industry that are often ignored, or at least delivered in a way that does not feel relatable or comprehensive. Ballet Trauma Club became the place to say the things we were all thinking out loud, and to laugh about them together.
Building a Dance Industry Community
And with the running joke amongst my friends that “I have no friends”, I was beyond terrified to start a brand new social media account. I was secretly bracing myself for a handful of pity follows and radio silence. Instead, our Ballet Besties showed up. Every post was liked, shared, and cheered on.
I have not met most of you in person yet, but it has been so fulfilling to get to know this community through comments and DMs. I particularly enjoy the messages where you share sentiments, open discussions of what our ballet-inspired designs bring to both the professional and educational space, and the ALL CAPS TEXTS AND DMS WITH SIGHS OF RELIEF that you feel seen and heard. Those are the moments that remind me why Ballet Trauma Club exists. Sometimes ballet culture and the dance industry are not easy to put into words, but somehow, a shirt or a tote can say it perfectly.
Lessons From Year One
The process of starting, running, and branding Ballet Trauma Club has been a reminder that time management, priorities, and resilience are the backbone of everything, regardless of business, organization, project, or industry. From the social media posts, to the stories, newsletters, lifestyle apparel designs, and even the aesthetics of this website, all of it has required those qualities.
Especially since BTC is, at the end of the day, a one-woman-show. And yes, sometimes I question if I am doing a good enough job. But you will never be able to take the dancer out of me. That drive for discipline, precision, and expression will always be here. It just looks a little different now.
Gratitude for Our Ballet Besties
Through all of it, you showed up. Whether you bought a tee, carried a tote, slapped a sticker on your water bottle, laughed at a caption, or even just hit “like” on a post, you have been part of Ballet Trauma Club’s first year. You have made this brand what it is, and I want every single one of you to feel seen and heard in this celebration.
Looking Ahead
Year two means refining what we are already doing well, and taking calculated risks when it comes to the structure of the business. Launching the BTC Creator Collective is just the start, a way to explore what is possible in making a stronger national presence. While expanding internationally is on pause for now, we hope to bring back more pre-order options for our Ballet Besties abroad.
We will continue designing even better and funnier items, though honestly, every time a new design drops I wonder how we will ever top it. We are also excited to add more accessories so there is a wider range of items and price points for everyone to enjoy.
The vision has not changed. Ballet Trauma Club will continue creating unisex, casual ballet lifestyle apparel that makes you feel seen, and to show that the realities of the dance industry can be laughed at, celebrated, and worn with pride. Most importantly, BTC will always be a place to have the hard conversations in a lighthearted way, because that is where real connection happens.
Always Open to Feedback
I am always open to suggestions on everything about Ballet Trauma Club, whether it is feedback, design ideas, items we should carry, or even if you think a shade of pink on the site should be different. Feel free to email anytime at hello@ballettraumaclub.com.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here through BTC’s messy first steps, backend meltdowns, and Virgo-style details. Year one was ours. Year two, let us see where we can go together.
With love and gratitude,
Founder, Ballet Trauma Club
