Life & Work with Cathy Patterson of Olathe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Patterson.

Hi Cathy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story began as a young dance student in Topeka, KS. I grew up dancing at a local studio and loved dance. It was a way for me to express myself, release anxiety, build my self-confidence, and be around a strong community of people. I attended the University of Kansas and majored in Human Biology with a concentration in dance. After college, I became the assistant director at the dance studio I grew up in and eventually owned the studio. I wanted to continue growing my dance career, so I sold my studio and moved to LA, where I studied at adult dance studios and performed in numerous dance productions and on television. I returned to Kansas because of my growing family and moved to Lawrence, KS. At this time, I saw a need for an adult dance studio in the Northeast Kansas area similar to the ones I had attended in LA. So, Point B Dance was born in 2008. The studio resided in Lawrence for 15 years, catering mainly to KU students. In 2022, I changed the scope of Point B Dance to reach more dancers. I started the “On the Move” program, where we offered Point B Dance classes in multiple cities, including Olathe, Lawrence, and Topeka. This brought more dancers to our program and allowed me more freedom to pursue my growing business – Cathy Patterson Dance – as an independent dance educator/choreographer/adjudicator. Currently, we are offering contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and heels classes in Olathe at Johnson County Dance Center and in Lawrence at Dance Gallery and pop-up classes in various other Northeast Kansas locations with our amazing faculty – Andie Stitt, Candice Townsend, Taylor Albaugh, Deena Schaumburg and myself. This has allowed me to fulfill my dream job of traveling to different locations and spreading the love of dance to students of all ages, abilities, and styles.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing is ever a smooth road to fulfilling a dream. The first Point B Dance classes began in a church only available at certain times, and the floor was extremely slick. We were there for just 6 months until I found a tiny space in a strip mall. The space was so small that I sometimes had to turn people away, but it felt like home. After three years in that space, I moved to a larger space. This, of course, came with a more significant rent, and the struggle to pay that rent was real. I had to expand my offerings, including a few children’s camps/classes and fitness classes. I had a small child at that time, and I was working very hard to make ends meet and trying to meet my family’s needs as well. Slowly, the studio grew. Then 2020 happened. Point B Dance closed for several months but reopened with many Covid safety protocols. Class sizes were small for over a year, but we saw slow growth. By the end of 2021, things were getting close to normal. Of course, choosing to offer classes at several locations in 2022 was difficult with logistics, advertising, and just the change for the current clients. But with time and persistence, we have grown and successfully reached dancers in many locations. My business “Cathy Patterson Dance,” has always been a juggling game with the studio, ensuring I am present in both capacities and with my family.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work as a dance artist/creative encompasses many different “jobs.” I have them listed below. I am most proud that I can spread the love of dance through the positivity/encouragement of my students in so many different capacities.

1. Owner of Point B Dance Studio and,  I am the creative director of the Point B Dance Company. In this capacity, I run the business side of the studio as well as choreography for classes and performances.
2. Technique Coach for the Baker University Dance Team in Baldwin City. I work with the team on ballet and jazz techniques to strengthen their skills for competition and performances.
3. Dance teacher for several local dance studios. I teach several ballet, tap, and contemporary classes weekly to middle/high school dance students in Olathe and Lawrence.
4. Guest teacher for studios in Kansas and Missouri. I travel the area guest teaching at studios that hire me to teach ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and improvisation to their students as an extra class or at a camp.
5. Guest choreography for studios in Kansas and Missouri. I travel to studios to set pieces for their competitions and recitals. Studios usually hire me for a 4-hour stint to teach their students a contemporary, lyrical, or jazz dance.
6. Dance cleaning for studios in Kansas and Missouri. I travel to studios to work with dances preparing for competition and offer my critiques and corrections before they hit the competition stage.
7. Dance Competition Adjudicator. I spend weekends at dance competitions giving scores and feedback to amateur dancers.
8. Teacher Training. Studios hire me to educate their teachers in classroom management and curriculum.
9. Dance Studio Connection owner – a studio consulting business.
10. Fitness and Yoga teacher – I have a group exercise certification and a 200-hour yoga certification and teach weekly at my local Genesis.
11. Producer of shows for my company and performances for young dancers preparing for competition.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
My advice to those just starting is to keep training in all dance styles and keep going despite the competitive nature of dance. Remember that we are all unique in who we are and what we offer. You don’t have to try to be someone else. Students respond to those who are authentic and who genuinely care about their students.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pointbdance.com
• Instagram: @pointbdance / @cathypattersondance
• Facebook: Point B Dance / Cathy Patterson Dance
• Twitter: Point B Dance
• Youtube: Point B Dance

Image Credits
Deena Schaumburg, Raymond Dodson, Lexi Holifield, Andie Stitt