About Us

A little bit about me...

I have always had the itch to create! Even as a college student, one of my hobbies was designing cute clothing for kids and adults and selling it at a local craft mall, back when appliqués and puffy paint were a trend (LOL). Once I had my own two little girls to dress, my hobby came back to life through my new sewing and embroidery machine. I started a successful business on the side through Etsy and knew I had something special. After thousands of orders, I had the confidence to follow my dream and left my teaching career of 16 years to pursue my passion. After only a year at home with my little business, I knew I wanted to take it a step further.

In January of 2015, I decided to sew my last outfit and close up the shop. I knew my talent in designing would be put to use later, I just wasn’t sure when and where. My next dream was to open up my own retail location, and that’s exactly what I did. I called it Gabrielle & Riley (after my two precious girls). It was a children’s clothing boutique with specialty clothing lines and dance wear. Something that our little town of Eden, NC needed. It grew into a place for specialty gift items, too.

I began The Dance Wear Boutique as an online Facebook group in 2015, just a few months after opening. Many people joined the exclusive group to see all of the new and unique dance wear I had to offer. It was an instant success, and many customers became like family. From becoming friends on Facebook, to chatting through private message about new items, to watching their children grow through their posts, relationships blossomed.  After only a year of being open, we needed to move to an even bigger location. Gabrielle & Riley was thriving and so was my little Facebook group The Dance Wear Boutique.

Fast forward three years. Gabrielle & Riley has transformed solely into The Dance Wear Boutique. I knew I had my niche in the dance wear industry, especially as my own daughter became a competitive dancer. Yep, I am a member of the Dance Mom Club (LOL). After searching for new dance wear lines to bring into the store, my ideas starting brewing. So, I started my own dance brand in July of 2016 called Oh La La Dancewear (see I knew that design experience would pop up again and come in handy). 

This journey is not over. I know there is still a lot of ground to cover and new opportunities ahead of me. I am so thankful I listened to my heart and took that chance on my hobby. Anyone can achieve a dream. You have to keep your will strong and your goals clear. Hard work, determination, and a sense of self are what it takes. I am so thankful to every customer who continues to go on this journey with me. I have many that have been with me from the start, and so many new ones each day that I can’t wait to service again! It is because of you all that I can keep planning for bigger and better things in the future!

Much Love!
XOXO

Jennifer Clark
Owner
Carolina Dancewear 
Oh La La Dancewear