Dance a big part of graduates life

  Wednesday, December 21, 2016 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Dance a big part of graduates life

Taylor Brumbaugh has been dancing and teaching dance for almost half of her life, so when Pittsburg State University introduced a minor in dance, Brumbaugh was one of the first two to sign up.

“It was just a really good way for me to keep dancing,” Brumbaugh said.

Brumbaugh and Jamera Allen, who both graduated this fall, were the first two to complete PSU’s new dance minor. Brumbaugh, who earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation, said the classes she took for her minor prepared her well for teaching dance in the future.

“We learned about different teaching styles,” Brumbaugh said. “We learned how to deal with students and their parents and visited different performance venues.”

As a student at Pitt State, Brumbaugh earned a spot on the PSU Dance Team while continuing to teach dance at the Y. She also helped run the Root Coffeehouse, which she opened with her sister last year.

With her degree now in hand, Brumbaugh said she plans to continue teaching dance at the Pittsburg YMCA and to also work full time at the coffeehouse. She said she likes the feeling she gets from operating a business in her hometown.

“My whole family lives here and my close friends are here,” Brumbaugh said.

That support group has been especially important for Brumbaugh this past year because of the loss of her 17-year-old brother, Derek, in a car accident last February.

“It was a difficult time, but all of my teachers were really great about it and totally understanding when I missed a little bit of school. But I made it through,” Brumbaugh said.

Although she’s done with school, Brumbaugh isn’t slowing down. In addition to working at the coffeehouse and teaching dance, she’s also planning her wedding, where, presumably, there will be still more dancing.

Taylor Brumbaugh selfie


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