Meet Nora Massisimo | Dancer & Founder

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

Hi Nora, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, running a studio was never really my dream.

It happened during COVID, when everything shut down and I suddenly didn’t have a space to train, grow, or stay connected to the industry. I needed a community — so I created one. I started Studio20 with people who were close to me, people who understood the vision and what we could build together.
At that point, I was still very much in my own journey. I wanted to keep dancing, to work in the commercial industry, to choreograph, to move into creative direction. I never wanted to become just a studio owner — and that was actually really important to me.

What Studio20 became, over time, was more than just a studio. It became a platform. It gave me stability — a foundation that allowed me to keep investing in myself, to travel, to train internationally, and to build a network that I could bring back into the space. It created opportunities not just for me, but for the people around me.

At the same time, I had to learn everything from scratch. Building a business, making decisions, failing — a lot. Especially navigating leadership in an environment where many of the dancers are close to me in age. Finding that balance between being a mentor, a peer, and a professional has been one of the most challenging parts.

I also started to understand that I was building two businesses at once. One is Studio20 — the structure, the systems, the growth. The other is me as an artist — as a dancer, choreographer, and creative. And those two require very different things. So I’ve had to learn how to keep myself active in the industry while also running something bigger than myself.

And somewhere along the way, it stopped being just about creating a space — and became about the people.

I genuinely care about the dancers I work with and the community we’re building. That responsibility changed everything.
I’m still learning. The industry evolves, the business evolves, and so do I. But I think that’s also what keeps it alive — you have to keep moving, keep adapting, and keep building.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work across different parts of the industry — as a dancer, choreographer, and running my own studio — but at the core, everything I do is about movement, storytelling, and understanding how to build a long-term career in this industry.
What sets me apart is that I’m still actively in it while building something around it. I’m not just teaching from the outside — I’m still auditioning, training, and navigating the same challenges as the dancers I work with.
That keeps my work honest and grounded in reality.

I’m most proud of having built something that supports both my own career and others. Studio20 started from a need, but it has become a platform for development, community, and real industry preparation. It’s allowed me to stay active internationally while creating something sustainable.

It hasn’t been easy. There’s been a lot of uncertainty and having to start over — especially moving into new markets where you have to rebuild everything from scratch. One of the biggest lessons has been learning to stay adaptable and let go of ego. This industry evolves constantly, and you have to be willing to grow with it.

What I want people to understand about me is that my work is built on honesty. I care about creating something real.
And I’m still in it. Still learning, still building, still pushing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For me, the perfect week in LA would revolve around food, movement, and just experiencing the city in a real way.
I’d start with a morning at a farmers market — either the Hollywood Farmers Market on Sundays or Larchmont Village during the week. Good coffee, fresh fruit, something warm to eat, and just walking around. It’s one of my favorite ways to slow down and feel the city.
We’d definitely go on a hike — probably Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon — just to get that mix of nature and those iconic LA views. It’s such a reset and a big part of the lifestyle here.
On the weekend, I’d take them to the Silver Lake Flea Market. It has such a creative energy — vintage pieces, good people, and that slightly curated but still relaxed vibe.
Then we’d do a beach day in Laguna Beach. It’s a bit outside the city, but that’s exactly why I love it. It feels calmer, more intentional — a full day of swimming, eating, and just being present.
Food would be a big part of everything. I love mixing casual spots with something a bit more elevated, but always keeping it social — long meals, sharing, and just enjoying the moment.
For me, the best part of LA isn’t doing the most — it’s finding a rhythm. Moving, eating well, being outside, and being around people you care about.

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?
I owe a lot of who I am to the people around me.
First and foremost, my parents. They’ve shaped my mindset in a way that has carried me through everything — especially the idea of not giving up. My father, in particular, has always supported my dreams in a very real way. He never pushed me toward a traditional path, because he could see how clear this was for me. Instead, he chose to believe in it — and in me. He’s even sat with me trying to understand how I could build something of my own, which has meant a lot.
I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have mentors who have guided me through this industry over many years. People who have been honest with me — about both the good and the difficult sides of this career — and who have helped me understand how to move within it.

Beyond that, I have a small circle of close friends and family who have really been my support system. The kind of people who hold you up when things feel uncertain, and remind you who you are when you start to doubt it. That kind of support is everything, especially when you’re building something in a space like this.
Because the reality is — this path is not easy. Moving internationally and starting again, especially at a point in your life where you’re already established somewhere else, requires a different kind of mindset. You have to be willing to start over, to stay humble, and to constantly learn.

For me, one of the biggest lessons has been letting go of ego. Coming into new environments as a sponge, rather than holding on to who you think you are. That’s the only way you grow, and the only way you stay relevant in an industry that is constantly evolving.
So I think my shoutout goes to my “village” — the people who support me, challenge me, and keep me grounded while I continue to grow.

Website: https://studio20.nu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noramassisimo/

Image Credits
JONAS JENSEN