Foot Works Performing Arts Center in Benbrook, Texas, is a dance studio for dancers age 18 months through 18 years. Their classes include, tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tumbling, drill team and technique. Their mission at Foot Works Performing Arts Center is not only to better improve your child’s experiences in dance but also to teach them lessons that can be carried over into everyday life. Dance should not only teach technique, poise, rhythm, and grace, but should also teach dedication, cooperation, team work, camaraderie and discipline. It is Foot Works’ objective to create an environment that will provide your child with the greatest combination of dance training and life training.
Whitney Moore is the Owner and Director of Foot Works Performing Arts Center. She graduated from the University of Texas, Arlington, in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Business. Whitney began dancing at the age of three and has had extensive dance training at outstanding ballet academies and studios in the metroplex area, along with various master choreographers. She has won numerous National titles in jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop and modern. Whitney is an alumni member of the UTA Dance Ensemble where she has participated and performed in the American College Dance Festival (ACDFA) for four years. Whitney has also been a member of the Dallas based company N2it. She continues to better her dance education by attending various national competitions and spending time in Los Angeles working with well-known choreographers at the Edge and the PAC. Whitney taught at four local studios for six years and taught tap for the university before starting Foot Works.
There are a number of things that separate Foot Works from other studios in their area. Several of those differences are enumerated below.
One of the things that really sets Foot Works apart from others is the fact that they start their dancers at a very young age. You would be amazed at these kids in class and on stage. The 18 month olds really do learn so much and they are always impressed. Foot Works does not think people give the young ones enough credit sometimes. They can absolutely do it! 
Another important way that Foot Works is different is their new program for students with special needs. They started Joyful Movement which is the only one of its kind in the area. These dancers perform in all three of Foot Works’ performances throughout the year. They are the highlight of each show! The class works on stretching, body movements, and dance routines. A child with special needs will benefit because they can participate at their own level and ability. Children who are physically challenged can explore body parts or keep a beat by blinking their eyes. Children with special needs can feel a sense of belonging to a group and experience the joy of learning. (Goodwillie, 2010)
Foot Works also tries to keep all of their recreational level classes at a maximum of 12 dancers per class. This allows some one on one attention for each dancer.
Their students perform in a minimum of three performances per year. They will do a Christmas show, Mayest, and a big year end recital held at Will Rogers auditorium the end of May.
Whenever you need them, Foot Works is there for you. All studio phones are forwarded to a cell phone so that immediate service is available.
Foot Works offers birthday parties for dancers of all ages. Each birthday party includes 45 minutes of dancing and 45 minutes of presents and refreshments.
In support of our hard working military families, Foot Works offers a 10% discount for all active duty, National Guard, and Reserves.
And lastly in our list of things that separate Foot Works from other studios, Foot Works is a proud friend of the Mesothelioma Community Resource Network as dance therapy for emotional release and stress relief.
In Whitney’s opinion, Dance should not only teach technique, poise, rhythm, style and grace, but should also teach dedication, cooperation, team work, camaraderie and discipline. It is our objective to create an environment that will provide your child with the greatest combination of dance training and life training.
Whitney feels that one of the best feelings is to watch their competitive students at that first competition and the recreational dancers at their first performance of the year. They are so proud of themselves and Whitney and the other instructors in turn are so very proud of them. Being able to have the confidence to just get on stage is something to be proud of!
One of the biggest mistakes Whitney sees dancers make is being envious of others instead of letting those dancers push them to be better. In turn, they compare themselves to others and put themselves down and feel inadequate. She wishes dancers could just sit and watch each other and learn by what the other dancers are doing right, what they are doing wrong, what looks great on them, and then apply the observations to themselves.
Whitney’s goals for this year are to encourage dancers to be more open and honest with compliments and not be afraid to boost others up to make a fun and loving learning environment.
In 2001, Whitney graduated from Crowley High School at the age of 16 and went into college at The University Of Texas at Arlington on an Army ROTC scholarship. She spent her freshman year thinking this was the career path she wanted to pursue. Then, September 11th happened and after much thought and prayer, she knew she could not fulfill the military duty. She was too young and scared. At the time, she was teaching at a local studio but she still never imagined she would make a career out of dancing. Actually, she went into college as a Kinesiology major and was going to pursue Physical Therapy. However, she took her first psychology class and fell in love. In her Sophomore year, she switched her major and graduated in May, 2005 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Business. At the time of graduation, she was teaching dance at three area studios and loving every minute of it. On October 31, 2007, she got a phone call from Caron Moore and it dramatically changed her life. Up until that day, she had never thought about owning a dance studio nor was she really sure that she would stick to dancing her whole life. Caron asked Whitney if she had any interest in buying her business, Caron Moore Dance Productions. She immediately went through every single emotion. Can I do this? Is this what I want to do? You are only 23, can you handle it? Whitney was excited, scared, nervous, etc all in one. After much thought, prayer and talking with her family, she decided to press on and make this new found dream a reality. She will never forget being on the phone with her dad who was in Philadelphia and him saying, “If this is what you want then we will do everything we can to make it possible.” In May, 2008, she closed the deal and Caron Moore Dance Productions became Foot Works Performing Arts Center. Over the years old, dreams went away and new dreams became reality. Looking back, she wouldn’t change anything for the world.
Foot Works runs with the school year. They start at the end of August and end with their big recital in May. Foot Works offers lots of summer classes for those interested in trying the school before committing to a full year, This is also a great opportunity afford those not wanting a break.
They offer two programs, a recreational program for dancers of all ages and a competitive program for dancers age 5 and up. Their recreational dancers typically only come to the studio once a week and practice all year for the three performances (Christmas, Mayest, and year end Recital). Their competition dancers train a few more hours per week, compete in five local competitions and a National competition each year. They attend multiple other performance opportunities and conventions bettering their education with professional dancers from New York and Los Angeles.
If you would like more information about Foot Works Performing Arts Center, visit their website at footworkspac.com, call them at 817-594-1055 or email them at footworkspac@yahoo.com.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Whitney Moore of Foot Works Performing Arts Center.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
