Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine (Katie) Moshier.
Hi Katherine (Katie), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my dance journey in middle school, learning jazz, tap, ballet and musical theater. In 2001 I began teaching ballroom dancing at a social club in Overland Park Kansas. From there, I continued learning at Ballroom Unlimited and went out on my own around 2008. I studied under local competitors and participated in competitions in the local ballroom circuit. I found that I enjoyed teaching social dance versus competitive dance as it had a different focus, less pressure, and was more affordable to many. Ballroom dance intrigued me as I felt it was more inclusive. I found that virtually anyone at any age and body type can engage in this incredibly healthy, low-impact and joyful activity. Once I moved to Lawrence Kansas, I was able to begin teaching there as well as in Kansas City. My home studio in Kansas City is one of the longest established studios. It is called Walters Dance Center. I found a special family there among my fellow dance instructors. In Lawrence I rent a small space so I can also teach locally. I also had the honor of participating in fundraisers, such as Dancing With The Stars for both the BMA foundation and Cristo Rae. In Lawrence I choreographed for and participated in the several of the Transformations fundraisers as well.
As for daily lessons, I mainly teach wedding couples. I also encourage people to create their own groups to come in for their own little private parties. I also encourage small groups for Yoga as I am a 200-hour Certified Yoga Instructor. I find that Yoga pairs well with dance, so I have private yoga sessions with dancers if they choose.
Ballroom Dance has opened up so many opportunities for me. I have appeared in commercials, taught at many fraternity Mother’s Weekends, and have gone to several retirement homes to perform and educate on the history of all the ballroom dances. I’ve also had the honor of working with young adults with disabilities. I think it’s really special that Ballroom Dance has brought all of these different opportunities outside of simply teaching lessons. I feel it becomes more of a service to my community and also becomes a type of therapy for many.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Fortunately, dancing has come naturally to me. Learning all the different styles has been incredibly interesting! Building clientele takes a lot of time, especially without advertising. Word-of-mouth seems to be the best type of advertising along with my website, shallwedanceks.com.
I certainly faced a challenge when Covid hit, face-to-face dancing was simply not an option. Once Covid had passed, I was able to slowly build back my business.
Another significant setback was in January 2024. I had just returned from studying Argentine Tango in Buenos Aires when I was hit with the scariest moment of my life: Stage three endometrial cancer. As a single parent of a 14 year-old and a self-employed woman, it took a lot of support from my dance community, family and friends to be able to make ends meet. Through a fundraiser at Walters Dance Center and a Go Fund Me online, my son and I were able to make it through the rest of the year! I am forever grateful to each and everyone of my friends and family that donated to us!
It took over a year and a half to complete chemotherapy and radiation treatment and to finally be told I’m cancer free in September 2025. I am still not at my strongest, this will be a long road. I hope that I can build back my strength and endurance. During my surgery, I had my obturator nerve damaged, and my left leg is not working very well. Though I may never be the same again, I still have hope!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m known for my upbeat, positive, energy and patience with my students. I also enjoy creating outside of the box of syllabus patterns. I use my background in ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theater to bring in unique combinations within my choreography. I believe that tends to set me apart from only having Ballroom training.
I’m so incredibly proud of seeing the smiles on my students faces! I love that it brings more than just dancing to their lives, it brings confidence, a lifelong passion for many, and so many new friends. It’s an incredible treat to receive photos and videos of my wedding couples performing their first dance, Father/Daughter, or Mother/Son dances. It’s such an incredibly exciting time for these families and it’s such an honor to guide them in their special moment on the dance floor! It’s equally as special to perform with students at our annual showcases at Walters Dance Center. Students will work diligently for six months on routines, and then we have a night full of dancing displaying their hard work in full dress! It’s such a special time! Those are definitely proud moments!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something people may not know doesn’t really have to do with dance, but has to do with the trajectory of my life that lead to my ability to be able to dance.
When I was seven years old, my brother and I were adopted by complete strangers. We were given a new chance at life, one that provided us with a healthy, stable family. I never would be where I am today, I would not have been able to take those dance lessons and learn how to teach. I would not have had the support of a loving family. I would’ve been stuck in an unhealthy lifestyle that would’ve brought so much pain and suffering. A lot of times people think adopted children are very troubled, but I feel that my brother and I saw it as nothing but a blessing. Without that happening, I would not have the compassion I have today and the appreciation for the gifts I was able to give through the art of dance. Our adoption story feels like a unique one as not many children, aged seven and nine get to stay together and be adopted by the same family. It takes a special couple to bring in older children and give them what they gave us! I thank my parents as often as I can for giving us new life!
Pricing:
- $85/ 55 minutes
- Package: 5 lessons for $400
- Students/teachers/veterans $80/55 minutes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Shallwedanceks.com
