As Northwest Arkansas continues to experience rapid growth, we are privileged to become acquainted with entrepreneurs and small business owners who offer innovative, interactive experiences to enhance our quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. The following stories are from our local creative economy.

Dance with Me Studio by Aura
This dance studio is located at 210 E. Chestnut St. in Downtown Rogers. Owner Aura Figueroa is dedicated to share her passion for the art of dancing. She teaches social dancing as well as competitive and performance dance. She also choreographs all types of ballroom and Latin dances.  With 24 years of experience, her system of teaching is friendly and designed to offer students the opportunity to quickly learn dance steps using a fun and easy-to-learn instruction. Dance with Me Studio by Aura offers a variety of programs for students at any age and any level. Their instructors have been professionally trained to offer the best experience on the dance floor along with exceptional customer service. 

Dance with Me Studio by Aura customizes packages according to the students’ needs with instruction offered in their downtown studio or other locations convenient to their clients. The programs and services offered include private and group dance instruction for kids and for adults, wedding dances, entertainment (performances for all type of events), choreography of all types, Quinceanera dances, Friday dance nights, bridal showers, birthday parties, and date nights.

When asked what led Figueroa to bring her business in Downtown Rogers, she responded, “I have always found Downtown Rogers to be an attractive part of the city.  It caught our attention due to the beautiful, historic buildings, numerous community and family friendly activities and potential for growth,” she explained. “We saw opportunities for our business to grow when located in a spot that is in pure development mode,” she continued. “Something else that we enjoy about Downtown Rogers is the support and celebration of diversity and inclusion. It is a fun city that always have something to offer.”

Figueroa recognizes the economic opportunities found in services that are fully interactive.  In addition to their group and private dance instruction for singles and couples, they provide social dance nights where the public is welcome to participate and “get their feet wet” when it comes to trying out structured dance. Their socials offer a welcoming and safe atmosphere to enjoy a fun activity while meeting new friends.

When asked whether she recommends other businesses offering ticketed experiences that customers reserve and pay for in advance, Figueroa responded, “We encourage other businesses to consider including ticketed experiences in their business model. This is a great way to evaluate ahead of time the success of the event and the commitment of the costumers.” Learn more about this locally owned business and how she is enhancing the creative economy through ticketed experiences in Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding region. https://www.facebook.com/dancewithmestudiobyaura/

37 North Expeditions
This business is a guiding company that aims to make it simple and convenient for people to explore the Ozarks in a social setting through diverse and innovative outdoor adventures. The company was started after Danny Collins left his job working for National Geographic in South America and returned with his wife, Cristina Bustamante, to their hometown of Springfield, Missouri. They immediately were reminded how much they love the Ozarks outdoors and saw opportunity in those hills. To help more people experience outdoor living in the Ozarks, Collins and Bustamante set out to form a business designed to allow people in our region meet and experience nature with other like-minded outdoor lovers.  In 2020, they engaged friend and outdoor adventure lover, Ryan Hale, and expanded their offerings to encompass the popular biking adventures scene.

Founded in 2018, 37 North Expeditions’ guides offer experiences that include activities in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas ranging from hiking to paddling and from biking to horseback riding. They also offer unique and memorable offerings such as hiking with goats and holiday themed events.  All events can be experienced as a single ticket event or private group excursion!

When asked what they enjoy about offering these experiences, Collins responded, “We love showing everyone how amazing our backyard really is,” he shared. “There is a true sense of satisfaction knowing we can help bring people together as they bond with others as well as the great outdoors.” 

As a young company that has seen rapid growth, 37 North has 25 guides with different areas of expertise. All are experienced outdoor guides and all carry Wilderness First Aid certifications.  “You can go on the same adventure more than once but have a totally different experience based on who your guide is,” Collins explained. “We are fortunate to have cultivated a talented team. They are all amazing and help us offer a unique and memorable experience to our clients.”

37 North Expeditions customizes experiences for private groups whether their customers are looking for an adventure with family, friends, clients, or corporate teams. They have an assortment of starting points from which to choose as they plan the excursion.  Organizers may choose one of those excursions on any day that works for them, or they can further customize the experiences with a personal meeting to talk about the exact wants/needs and objectives. Each excursion can be customized as a unique adventure.  “We can develop anything in the outdoors to make your group have the best overall time and feel safe doing it,” explained Collins. “Whether our adventure seekers are making arrangements for a company team-building outing or a social group experience, we aim to please.”   

When asked what he most loves about our region, Collins responded, “Northwest Arkansas is truly becoming a melting pot of people from all over with all different backgrounds that share one common theme - we all love our outdoors and active lifestyle.  There really is not a better place to live right now to get the best of all worlds!” You can learn more about this company and see how they have established a solid business model offering ticketed experiences that enhance the quality of life in our region at www.37northexpeditions.com/

Honeycomb Kitchen Shop (HKS)
This locally owned business is known for high-quality cooking tools, cookware and curated kitchen supplies. A reputation for personalized service, product knowledge and interactive classes taught by local culinary talent sets the store apart from the competition. With seven to eight sold-out classes per month, plus customized parties and corporate events, interactive classes in their store have become a significant part of their income. They have transitioned to virtual classes as well due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

HKS announced earlier this year an expansion that should be complete in May. The new HKS will feature three stories next door to their location at 213 W. Walnut St. in downtown Rogers.