Massachusetts Woman Achieves Dance Dream She Chased Since Childhood

Some childhood dreams fade with time. Others grow stronger with every passing year.

For Westport's Courtney Moniz, owning a dance studio wasn't just a phase. It was a goal she carried with her from the time she was six years old, shaping nearly every major decision she made along the way.

Today, at just 30 years old, Moniz isn't simply teaching dance. She's living the dream she imagined as a little girl, now expanding her vision by opening a second location for Empower Dance Industry in her hometown of Westport after owning her Rehoboth studio for the past six years.

A Passion That Started at Age 2

Dance has been a part of into Moniz's life for as long as she can remember. Her mother, a dancer herself, enrolled Moniz and her sister in classes when they were toddlers. While her sister eventually moved on to other interests, Moniz couldn't imagine life without the studio.

Massachusetts Woman Achieves Dance Dream She Chased Since Childhood

By age eight, she was competing, spending countless hours with teammates and instructors who inspired her. Those experiences eventually led her to Rhode Island College, where she earned a degree in business management along with a minor in dance, giving her the business knowledge and dance background to eventually open the studio she had always envisioned.

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Passing Along More Than Dance Steps

While Moniz teaches everything from ballet and tap to jazz, hip-hop, acro, lyrical, contemporary and musical theater, she believes the most valuable lessons happen beyond the choreography.

Massachusetts Woman Achieves Dance Dream She Chased Since Childhood

"You're always going to make mistakes no matter what," she said. "You just have to keep pushing through. Whether it's on stage or somewhere else in your life, dance teaches you that things aren't always going to go your way, but if you keep going, things work themselves out."

This has become one of the biggest lessons she hopes every student carries with them long after recital season ends.

Confidence That Lasts a Lifetime

Moniz says dance offers much more than exercise or learning routines. She believes stepping onto a stage helps children develop confidence, teamwork and the courage to speak in front of others. Even if a student never pursues dance professionally, those life skills often stay with them forever.

Massachusetts Woman Achieves Dance Dream She Chased Since Childhood

"If they're looking to try it, just give it a try," Moniz said. "Whether it's here or anywhere, I feel like most dance studios are very welcoming. No matter what level they're at, we have a spot for them."

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For someone who spent nearly her entire life chasing a dream that began in childhood, opening the doors in Westport feels less like the end of a journey and more like the beginning of helping the next generation discover dreams of their own.