Meet Brent Ramirez | Founder & CEO

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

Hi Brent, how does your business help the community?
At Born to Perform Studio, we’re all about more than just teaching kids to sing, dance, and act. We’re here to build confidence, foster creativity, and create a space where every student feels like they belong. Watching kids grow—not just as performers but as people—is what makes this work so rewarding.

One of my favorite things about Born to Perform is our Student Leader Program. We’ve had so many students go from taking classes here to becoming teachers, directors, and even full-time staff. It’s incredible to see them grow into leaders and pass on what they’ve learned to the next generation.

At the end of the day, we’re here to bring people together through the performing arts. The friendships, the confidence, the life skills—it all goes so far beyond the stage. And that’s why I love what we do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career didn’t start in the most traditional way for someone who now runs a performing arts studio. For 10 years, I worked in retail banking—starting as a teller and eventually working my way up to assistant branch manager. But I always knew that wasn’t where my heart was. I ended up leaving banking to go to college for theatre, and eventually, I took the leap and quit my job entirely to audition for Broadway shows.

At the time, I was chasing the dream of performing full-time. But everything changed when I found out I was going to be a dad. That moment shifted everything for me. I realized I wanted to create a life that allowed me to stay involved in the performing arts while also being the kind of father I wanted to be. That’s when Born to Perform Studio really started to take shape—not just as an idea but as a way to build something meaningful that blended my passions with the flexibility I needed for my growing family.

Of course, it hasn’t been a perfect journey. There have been countless long days, stressful nights, and hard decisions—times when I had to miss important events in my kids’ lives because I was taking care of business. But over the years, I’ve built Born to Perform into something sustainable, and now I’ve reached a place where I can work on the studio rather than in it every single day. I get to choose the projects I’m passionate about—like directing a show because I want to, not because I have to in order to make ends meet.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built. Born to Perform started as a one-on-one coaching gig, and now we teach hundreds of kids every year. What was once a small 1,000-square-foot studio has grown into a 6,000-square-foot performing arts space with six studios in Thousand Oaks—and now, our very own theatre venue in Simi Valley.

At the end of the day, I built the kind of space that I wish little Brent had when I first discovered theatre—a place where kids can grow, explore, and be supported in ways that go beyond just training for the stage. And watching our students go from beginners to confident performers—and even future leaders within our studio—is one of the greatest joys of my life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, we’d keep it simple but make sure to hit all the best spots. We’d start with a beach day at Zuma—just a classic, no-frills day by the ocean. After that, we’d grab lunch at Neptune’s Net for seafood with a view, and later, dinner would either be Mastro’s for a great steak or Finney’s for something more relaxed with good beer and burgers.

We’d definitely work in a camping trip at Sycamore Canyon—wake up by the ocean, take a morning hike, and just unplug for a bit. If camping wasn’t the move, we’d do a day in Carpinteria instead—walk the streets, grab some coffee, and just take it easy.

Theatre would definitely be on the itinerary. We’d catch a show at The Pantages in LA and another at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. While in LA, we’d check out The Getty for the art and the views, or if we wanted something different, Moxy in Santa Barbara for a more interactive experience.

Santa Barbara would be another must. We’d spend a day walking around, stopping in shops, maybe doing some wine tasting, and just hanging out. It’s one of those places that’s just easy to be in.

To wrap it all up, we’d drive down PCH one last time, grab coffee at Café de la Plage in Malibu, and just sit by the ocean for a bit before heading home. No big production—just good food, good company, and the best of the area.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Gosh, there are so many people to shout out because Born to Perform Studio is truly a community—students, teachers, parents—everyone plays a part in making it what it is.

But first and foremost, my wife. She supports every crazy idea I have with so much grace and is truly my partner and rock. She’s the best sounding board because she just gets me, and I genuinely value her input more than I can say. There’s no way I could do this without her.

Of course, my Born to Perform team deserves a huge shoutout, but I have to specifically recognize my business partner and friend, Ryan Lefton. He was there from the very beginning—back when this whole idea was just a concept in my parents’ backyard. He’s been a constant source of encouragement, especially in the moments when pushing forward felt too hard. Having someone who believes in the vision as much as I do has made all the difference.

And then there’s Lexi Chase (soon to be Lexi Lefton, thanks to a little matchmaking on my part!). She was my very first Student Leader back when I was just a private voice coach, and now she’s our studio manager and the theatre mom to hundreds of amazing kids. Watching her journey from student to leader to the person running the show with me has been incredible.

At the end of the day, Born to Perform is built on passion, community, and the incredible people who pour their hearts into it every day. I’m just grateful to be a part of it.

Website: https://Borntoperformstudio.com

Instagram: Borntoperformstudio