Juggling two passions is no easy task, but Indiana Cote has seemed to master it.

“Not too many people can be good businessmen. You know Indiana, is as strong as her dancing,” says IU Jacobs School of Music senior lecturer, Christian Claessens.

Indiana Cote is a senior at IU, studying ballet through the IU Jacobs School of Music. Cote has been dancing since the age of three, and started dancing professionally for the Sarasota Ballet in 2014. She then went on to graduate high school in 2015, after finishing her last year online to begin professionally dancing.

Indiana Cote is not only originally from South Bend, Indiana, but she’s named after the state too! Her parents met in line for an Indiana Jones movie, and decided that it would be the perfect name for their daughter.

After dancing for the Sarasota Ballet for four years, Cote left to dance for the Indianapolis ballet for three years. Following almost seven years of professional ballet experience, it was a given that Cote decided to continue her studies, and enroll as a student at Indiana University to study ballet, in 2021.

“Dance is a huge, if not most of my life,” says Cote.

Now during the holiday season, Cote is especially busy. One of the most renowned ballet traditions is the Nutcracker, and every year IU puts on the production, featuring dancers in the ballet program. “I don’t think there’s too many dancers who dislike the Nutcracker, it’s a tradition,” says Claessens.

Indiana Cote has been involved in 23 productions of the Nutcracker, and the IU Jacobs School of Music’s 2024 production will be her 24th. “I have danced so many different roles,” says Cote. One of her standout roles this year is her routine in the “Snow Pas de Doux.”

Nutcracker season can be a busy time for dancers, but Cote has to juggle two passions at once.

Cote grew up not only surrounded by dance, but by fashion. When Cote arrived in Bloomington in 2021, she opened her very own clothing shop, ‘Skullz N’ Bunnies,’ specializing in vintage pieces and sustainable fashion.

“I have always loved fashion,” says Cote. “I learned a lot about retail from [my mom], so it’s always been a part of my life.”

Cote’s mom was a fashion merchandising major, and taught Indiana the ropes of how to run a fashion business. As ‘Skullz N Bunniez’ grew, her mom helped with choosing items to show in the store, helped with logistics, and supported Cote through the process of running her own business .

Cote’s father has helped in the process as well. When she was just getting started, Indiana’s father made a map of all of the estate sales in the east coast and west coast of Florida, and took her on a road trip around the state with a handful of investors’ money to pick out future items for ‘Skullz N’ Bunnies.’

“I literally wouldn’t have this business without them… they really noticed everytime things started picking up, and they really invested their time and energy,” says Cote.

Cote’s fashion passion grew originally from her love of distressing and customizing pairs of vintage jeans for customers. Cote first started this hobby with her friend Kelly Fushikoshi, who she met when dancing professionally for Sarasota Ballet. In fact, Fushikoshi inspired the name ‘Skullz N’ Bunniez.’

“[Fushikoshi] was very much into the PlayBoy bunny era… and I was very into Western Culture (skulls),” says Cote. “Together we just made ‘Skullz N Bunniez.’”

Cote holds this friendship close to her to this day. Cote explains that Fushikoshi was the first real friend that she made when first starting her professional career at Sarasota Ballet. “Ballet’s very very competitive, says Cote. “We got along so well.”

Having her store titled ‘Skullz N’ Bunniez,’ is a testament to their friendship. “It’s interesting that I now have this symbol of a very early part of our friendship,” says Cote.

As Cote settled into her busy life in Bloomington, she was able to combine both of her interests. Last year, Cote was able to choreograph a ballet piece, involving five women wearing items from ‘Skullz N’ Bunniez.’ She was able to provide each dancer with a vintage ballet costume in different pastel colors.

“I got so much good feedback from my professors,” says Cote. “They said it tied together the piece perfectly, and that’s a great representation of how fashion can be the last piece of the puzzle.”

Both of Cote’s worlds combine often. In fact, Cote’s longest store employee Grace Jaramillo, doubles as her ballet classmate and friend.

Cote admits that juggling two things at once can be difficult. But she’s “[grateful] that the only struggles are with [her] schedule, and not the store,” she says.

As Cote reflects back on the opening of ‘Skullz N’ Bunniez,’ she says that, “opening the doors for the first time was incredible. [Bloomington] is the perfect place for a store like this.”

Indiana Cote’s business now helps to fund her dance career.