Kara Jacobson has been dancing since she was 2 years old. Trained in classical ballet, the Atlanta native attended the esteemed Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School and studied in New York City. She has been finding joy in dance and dance education ever since.

Kara is also trained in public health and is a faculty member of the Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health. Four years ago, she found a way to combine her two passions, public health and dance, when she opened The Atlanta Dance Academy (TADA).

TADA offers dance education and performance opportunities for all ages, skill levels and abilities – from beginners to pre-professionals. "We break down the barriers that have traditionally ruled centers of dance education," says Kara. "We are keenly interested in movement as a form of physical and mental therapy and are committed to providing dance and movement for those with disabilities, which is hard to find in the dance world."

Kara demonstrated resilience and keen focus to get TADA off the ground in 2016 but soon faced a setback during the I-85 bridge collapse in 2017, which snarled traffic near the studio for months. With the onset of COVID-19, Kara faced yet another setback. She closed her doors on March 14 and immediately began losing revenue from class tuition, fees, performances, studio rental income and private coaching sessions.

As a public health professional, Kara knows well the dangers of COVID, but she is also aware of how the arts and dance can provide a healthy relief for the community when stressors are high. So, she quickly committed herself to navigating an online dance program.

"We were able to pivot, but early on, I could feel my stamina waning," says Kara. "I'm a one-woman show with employees, clients and rent. I have overcome barriers before in public health, such as teaching health literacy to the underserved, but the speed that I had to pivot during COVID was like warp speed. I've done a half Ironman; this race felt like a full Ironman." 

When Kara learned about the Invest Atlanta Resurgence Grant Fund, her grueling race of endurance eased. As part of the federal CARES Act, the fund provides eligible businesses with grants of up to $40,000 and a credit of up to $10,000 for technical assistance to reimburse the costs associated with adapting business operations in a post-COVID environment.

"I applied and was so impressed by the entire experience," says Kara. "Invest Atlanta offered webinars to explain the application process and even set up a helpline to answer questions over the weekend. It was very clear to me that they understand the stress small business owners are going through and are committed to helping them be successful."

For Kara, the Resurgence Grant Fund not only reduces the stress of being able to cover payroll and other expenses, it also has helped her purchase and install the technology and software upgrades necessary to implement a hybrid dance program. 

"This business brings me great joy, and I want to make sure that dance continues to bring joy to the community, especially in these challenging times," says Kara. "I'm committed to making it work because I'd lose too much if I didn't – physically, emotionally and financially. I want to see it through and am committed to the fight."