Katie Strzeszewski - Dance, Flexibility, Chess, And Writing Coach
About
As a dancer with over a decade of experience, I currently am a regular instructor at Two Left Feet in Gaithersburg, MD, and run a self-employed portion of business as well. My experience is primarily with West Coast Swing, Hustle, and Country Two Step, though I teach a wide variety of ballroom and partner dance styles.
As an employee of StretchWorkz, a company that focuses on helping you improve your flexibility, I am a trained coach who knows how to help you increase your mobility and more more effortlessly on a daily basis.
As an employee of Silver Knights Enrichment, I am an active chess coach in several school districts across Montgomery County.
As a writer for DC Music Download, my speciality is with music journalism, though I can help coach you through any sort of writing project.
What I know, I know well. And I am happy and excited to share my knowledge with you.
Highlights
Reviews
Eric S.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
From the business end, I usually email or text back and forth while we are determining time, location, and price.
From the learning end, my stragegy varies according to the student's level of experience and learning style.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have degrees in Secondary Education and Professional Writing as well as 10 years of experience as a dancer (5+ years of teaching dance), training as a stretch professional, and training as a chess coach.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Pricing varies according to the subject, location (who is traveling to whom and how far), and the length of the lesson.
I can often offer discounts for bulk lesson requests (5% off 5 lessons, 10% off 10 lessons, etc).
How did you get started teaching?
People asked me to.
As a dancer, I never really wanted to teach, per se. I just enjoyed it. But then people started asking me for private lessons and group classes. I found that I enjoyed teaching, and my students enjoyed my lessons. And it slowly built into a business for me in which I am teaching a wide variety of subjects.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students as young as five and as old as octogenarians. I also have experience working with special needs students.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I started offering private lessons in chess after one of my students through Silver Knights recommended me to a friend. When somebody likes you and your work enough to recommend you, that's always a lovely compliment.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find somebody whose personality and teaching style match yours. You will have the best experience and retain the most knowledge when you are receiving the information in a way that is easy and fun for you to understand.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
-What are my goals for these lessons?
-Is this something I am doing for fun, or something I am going to pursue seriously?
-How long do I plan to do this?
-Do I have the supplies/space needed to practice on my own?
-How many times per week should I be taking lessons?
-What is my budget?