Our Story
On Emily’s birthday in April of 2008, a seemingly ordinary phone call set everything in motion. Cassie, on a whim, had applied to work as a makeup artist for a magazine photo shoot — despite having little formal experience. To her surprise, she landed the job and asked Emily to come along and pose as her assistant. Without hesitation, Emily said yes.
While Cassie worked with the models, Emily filled the room with confidence, making pretend calls to pretend clients on her Blackberry. Their natural chemistry, professionalism, and ease did not go unnoticed. To celebrate the unexpected success of the day, the two wandered through Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. While shopping at a Steve Madden store, a salesperson casually asked what they did. Without missing a beat, they replied, “We own a dance and entertainment company.”
Three years later, that spontaneous answer became reality. Cassie and Emily officially opened the doors to CaRu Entertainment — a vision born from instinct, creativity, and an unshakable belief in possibility.
Cassie and Emily first met during their rookie year on the Philadelphia Wings Angels Dance Team. Within weeks of becoming friends — over a casual lunch — they made a pact: one day, they would open a business together. Cassie shared her dream of opening a dance studio in New Jersey, and Emily responded simply, “I’m in.” Words that would ultimately seal their fate.
In the years that followed, the two immersed themselves in every corner of the entertainment world. They co-hosted Comcast OnDemand’s Girls Night Out series, launched and directed the second-ever professional dance team in the U.S. for the American National Rugby League — the Philadelphia Fight Vixens Dance Team — and traveled across the country pursuing opportunity and experience. From flying to Phoenix to audition for So You Think You Can Dance to spending weekends in Los Angeles meeting with professional choreographers about launching a traveling dance convention, they chased growth wherever it led.
All of this unfolded while Emily balanced a full-time career and completed her first master’s degree, and while Cassie was living in New York City, pursuing her path as a professional dancer. Together, they were building the foundation — professionally, creatively, and personally — for what CaRu Entertainment would one day become.
CaRu Entertainment began as a New York City–based dance troupe, booking performances for charity events, music videos, and concerts. Cassie ran the company from her tiny Chelsea apartment while performing as the lead of the crew, and Emily led marketing and communications. Over time, they discovered that teaching and mentoring dancers was their true calling. What began as workshops quickly expanded into weekend classes across the tri-state area — and even as far as Arizona, where CaRu hosted a full dance intensive.
As the program grew, so did the challenges of renting space and constant travel. Cassie and Emily knew they wanted something more permanent — a place to build, train, and grow. They wanted a home.
In May of 2011, Cassie called Emily late one night and said, “Let’s do this. I want to open a studio. Are you in or are you out?” At the time, Emily was enrolled full-time in graduate school. Without hesitation, her answer was simple: “I’m in.”
Just days after Cassie wrapped up a series of summer camps in Avalon, New Jersey, and Emily completed her second master’s degree, they unlocked the doors to the CaRu Entertainment Dance Complex for the first time. That was August 2011. By September, they welcomed their first students. By October, they launched their very first competition team.
And that was only the beginning.