Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Arias.
Hi Kat, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have wanted to dance my entire life, but I never had any formal dance instruction until I was fourteen years old and taking dance lessons for my Quinceñera. That instructor pulled my mom aside one day when I returned as a college student and told her that I needed to teach and that I could dance. Up until that moment, I never felt like I was taken seriously in my dance dreams.
When I was in college, I found a part-time job as a receptionist in a Ballroom dance studio, and I fell in love. Ballroom dancing is my first love and even, so it took me a year to muster up the courage to take a class – after that class, my life changed overnight, and I dedicated all my free time to dancing. From there I was introduced to Bachata and Salsa through one of the instructors that worked at the studio and the rest is history. I used to help a local performance group focused in Bachata which is where my love for the performing art of Bachata grew; having fallen in love with the genre, and following this ballroom studio’s closure, I created the Ferocity Dance Company in May of 2012 where I have been the Owner and Managing Director ever since.
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?
My path has had nonstop obstacles along the way: My studio flooded once, the floor that my studio is on flooded twice, construction on a new studio was delayed by six months and I had nowhere to teach, my father (who helped me get my studio) passed away, my entire flooring had to be replaced twice due to damage and these are just the major physical issues.
There’s been many situations on an interpersonal level, financial level, and of course: the pandemic, that has literally shaken me to my core and made me feel like I may not be able to make it as a small business owner, but we have managed to push through everything until now and I am so grateful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ferocity Dance Company?
The Ferocity Dance Company houses multiple Bachata-focused competitive and performing teams and has won various accolades throughout the years including three world championship titles. My vision was to have a company that was not only focused on technique and learning, but that could also provide a space for anyone that needed somewhere that allowed them the freedom to find and be their authentic and true selves as they navigate through the art of dance.
I consider myself a Fusion Bachata artist, and I travel and receive training in order to maintain well-versed in other Bachata styles. In addition to running my teams and studio, I am the organizer of the annual Masters of Bachata Takeover weekenders and I teach various styles of Bachata at different Congresses, Festivals, and special events on the National, and international level. I also run weekly group classes and private lessons on request.
I am most proud of the community I have been able to create at my school, where people from all walks of life dance together as a cohesive unit.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I have always been friendly and outgoing to a point, but I was also a big nerd when I was younger. I loved (and still do!) learning and dreamed of being an English teacher. I loved art and drawing, and I always wanted to do gymnastics. When I was younger, I feel like I was also much more of a risk taker in putting myself out there to try things despite my self-esteem issues about my weight.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.ferrocitydance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ferocitydance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ferocitykat
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/Ferocitydance
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/DYvJQpRRFtb
Image Credits
Andre Paige
Franklin Liranzo Photography
Ricardo Tellez Photography
Valentine Flores
World Latin Dance Cup
