Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathryn Galimi

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I started dancing as early as I could walk at a local dance studio (Ballet and Dance of Upstate New York) where I spent most of my time growing up. I fell in love with performing and decided I wanted to major in dance in college where I attended Mercyhurst University. While there, I started a Saturday recreational dance class for non dance majors, a safe space to come and move your body to music. I loved teaching this class. There are some dance teachers who are gifted in teaching children, but I am not one of them. Running this class of college students and adults gave me an excitement about teaching I had never experienced before and was extremely influential when starting my business later on. After graduating and moving to New York to pursue musical theatre, I met so many performers who’s first trade was not in dance looking for an inviting and inclusive space to move and train. I started The Dance Call in 2021 when most training was still virtual, and since 2023 then have opened up opportunities for in person privates and group classes for the community to dance together.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

While starting this business has been incredibly rewarding, it has not been without its struggles. In the 3 years The Dance Call has been running I have undergone a career change as well. In the beginning I was still auditioning and performing professionally. In 2023 I decided to pause my career as a performer and focus on The Dance Call and my day job at a tech company. A you can imagine, this was a massive change. After a lifetime of preparation to be a professional performer it was difficult to make the decision to step away. It was also hard to gage where The Dance Call would fit into my new schedule. Eventually life settled and a natural routine set in allowing to keep consistent schedules with my private clients and group classes. I remember fearing that teaching to performers who are still very much pursuing their theatre career might be painful, but it was just. the opposite. Keeping connected with the community in this way has been so gratifying. I feel so lucky to share in their joy when they book a show or nail an audition. It has really helped heal any sadness that came with changes in my performance career.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

The Dance Call offers specialized dance training to performers who might typically categorize themselves as “movers.” In the theatre world these are artists who’s first trade might be acting or singing rather than having an extensive background in dance. The mission of The Dance Call is to cultivate a safe space for movers who want to start or continue their dance training. I always tell my clients that while I will work with them for as long as they want or need, a subgoal of this business is to build enough confidence and comfortability in dance spaces to venture out to larger studios. These are studios like Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City where students can learn and cultivate connections within the greater theatre network. I want to see my clients succeed and part of that does include attending classes in these larger (and often more intimidating) spaces. If I can be a pit stop for them on their way to being comfortable enough to do this, then I have done my job!

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?

I’ll start with what I like least. I think I can speak for every New York City resident when I say we have too much trash and litter on the street. It seems like anytime I visit another large city they don’t have the same issue, but this does segue into what I like best about New York and that is the fact that most New Yorkers love to be involved in something. Whether it is volunteering to clean your neighborhood, joining a recreational sports league or a weekly trivia night, most New Yorkers love to find their niche and expand their community. I think that is so beautiful and something that as certainly worn off on me (shoutout to my fellow kickball teammates!).

Pricing:

• Monthly Mover Class-$18/hr
• Technique virtual private-$40/hr
• Virtual Private with Choreography-$50/hr
• Personal Warm Up Program-$60

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kathryngalimi.com/the-dance-call
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thedancecall/?hl=en

Image Credits

Nicole Souza
Makayla Sprague
Liam Fitzpatrick