Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Dworschak
Hi Kat, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started dance 20 years ago in Winona, MN. It quickly became my passion and I decide to pursue the career following high school. I moved to LA at 18, to train and work in the dance industry. I spent several years in LA, until 2020 when covid struck. When I moved back to Minnesota, the lifestyle was extremely sedentary, no socialization, and no opportunities to take dance classes or teach classes because of Covid restrictions. Through conversations with previous dance friends in Winona, I learned that a tremendous number of adults were struggling with their mental health as a result of isolation and an adapted sedentary lifestyle. I felt a call to action. Knowing that any form of exercise can have a great impact on mental health, I knew group exercise (dance) is what I needed to bring to the community. In my neighborhood in Winona, I would take daily walks down by the levee which was newly repaved and updated tremendously. It was beautiful. One day on my walk, it hit me. This was where I needed to host dance classes. Being outside made it doable during covid since indoor classes were not yet accessible. The beautiful scenery of the river and backdrop along the river was epic. And the icing on the cake was the well known Winona bridge going over the mighty Mississippi. From there I would text those previous dance friends and invite them to come dance with me, just for fun. No charge, no expectations. Just to move together again. In the text I would say “meet me under the bridge”, And that’s where it all started. Eventually from posting the videos online and sharing the invite, the word got around and more and more people started coming. It made sense at that point to make it official, call it Under The Bridge, and create a non-profit. The feedback I was getting made a huge impact on my motivation to keep growing the company. Dancers tell me they feel more confident in themselves, they’re happy to be moving again, they meet new friends in class, and they learn something new as an adult which is rare! Now we just finished our 4th year and we’ve had several news interviews and articles and we have become Winonas largest 18+ dance class. We accept donations instead of charging a set rate to keep it accessible to all. I want everyBODY to experience the power of movement paired with camaraderie, therefore my mission is to make it accessible to everyBODY.
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?
Luckily it has been a smooth road here. I think it happened this way because it didn’t start off as a business and I had no plans to make it a business. It was just for fun. If anything, now I’m looking for grants and funding so I can keep this a donation based company, accessible to all.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My dance career has consisted of styles including; Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz Funk, and modern. Currently I dance on the 612 crew where we perform for the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and Lynx (WNBA) at their home games. I teach at studios in the southeastern region of Minnesota. I have teach weekly classes to children and adults from beginner to advanced levels. I also became a certified personal trainer a few years ago and I train clients weekly, working on their fitness goals.
I am proud of my ability to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome in my classes. No matter the level of the students, I make sure to connect with each and every person there. I’m also proud of my natural ability to create a high energy and positive atmosphere.
One thing that sets me apart from others is the diversity I, myself bring to Winona. As a biracial woman, I’m proud to be a leader in Winona. It is rare in this area to see black business owners. I wear that with pride and I’m happy to represent female BIPOC business owners.
Any big plans?
Right now I plan to continue Under The Bridge every summer and the goal is to keep growing in size to create a greater impact. People often ask if I plan to open a studio in Winona. The simple answer is no. The way it started, is the way it will remain. It’s a gorgeous location, and the overhead costs are small which helps keep our costs low. The open space concept adds to a value of ours which is; anyone is welcome. I’m really excited about the future of UTB and I’m blown away by how it’s done so far.
Pricing:
- Donation based
- Non -profit
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.underthebridgewinona.com
- Instagram: @underthebridgewinona
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555418887366
