Boogie Business: Dance by Design Teaches Great Bend Residents About the Many Facets of the Art of Dance

Lee Ann Bashor says it must be the “hippie” in her.

As sole owner of Dance by Design, she just wants her students to relax and have fun. Bashor has left the days of demanding competitions behind and is concentrating on allowing her students to look forward to dance class, instead of dreading it.

“I have been dancing since I was 3,” Bashor commented. “I was raised in a studio and was an assistant just like the high school students who volunteer to assist me.

“I taught for six years and then took a little hiatus,” she recalled, noting it was about a three-year break. “Then I was driving to Wichita to a friend’s studio to get training in ballroom dancing. She really got me back into it.”

Mommy and Me- Half a dozen children under the age of 4 dance together during a Mommy & Me class at Dance by Design. Owner Lee Ann Bashor says that the goal for these classes is not to teach one specific dance, but instead to just get the parents and their children moving together. “These classes are great for mommies (or daddies) who want to spend some time with their child outside of the home,” Bashor says. “We learn lots of songs with specific movements and actions that help the kids strengthen their coordination and memory.”

And got her back into it in a big way. Bashor now has 111 students, ranging in age from 3 to 60. While most of her young dancers – from 3 to 18 – are interested in the popular tap and jazz classes, she also teaches lyrical, hip-hop and, yes, ballroom.

In addition, she leads Mommie & Me classes for mothers and children, ages 1 to 3.

“This is creative movement to music,” Bashor explained. “It is a silly, fun thing that gets the little ones and their mommies moving.”

Bashor teaches five or six class sessions a day, Sunday through Thursday in her studio at 1403 Main, just across from Jack Kilby Square. Classes are 30 to 45 minutes for children, depending on their age group. But adult classes and private lessons last one hour.

The business opened in 2005 at its first location, 1624 10th, and moved downtown in the summer of 2007. “This was the best thing I could have done for the studio,” said Bashor, adding that the square footage tripled.

The ballroom training that got her back into her dancing shoes is now a popular Dance by Design offering. These classes include couples who want to finally learn how to dance or who don’t want to have two left feet when they dance at their wedding.

“The ballroom dancing seemed so exciting when I took the class,” Bashor said. “That was when Dancing with the Stars was just coming out on TV; there was all this buzz about it. It was all new to me; it was fun and a new education for me. Dancing was exciting again.”

Ballroom Basics- Dance by Design owner Lee Ann Bashor instructs three ladies during one of her evening ballroom classes. Adults who take one of Bashor’s ballroom dance classes will learn the basics of several types of dance, including rumba, salsa, two-step, and many others. “Ballroom classes are popular all year round,” Bashor says. “People take them to get ready for weddings or just for fun.” Like many of Bashor’s other classes, Ballroom dance classes take place in the evenings. Since her studio operates a little different schedule than most other businesses, the Bashor family has had to make a few adjustments. “My daughter has practically grown up in the studio,” Bashor says. “I can remember her taking naps straight through tap classes. Needless to say, she’s a pretty sound sleeper.” Bashor and her husband are expecting another baby to be born later this summer. “I doubt much will change here at the studio,” she says. “I’ll probably bring the baby with me to work just like I did with my oldest. When they grow up around all the noise, they just don’t seem to mind.”

The ballroom classes at Dance by Design go in spurts, Bashor said, noting couples become interested at certain times, especially before Valentine’s Day and the wedding day.

“If both are on board, it is a great experience,” Bashor said. “They learn more about one another, and it is not always verbal. They get used to one another in a brand new way.

“They also feel the confidence,” Bashor added. “The last thing you want is to worry about the dance at the wedding reception. The class helps them dance out in the real world.”

Dance by Design students perform in two recitals a year – one at Christmas time and again in the spring. The next one is set for May 2 at Barton Community College.

Nevertheless, Bashor stays away from the competitive world of dance where she lived for three years, while attending Great Bend High School.

“That was enough. It can become addictive,” she recalled about her days of performing at the top levels in competitions. “The first time out and you get first place – then you couldn’t get enough.

“But it can mean losing the heart of it,” she continued. “I want it to be fun although it does get a little harder at recital time. I want the students to enjoy and look forward to class.’”

Bashor understands that sometimes children can be spread too thin with school, family events and extra-curricular activities.

“That is why I want this to be fun, relaxing,” she said. “No grades, no competition, just do our best. I’m just a big hippie.”

All that being said, Bashor added, “I love being on stage and always want to be the best. But I don’t know if I want to push that on other kids.”

Patient Parents- At any given time, the waiting room at Dance by Design may be temporarily housing up to a dozen patient parents. “I try to encourage the parents to stay and support their kids if they can,” owner Lee Ann Bashor says. “The kids like being able to look over and see that mommy or daddy is watching and is pleased with their hard work.”

While the younger dancers are in the majority, Bashor also welcomes adults with or without a background in any type of dancing. She teaches two adult tap classes. In one class, students are new to this dance style and the other class has been tapping for three years.

“Adults just sometimes want to try it out,” she said.

This is especially true for the ballroom dancing for that first dance in front of the new in-laws. “Or maybe they have been married for 30 years and want to learn how to dance together,” Bashor said.

Still others find dancing is a great way to exercise. Jazz is more aerobic than some other forms but each class offers a fun reason to get off the couch and stay off.

Sticky Satisfaction- After classes are over at Dance by Design, students are allowed to take home a sticker as their reward. “As you can imagine, working with small children has its challenges,” owner Lee Ann Bashor says. “Rewarding them with a sticker at the end of class keeps them focused and alert during class. It may seem simple to adults, but a sticker is all it takes.”

"Dance doesn’t feel like exercising,” Bashor said. “They are just having fun.”

Some people may think they can tell the type of person who might enjoy dance classes, but there is always someone there to surprise. Bashor’s surprise is a 35-year-old mechanic who has been taking ballroom dancing for four years now.

He is quiet, shy. But he has never missed a recital,” Bashor said. “He is a good ol’ boy. And you know what his favorite is? The cha-cha.”

Dance by Design
1403 Main Street
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-792-9712