Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea McKay.
Hi Andrea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started dancing at the age of 8 in my hometown of Portland, OR, where I learned ballet, jazz, tap, modern and hip hop. I danced for a number of years competitively as a teenager in Oregon and across the country. I moved to Los Angeles, CA after highschool where I joined a dance company and became a professional dancer. This is when I learned how to belly dance. A few years later; I moved to CT to go to college. I started a family at this same time with my husband who I met in CA. I became a lawyer after 8 years in college. Throughout this 14 year period of my life when I was in college , raising my children and beginning a professional career, I always missed dancing and wanted to return to it. So in the summer of 2022, I opened my studio, Yoga, Dance & Fitness Center which is a place for adults to take yoga, Pilates and a variety of dance classes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been very challenging, mainly because of how much I’ve been balancing for a very long time. The last 15 years, I’ve been balancing being a mom to 5 children, going to college, working full time and running a business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in belly dance and hula hoop fitness. I teach these classes and I also lead my belly dance troupe, Eternal Rose where we perform across the north east. I also started a YouTube channel recently where I will be providing instructional content.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I believe the industry will continue to grow as adults realize the joy, wellness and community involved in participating in adult dance and fitness classes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ydfcenter.com
- Instagram: @ydfcenter
- Facebook: @ydfcenter
- Youtube: @ydfcenter
