Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Rochester.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Originally from Portugal, I moved to the USA in 2009 to start a teaching and professional career in the dance industry.
I’ve always danced while growing and when I was 15 that’s when I decided to pursue a dance career, I started right away with Competitive Ballroom and Latin Dances, as well as Mambo-Salsa Freestyle. My other passion was performing, I took a lot of dance training in Jazz, Musical Theater, Hip Hop, Funk and Vogue, participating in many local and national shows. But my favorites were and still are the Ballroom & Latin Dances. If I was dancing, I was happy, that’s all I needed.
Then I received the invitation to come teach to the States, how could I say no to that! So in 2009 I moved to Texas and worked with some of the main dance companies in Houston and successfully I was able to open my own Ballroom and Latin Dance Studio 2 years ago in The Woodlands.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most people don’t know, but the dance world can be very personal and dramatic, I’ve been there and things were not easy, even within the same dance company there is rivalry among dancers. We have to separate the artistic-competitive life from friendships and relationships.
Coming to the USA was not only exciting, but very challenging at first. I moved here alone and had no idea of what would be here for me and if it would even be possible to make it come true. Did not know anybody neither…
It was a great process of growth, not only personally but professionally as well, everything is bigger in America, and so it’s to competition to succeed. Always have to be willing to get better and do the best you can.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Patricia’s Dance Lessons – what should we know?
Patricia’s Dance Lessons has been around for 6 years now and I used to teach at different studios, but finally we have a beautiful studio in The Woodlands.
At PDL Dance Studio we offer Dance Instruction for all ages, levels and abilities for a large variety of Dance styles such as Ballroom, Latin, Weddings and Dance Fitness (LaBlast). Our mission is to provide high quality dance instruction and bring happiness to people’s lives through dancing.
Every program is tailored for the individual personally, we don’t believe on the “one size fits all” and the standard programs. Whether the person just wants to learn some basics for fun; learn competitive style dancing to be the best or want an exclusive wedding dance choreography, the main focus is making sure the student receives the best dance instruction possible to achieve those final goals, while still having fun of course! We all have a great time during class.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
In this industry, to excel, first of all I have to be an Entertainer, All the rest comes after…
In the business side, taking critiques and comments it’s something I always welcome, as there’s always room for improvement and new ideas.
Pricing:
- Private Lessons Adults – $90/session
- Wedding Dance Packages – $90-$800 (varies depending on the type of choreography)
- LaBlast Dance Fitness – $65/month – Saturdays 9.30am
Contact Info:
- Address: Patricia’s Dance Lessons
24913 Kuykendahl Rd, Ste A
The Woodlands, TX 77375
(Creekside Area) - Website: http://patriciasdancelessons.com/
- Phone: 832-465-3595
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriciasdancelessons/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patriciasdancelessons/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/patriciasdance
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/patricias-dance-lessons-tomball-2?osq=dance+lessons
- Other: https://vimeo.com/patriciasdancelessons
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