Meet Allison Hrovat | Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison Hrovat and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I created Dance Like a Vegan for me. It is the company that I always wanted to exist and I was sick of waiting around for someone else to make it. I had been pescatarian/vegetarian for 10 years and had recently starting eating vegan and felt amazing. I also started looking more into the products I used, what they were made of and where they came from. I had given up meat and animal products half for my own health benefits and half out of disgust for the animal agriculture industry. However, some products, such as dance shoes, were almost impossible to find without leather or suede. A few brands sold them, but they were not labeled as vegan, and I had to write to ask and did not always receive clear answers, others labeled shoes as vegan but then listed animal products in the materials list, it was very frustrating. Once I had the idea in my mind that someone should list all the options in one place, where vegans and eco-conscious dancers could shop without worrying about scouring the materials list, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I laid awake at night thinking about my idea and eventually enough was enough and I googled “how to make a website” and the rest is history. This company started as a little spark, and 5 years later I am still kept awake at night thinking about my next steps.

What should our readers know about your business?
Dance Like a Vegan is an online store that sells vegan dance shoes. This store is one of a kind and is the only place for vegan and environmentally conscious dancers to shop for shoes without worrying about accidentally buying something containing animal products. It’s like going to a vegan restaurant for the first time and being able to order anything on the menu. I am most proud that vegan dancers all over the world are making the compassionate choice to buy vegan dance shoes, I feel really blessed to be a part of this community. I created this company by myself and the biggest challenge I’ve faced is realizing that I’m not cut out for every aspect of business, but luckily I have many talented and passionate people around me who I can depend on to get the right shot, to engage with social media, or to model the products. Letting go of control and trusting others with something that means so much to me is not easy, but I’ve found that when I give room to let others shine, we are all elevated and the result is more than the sum of it’s parts. What I want my customers to know is that Dance Like a Vegan is for them, I don’t want anyone to pay crazy prices or be inconvenienced in order to make compassionate choices. And for the vegan-curious, you are welcome here! The world does not need a few perfect vegans, everyone is on their own journey and doing their best to make the world a better place, and if my company can help you make one of those many choices in your life a little easier, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If someone were to come visit me in Minneapolis, my current home base, of course I need to recommend all the best vegan places! The pressed sandwiches at The Herbivorous Butcher are top of my personal list, then there’s Trio Plant Based, J. Selbys, Hard Times Café, and Vegan East for all the best vegan food in Minneapolis! During the day nothing beats a walk around Bde Maka Ska or Lake of the Isles, followed by a summer rooftop concert at the Bakken Museum. Once the sun sets then it’s all about dancing. My personal favorite place to dance is at The Tapestry for classes and socials with Zouk Algorhythm, but you will find me anywhere playing salsa or other Latin music such as Los Andes, La Doña, Bar Zia, etc.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Two of my best friends and biggest supporters are Galileo Flores (aka DJ SIIX) and Josette Penzel. Galileo has been my partner on several endeavors, and his skills and passion in music, photography, dance, and media have been a huge asset to my business. Josette is my vegan dance muse and has been in my corner from day 1, I couldn’t have come this far without either of them.

Website: www.dancevegan.com

Instagram: @dance_vegan

Image Credits
Nathan Boutang Eikon Light Photography Abel Custom Photography Roger Lu Glenn Sloat Media