Catherine Frates
I started dance at a very young age. I was taught by my grandmother, Margie Myrick, at our family studio, Myrick School of Dance in Roanoke Rapids, NC. I later studied dance and theatre at Appalachian State University where I graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. I returned home to teach dance with my grandmother and my aunt, Jeane. In 1998 my family moved to Idaho where I taught dance in 2 different cities for Backstage Dance. I, along with my husband, Tim, and our two girls, Amber and Meredith, moved to Montrose in 2000.
I was blessed to start A Time To Dance in fall of 2004. My thought was, if I could get 40 students I could make it work. I started the studio with 41 dancers registered. I was teaching 18 classes a week, being the only teacher. The studio grew to 60+ the first year.
The studio has grown so much that we have 3 additional teachers, and are now offering 30 classes covering 6 days a week. We offer classes to ages 2 through adult. We have added adult only classes this year, as well. Classes offered at A Time To Dance include ballet, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, tap, acro, and clogging.
We are moving into our 20th season of dance! We have lots of fun activities planned to celebrate this milestone, including a 20th season celebration that will be open to the public. Date to be announced. We have also given our logo a fresh new look. We will have a 20th anniversary commemorative t-shirt that will be for sale soon. Platinum Rewind is our theme for this season and our recital, because it encompasses our 20th anniversary which is represented by platinum. We will be bringing back alumni of A Time To Dance to help us celebrate!!
Preparation for dance classes is an ongoing process, for which each individual teacher is responsible. Some classes are prepped for months in advance and others on a week by week basis. Choreography for dances for our May 4 & 5 recital has already begun, along with choosing of music and costumes. The recitals themselves are an ongoing task, from before classes begin in September through to recital days.
Running A Time To Dance has been a lifelong dream for me and I love sharing my passion for dance with others. I created the studio to give dancers and their families a place to have fun dancing and a place to belong. Watching the dancers grow as individuals and in their dance abilities is so rewarding. Every dancer and their family is a part of our A Time To Dance family.
Veronica Hale
Miss Veronica was born and raised in Olathe Colorado, and knew she wanted to be a dancer the first time she saw Singin' in the Rain at age 5. She began ballroom dancing in 2011 and had a brief competitive career before transitioning to ballet, tap and jazz as a teenager. In her time as a student she also studied contemporary and hip hop dance, was a member of the A Time to Dance Jazz competition team, and performed as a featured dancer in Magic Circle Theatre Productions. She was thrilled to begin classes at A Time to Dance in 2013, and even more thrilled to begin teaching her own classes in 2017. Her choreography has been featured in not only the annual a Time to Dance recital, but also in Magic Circle Theatre's productions and the local Dancing With the Stars Competition (which she has also participated in as a dancer). Miss Veronica is an active member of the National Dance Educator's Organization, and is always looking for opportunities to expand her knowledge and proficiency as both a dancer and a teacher. When Miss Veronica is not dancing, she's usually at home on her 4th generation family farm, hanging out with her sheep, or curled up with a good book.
Mallorie Knight
Mallorie has been dancing since 1995, when she realized she'd much rather twirl than do karate. She has performed in Europe at the St. Peter and Paul festival, been in a Denver artist's music video, taken classes from some of the best teachers and choreographers out there, including Tony Award winner Chet Walker and Emmy winner Josh Bergasse, and has interned with Manhattan Dance Project. 2020 brought her, her high school sweetheart and their 3 boys to the Western Slope, where they enjoy off-roading and camping and spending time outdoors.
Linnaea Zaenger
Born and raised in Montrose, Linnaea started dancing at the age of five. She joined A Time to Dance when it opened in 2004. Throughout her time at ATTD, she continued to add more styles to her repertoire including Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Clogging, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and performed on the Jazz Competition team. Upon graduating from Montrose High School in 2013, she attended Colorado Mesa University to pursue a degree in Dance. Linnaea explored many different avenues during her time at CMU including Modern Dance, Dance Improvisation, Site Specific Dance, Scuba Diving, Archeology, Geology, and Anthropology. Unfortunately, right before her senior year, she discovered that a bone in her foot had been broken. Due to extensive damage and the need for surgery, Linnaea changed her major to Theatre and began studying Stage Management. She became proficient in Sound, Lighting, and Set Design, and managed numerous university and professional dance concerts and other theatre productions at CMU including Fiddler on the Roof in 2020. In May 2020, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, and moved back to Montrose to teach at ATTD. Linnaea studied under accomplished dancers Ayodele Casel at LA Dance Magic, Meredith Lyons, James Wallace, Megan Glynn Zollinger, and Amanda Benzin at CMU. She also studied under well known theatre professionals Matthew Schlief, Mo LaMee, Jeremy Franklin, Jill Van Brussel, Jessica Jackson, and Mark Matthews. Linnaea also works as a digital media marketer and loves being outdoors in her spare time, especially exploring National Parks.