OUR MISSION

Our Founder, Monica Gomez, has an incredible journey in which she overcame impossible odds to create more opportunity and pursue her dream of freedom.  She knew deep in her heart that that it was not possible to realize this in a communist country like Cuba.  Although her family and love for her people is great the ability to express herself fully was too stifled under impossible regulations and famine.

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Monica has strong willed parents that love her and did everything in their power to give Monica opportunity, dance was her passion and they supported it with every ounce of their being.  Every day they awoke at 4 am to ride the bus one hour each way to make sure Monica never missed her opportunity to fulfill her dream to be a professional ballerina at the National Ballet of Cuba.  Despite, teachers in Cuba always telling Monica that she would never rise high in the career of ballet due to her height, she persisted nonetheless. Onward and upward, her parents would say, stay the course, for you have great things to accomplish.

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Naturally, she made a commitment as a petite, 5'3", 19 year old to go all alone to the United States and pursue the American Dream of success through raw talent and exposure.  To open a business and be a strong, business woman.

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Although she was met with impossible odds with no home, no one to turn to, and not speaking any english at the time, she was determined to not quit and to not return home to Cuba. 

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In the United States, she faced times of intense cruelty and the harsh reality of fierce competition but she remembered what her parents taught her.  She knew she had to do it for them as much as herself.  She would save every penny she had to afford flights to auditions all over the United States until finally finding her true US Ballet Family at Houston Ballet.  The organization and its members embraced her with love and compassion.  They saw what her parents saw, greatness, the master of fouettés!  She rose through the ranks to become First Soloist in just 5 years with her eyes now set on Principal.

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She stands small but has a grand heart full of love and kindness. 

 

It is with great honor she presents her greatest show yet, Habanza, with a mission to lead young women and men dancers to greatness beyond the dance stage and on to the stage of life.

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The name Habanza holds dear to Monica's heart paying homage to her two greatest loves, her first home Habana and her passion for dancing. 

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We hope you will find inspiration to follow more of this incredible story and support us in our endeavor.

 

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What does Habanza mean?

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Habanza has a deep meaning to me because it is the combination of two precious things in my life, my hometown and dance.

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Where did the name come from?

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I was born in Habana, Cuba, the place where my dance career started, a place I treasure and miss every day. I wanted a name that could identify my origins and my love for dance, that's how the name Habanza came to be!

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How did I decide to venture into creating dancewear?

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I used to create my own designs, buy the fabrics and send to a very talented Cuban seamstress, this way I was able to be more created with fabric and designs that I couldn't find in any store, then I realize creating Habanza could give the same opportunity to other dancers and more.

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What is our purpose?

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From the beginning of my career I always had this ruching feeling of “What’s Next” that never been able to get rid off , our careers are so short but so worth it, I wanted to find my next career and purpose, deep down knew what it was, obviously success is never guarantee, but if you trust God and yourself you are able to do things that you never thought before.

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It took me a long time to get everything together, I wanted to create more than a business. One of the most important mission behind our brand is to help other dancers to have an opportunity to create income and be more prepared in the transition of careers.

 

As a 17 years of been a professional dancer and continuing to be, I understand what most of us like. I looked for a fabric that didn't show our sweat, felt comfortable, soft to the touch and of course that fits snug with enough freedom to execute our movements.

I get inspired every time that I'm in the studio, by the amazing dancers of Houston Ballet and all my friends that dance around the world.
 

Our purpose is to first and foremost make you feel confident of yourself, turn some heads around! We believe everyone is special and deserves happiness and if we can contribute to that by adding a little crisp of joy to your day, that would make our day.  We want you to stand out and look your best!

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We are a small company with big ideas. I will keep getting my inspiration from you and bring innovation, beauty, comfort and confidence to your dance!.