MEET A MOM: Kristin Pierce | New Canaan & Darien Moms

Meet Kristin Pierce, the New Canaan mom behind Shooting Stars NYC! Kristin and her husband lived in New York City for over 20 years before moving to New Canaan with their daughter, Harper. She created Shooting Stars, a competitive dance and performing arts company, while in graduate school. Kristin is honored that Shooting Stars will open for the Christmas Spectacular starring The Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall! Her daughter will join the dancers on stage for the famous event, and both of them couldn’t be more thrilled. Read more about the Pierce family, why they love New Canaan and how Kristin created Shooting Stars NYC.   

Photo by Kate Kinsley

How many children do you have and what are their ages?
I have one daughter, Harper who is 9.

What brought you and your family to town?
My husband and I had lived in the city for over 20 years. When our daughter turned 5, we moved to New Canaan. The beautiful nature, overall family vibe and community, plus easy commute really inspired us to make this change.

What’s your favorite aspect about being part of the community?
I love and value the friendships my family and I have made. Knowing that we have supportive friends in our lives that we can count on means everything.

What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
In the summer we love to go boating on the Long Island Sound! In the winter, we enjoy sledding with our neighbors! Especially on a Snow day!

Tell us about your path to launching Shooting Stars NYC.
I grew up dancing and performing. When I created Shooting Stars I was actually in Graduate school at The Actor’s Studio with the New School. I was working professionally as an actor, singer, dancer and was a children’s acting coach on several daytime dramas. As my company expanded, I put more and more time and involvement into making it what it is today. I never imagined that SSDC would win over 800 first place titles from the country’s largest dance competitions or perform for the NY Jets, Harlem Globetrotters, NY Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets! Now we’re opening at Radio City! I built what I was passionate about.

What is the best or most rewarding part of your job?
Honestly, the process. We have girls who started with us at age 6, shy and scared to enter the studio grow into strong and talented leaders by age 18. To witness these same girls performing with us at huge venues like Madison Square Garden or Metlife Stadium for thousands of people, is so rewarding. These girls train at my studio, for multiple hours, several days a week for years. They truly grow up and find themselves with us! Every year I write many college recommendation letters for the dancers about to graduate, and it’s always inspiring to realize how many girls really have grown up shining with Shooting Stars.

 

What is one thing you hear most often from families you work with?
After a successful competition many of my Dance moms ask me, “How in the world do you do this?” which is funny, because I’m not sure I could do anything else!

We understand working in the dance industry, and owning your own business is not your average 9-5 job. How do you juggle work and motherhood?
I try to involve my daughter in the company as much as possible. She’s been in the studio since she was a baby. I promised myself when we moved out of the city she would still train on her dance teams and be involved in the company. She commutes in with me twice a week. My nine year old does the grind with me sometimes. She goes in one/two weekdays after school and every Sunday. She will also be performing with Shooting Stars at Radio City Music Hall. Having my daughter involved and able to witness what I built is very important to me. It’s important to her too! After Covid passed and the city was opening up again, she was the one standing outside the studio with me (at 7 years old) taking the required temperature checks of all our dancers for entry. She helps me pick and sort costumes, choose music, and pack for events etc. I like that she sees the amount of work it takes to run your own business. It isn’t always easy. Honestly though, I have a such a loving and supportive husband and he’s an incredible Dad. He is really what makes any sort of balance possible. I am very grateful.

We understand Shooting Stars NYC is set to open for the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall! Congratulations, what an exciting accomplishment! We imagine everyone in your studio must be ecstatic, what a dream come true.
Everyone is so excited! A true chance of a lifetime! I feel like all our previous events led us here! 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
When things feel overwhelming my own mom says “You gotta laugh.” I think trying to see the absurdity in the daily drama is important. I know that if I’m at least able to laugh through the craziness, I am staying grounded. I still have to constantly remind myself to do this. When my daughter was younger, I was beyond sleep deprived and my company was growing so fast. Laughing about the small things wasn’t easy, but it kept me sane. Around that same rewarding but exhausting time, I was preparing to speak at a seminar for budding entrepreneurs, and before I went on stage, I reached into my purse to grab lip gloss and instead pulled out an old french fry from my daughter’s lunch the day before. You gotta laugh!

How do you unwind when you need some “me time?”
I really love to paint. I actually exhibit at The Carriage Barn quite frequently. Painting is a huge passion, but also a great way for me to turn off and just create. 
https://workbykristinpierce.com

Any words of wisdom?
People always say, it’s not personal, its business. My husband reminds me of this a lot. However, I have to disagree with him in this regard, because if it’s not personal to you, then what’s the point of trying to balance it all? I think it has to be personal because if your heart isn’t in it, you won’t be either. I am blessed to be able to do something that is personal to me, and maybe that is why it’s been successful. 

We love supporting local businesses. Favorite places in town (or near town) to…
Have dinner with/without kids:  Spiga
Grab a drink with friends: Uncorked
Have a date night:  Roger Sherman
Spend time together as a family indoors/outdoors: Echo Farms 
Grab coffee: Starbucks

ABOUT SHOOTING STARS NYC
Shooting Stars NYC encourages girls to find their voices, and develop lifelong friendships through performing arts. The company consists of talented dancers ages 6 – 18, all of whom auditioned to be in the company. The students of SSDC have won over 800 titles at some of the largest Dance Competitions in the Country; gone on to receive scholarships; and many continue to dance on elite college teams. The renowned dance company has been featured in W Magazine, AGT, HBO, Teen FOX News, and performed for The Harlem Globetrotters, NY Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and NY Jets. Shooting Stars dancers are well-versed in all styles of dance including hip- hop, street jazz, lyrical, acro, musical theater, and contemporary. Kristin also coaches vocal and acting lessons privately. 

 

For more information about Shooting Stars program, dance teams, recreational classes, school programs, private lessons, and more, please visit: www.ShootingStarsNYC.com

www.ShootingStarsNyc.com
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