Katia Pryce moved to New York City in hopes of becoming Broadway’s next big triple threat, and she nailed it…in a slightly different way. Katia turned her passion for dance into DanceBody, a global dance fitness empire with online classes and boutique studios, one of which, yes, is on Broadway.
DanceBody is a high-impact, cardio-driven dance fitness class that leaves you feeling like Beyoncé (even if you can’t quite move like her). Katia created a class that literally lifts you up physically and mentally. However, she didn’t stop there! She then went on to create DanceBody at home, an online streaming platform making DanceBody accessible to individuals all over the country.
All in all, Katia did not have a perfectly laid-out plan for DanceBody in the beginning. It grew organically from her private training clientele, and from dancing melded with fitness–this idea that she loved, really believed in and brought to life.
Fast track a few years later, DanceBody became so successful, it grew into a team of 25 DanceBody trainers, 16 full-time staff, and 3 studio locations. She’s incredibly ambitious and determined to exceed all limitations.
What is your most memorable moment?
When we opened our second NYC studio in TriBeCa. What a whirlwind! We only had 10 days to completely turn around the studio and open. Right up until 4 am the night before, we folded leggings, unpacked equipment, put up branding – we literally watched paint dry! Even though we were pressed for time, it never felt stressed to the point that it wasn’t fun, it was actually joyful throughout: we all laughed, took pictures, drank wine, and worked our asses off. “Work hard, play hard” is an easy thing to say, yet a hard thing to actually do – but we did it then, and do it still.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I love working with clients who identify as “non-dancers”. They start out nervously in the back row with a baggy t-shirt on, and in a month I have them in the front row in a crop top confidently moving. Empowering people to feel confident in their own skin is what keeps me inspired to inspire. It’s my life’s mission.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
Read books. Do your homework. Listen to people who have done what you are trying to do. Gain all the information + advice, then decide what applies. Make magic “must happen” list, meditate on it daily. Put your blinders on, stay focused. Find your purpose, drive it home. Don’t let anyone fuck with your vibe. Know that your intuition is your strongest primal asset. Never sign anything unless you FULLY understand it. Be prepared to fail, and appreciate those lessons. Master the pivot. Learn to love change. Always be open. Stay in your lane. Lead with love.
At what point did you know you it was the right time to work for yourself?
Once I understood that I had something that others wanted to feel, I knew I had something to really give. At the inception of DanceBody, it was pure supply and demand. I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, so becoming an entrepreneur did fit my MO – even though I really had no clue what I was getting myself into. (Full disclosure, I had to google “entrepreneur” when I first started) Once my private sessions were turning into 10 person classes, I knew I had to accelerate to the next level.
How would you describe your leadership style and what has made it so effective?
I would describe it as: Empathy infused Enforcement. As a trainer and employee myself inside of DanceBody, there isn’t much I don’t understand about what my trainers and team might be feeling. With that in mind, I try my best to approach our initiatives with compassion and kindness. At the same time, that doesn’t mean it’s all rainbows and roses! There are always tough decisions that need to be made and a real structure that needs to be followed in order for DanceBody to be effective and successful – and that gets fully enforced. I think having strong boundaries keeps the clarity of the company, so that we can all stay sane in our lane.
What is your secret to being an effective CEO in terms of building the company culture and values you need to make the company successful?
Weirdly, I pull most of the way I build the company from my own family upbringing. My mom was a real force, and I learned so much by the way she parented and worked. Because I have the luxury of deciding who works around me, I try to always select people with a similar sense of pride in themselves and their work. Team players are the only coworkers I want. I’m not the type of CEO that just starts a company and floats above it, looking down. Hell no. I’m in it – every single day. That keeps me connected to our mission and to my people. It’s a 100% authentic drive that connects us all. DanceBody was never a “concept” or “business plan”, it was perpetually in motion.
What methods have you used to effectively encourage innovation within the company you lead?
I’m a big fan of collaboration. I love hearing ideas and other points of view – so our creative brainstorming meetings are crucial. They aren’t necessarily a means to an end, but rather a time for us to percolate and ideate together – that is essential! Passion is the potion. Logistics are just steps to dreams, and there are steps to everything.
Did you start DanceBody by yourself?
Initially, Yes, with lots of advice and support along the way – some good, some bad, but no one truly does anything alone. My core team has and continues to help build DanceBody by my side every day.
What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced so far as a business owner?
Trusting myself. I know it sounds strange, but I’ve learned many lessons the hard way because I entrusted someone outside myself to make huge decisions that impacted the company and myself. Because I don’t have a business background or family pedigree that lends itself to what I’m trying to do, for years I felt doubtful of my own skills and fearful to trust my gut. I’ve made some real mistakes listening to other people who were really “smart”. But now I’m tuning into my instincts much more frequently. Confidence in business is acquired, not inherited. And no one knows my business better than me.
You’re a busy woman, Do you practice self-care at all?
Absolutely…now!. I spent years believing that the more I grinded myself down, I didn’t sleep, overworked, stressed, the better I was doing. I guess that’s the Midwest in me. Now I understand that I’m more effective when I give myself mental breaks to reconfigure. Traveling outside NYC is really the only way that works for me – or a deep tissue 90 min massage where I can zone out – same thing! I’m OOT!
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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