Life & Work with Andie Stitt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andie Stitt.

Hi Andie. Can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
When I was four years old, my mom took me to my first dance class, and she said it was love at first move. 14 years later, I decided to continue my dance journey by attending college for dance. I began teaching at Wichita State University in the dance department after graduating. Fast forward to now, and I currently teach at 150+ dance studios nationwide annually. I choreograph for dance teams, dance studios, conventions, professional teams, etc. I connect with 400+ dancers across the county every week. In 2022, I taught or judged in 38 different states. I also live with Type one diabetes and mentor dancers living with Type one diabetes all over the country. I am a cancer survivor. When I was 20, I was diagnosed with sarcoma from a tumor in the upper part of my right arm. I underwent cancer treatment and have been clear for almost 12 years. I use Type one diabetes and cancer as a platform to remind young people they can do anything they want to with perseverance and determination. I remind them that any health issue they are dealing with is just a little speed bump, not a stop to what they want to accomplish with their lives. I got married in November of 2022 to my high school sweetheart Zane. We reside in Kansas City, KS, with our three cats. We are super close with the families that live close to us. We became aunt and uncle for the first time immediately after our wedding to our nephew, Jack. My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a few years ago, and my family has only gotten closer and more caring for each other in that time. We are positive, upbeat, and lively and feel fortunate to be where we are today.

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been a little bumpy, for sure. My health is a massive part of that. But not a definition of me as a human or a dance educator. Constantly checking my blood sugar, giving myself insulin, and obviously, the wear and tear on my body when undergoing cancer treatment is rough. I always keep a positive outlook and try to fight everything with a smile. I was already teaching dance to younger dancers when the cancer diagnosis came along, so being strong and a good leader for them, even during that trial, was very important. Sometimes my blood sugars can get in the way of my work, but I deal with them quickly and move on to what I love. I wear a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) on my stomach and an insulin pump on my leg. These placements can sometimes be frustrating when exercising with my dancers, but I make it work. Dance education itself can be exhausting. The hours are long, and constant exercise can quickly wear you down. But, in my opinion, the outcome is so worth it!

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Dance Educator – teach dance, judge dance competitions, teach guest classes, choreograph routines for studios, teams, professional teams, etc. I also teach injury prevention to ensure that dancers of any age are safe and intelligent when exercising. Dance-wise, I specialize in all levels of technique – leading the correct way to do things – not just the easy way. I am mostly hired for hip-hop, jazz, tap, and contemporary choreography. Studios from all over the country bring me in to uplift their dancers with positive energy and help maintain a good culture in the studio. While there, I teach guest classes and set choreography for their students. I am extraordinarily high-energy and known for my playful and innovative approach to teaching. Every dancer deserves to feel seen, and I make sure they all are. Dancers leave my classes feeling proud, excited, and hungry for the next step in their training. I market myself on the experience the dancers get, not just the combination we are working on, the steps we are doing, but the whole thing. Did they feel seen? Did they feel included? Did they learn something? Did they work hard? Were they validated? ETC. These are all massively important to me. I teach 400+ kids to young adults every week. I want to impact their lives for the little time we have together.

Can you talk to us about the role of luck?
The bad luck I have had with some moments of health in my life has been super helpful to me. I am tough, a hard worker, and I don’t let anything get in my way because I’ve had some trying moments of bad luck with my health that could have stopped me. I did not let them, and it’s been fantastic to overcome these things and teach others how to do so. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by amazing kids daily and a fantastic husband, family, and friends. My life isn’t perfect, but I am so grateful for where my hard work and dedication to my craft led me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: andiestitt10
• Facebook: Andie Stitt

Image Credits
Rhythm Alley Dance, Johnson County Dance Center, PRC Dance Academy, Wichita State University Dance Team and Chiefs Cheerleaders