Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katie Anderson | Pro Dance Prep CEO & Director. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Katie Ann, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for PDP was really built from feeling isolated or lost or rejected when it comes to being in an audition room. It’s from trying the best you possibly can, but not always having the right tools or knowledge or resources to truly know what your best can be. I’ve been dancing since the age of 4, competitively and in all styles. I’ve won 5 National Titles and danced with a modern dance company for 2 years at the age of 16. I graduated from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts with my BFA in Dance. Feeling confident in my skill set and experience in this world/industry, I never could’ve imagined how unprepared I’d feel in an audition room in the “real world.” I’m a dancer. When someone asks me what I do or who I am or what I’ve always wanted to be, “I’m a dancer.” So to feel very far from that in an audition room with as much experience as I’ve had, was very humbling. I was used to a fairly simple concept: you work hard, you get the ‘yes’. I was used to feeling somewhat in control of the outcome. When it comes to “real world” auditions you’re almost always trying to fit a mold. You’re trying to be exactly what they’re looking for, and even if your are, that doesn’t always guarantee you a ‘yes’. As I pushed myself to take chances over and over again, I started to realize I wasn’t the only one…
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce your company and purpose of your program to our readers.
Why waste an opportunity to live your dream by not being, something as simple as, prepared. It’s the only thing you can control in an audition. The people around you and the outcome will always be completely out of your hands. But if it’s truly YOUR dream, why not control the one thing you can? You. Pro Dance Prep was created to help & guide dancers and cheerleaders who’ve dreamt of going pro. As an artist and an athlete, you are no stranger to rejection. As they take chances over and over again, pro hopefuls have fought hard and have dedicated their lives to auditioning year after year until they finally get to hear that ‘yes’, and very few do. This program is meant to help save time, train smarter, be confident in the process, and feel prepared for your audition room. We are here to provide resources like, finding tools to look & feel your best, making friends through your journey, feeling supported when working towards your dream, preparing how to best highlight yourself when interviewing, and much more. We are your #1 fans and personal cheerleaders. We specialize in one-on-one training and have a variety of resources to assist you in getting there. We’ve helped pro hopefuls make their dream teams like, Miami dolphins, Dallas Mavericks, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Cowboys, Florida Panthers, Las Vegas Raiderettes, and many more. We’ve been in your shoes and there’s nothing we would’ve needed more than someone with the experience to help us prepare efficiently. It’s not about having the opportunity, it’s about how you choose to show up for it. We want to help YOU show up prepared and make it count!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think my background and experience has been a small contributor to the reputation of PDP. Clients want to know that the person responsible for this program has been where they dream of getting to. My time in the industry has definitely impacted the way I run my business and so I also think & hope that clients can see the heart in my program because of that. However, 2 big contributors to the reputation of Pro Dance Prep is the talent of my PrepMasters/Trainers & the success we’ve had in helping pro hopefuls make their dream teams. There is no better promotion of what we do than to share how well we do it. There is no better feeling than getting to celebrate all the time, hard work, dedication, & passion our clients have put in day in and day out.
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
The majority of our business works virtually, just due to the nature of our industry and the many opportunities it holds. One marketing/sales event I’ve taken the chance on and have incorporated within the last 2 years is hosting a 2-Day in-person workshop. The risk with this was the fact that PDP has clients all over the country. I didn’t know if they’d be willing to travel to a place they may never have been to just to take part in a workshop that’s never been done before… but it was something I’ve dreamed of doing. I dreamt of giving our PDP community an opportunity to connect in a space where they can also collaborate, make mistakes, and feel supported by one another. Not just one-on-one with their PrepMaster/Trainer. And so, in 2023 I took the chance and presented our very first Workshop. The week of came, and we were completely sold out, to the point where I was nervous we didn’t have enough space for people to move or dance. All because I decided to put my trust in the dedication & support of this community. It is truly a special one. All this to say, to see a dream like that come to fruition is not only because of the community you build in your brand, but because of the people who support that brand & can hopefully feel the heart you put into it in just the little time they spend with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.prodanceprep.com
- Instagram: @prodanceprep_
- Facebook: Pro Dance Prep
- Other: TikTok: prodanceprep_
Image Credits
Angela Robledo Joe Pinchin Clif Ellis Jon Willey Carlos Goldman Kayla Bramlett