Hi! My name is Catherine, or Cat for short, and I own and teach at To The Pointe Dance Center in North West Missouri. I started dancing when I was 4. I'm 16 now and have been open since St. Patrick's Day of 2004. I'm located in a town of about 140 people, and I had 14 stduents. I teach tap, jazz, and ballet. I would like to expand with a lyrical class, but I don't want to stretch myself too thin when school starts back up. Our first recital was last week, which went of without a hitch! Well, the rehearsal was cut short when the electricty went out due to a tornado, but rehearsals are always bad, right? Anyway, my summer session starts on Monday. I'm a little worried about the next two months, because almost all of my students from fall won't be back until next fall...school sports are my enemy! Ok, now about me. I've taken tap, jazz amd ballet since I was 4, and lyrical for 2 years. I began dancing at the Grand Junction Academy of Dance in Grand Junction, CO. When I moved with my family to Missouri, we searched for a school, but nobody would return our calls. Finally, one opened in a nearby town. We began dancing there, but had a bad experience in the way that the school was run...(long story). So, with no place to dance, my mom suggested that I open my own, and concentrate on teaching young girls. I teach 3-18. It's hard sometimes not having what my friends call 'a real job' that actually makes money, but the girls I have/had are so great, and I love being on stage and putting on a production. Anyway, this was a really great post, especially since I'm new. I can't wait to learn more about everybody's tips and tricks for teaching!