Boot Boogie Babes: Where Dance Becomes Community
Sometimes the most fulfilling things in life find us when we least expect them. For me, that discovery came in the form of the Boot Boogie Babes, a Seattle-based line dancing organization owned and operated by coach and choreographer DeAnna Lee. What began as a simple interest in line dancing and country music became something far more meaningful—a source of friendship, confidence, and belonging.
One of the first things that stood out to me about DeAnna was how deeply she believes in the team’s mission. Before every class, she reads it aloud—not as a routine, but as a reminder of the values that bring us together. “DeAnna Lee Dance provides a safe space for women of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds to grow through dance and friendships, and we believe most strongly that empowered women, empower women.” Those words aren’t just recited; they’re lived. You can feel them in the encouragement, the friendships, and the genuine support that greet you from the moment you walk through the door.
My Dance Journey
I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember.
As a child, I was the kid tap dancing under the dinner table and in elevators. To be fair, I still do both. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother taking me to dance class when I was three years old. I remember earning star stickers on the toes of my tap shoes when I could touch my feet to the back of my head. I also remember hiding behind the couch, desperately trying to avoid the ritual of having my hair curled, pinned tight, and shellacked with a generous dose of Aqua Net before recitals.
Dance was one of the first things I loved.
Then, on my fourth birthday, my life changed forever. My mother passed away, and dance classes ended abruptly. Yet my desire to dance never disappeared. Even as a child, I felt its absence.
In middle school, I would often stop outside the window of a ballet studio on my walk home and watch the dancers twirl across the floor in their pink tulle skirts. I would stand there imagining what it might be like to be one of them, wishing my life felt as graceful and magical as it looked from the other side of the glass. It reminds me of the lyric from A Chorus Line: “Everything is beautiful at the ballet.” For me, dance represented something more than movement—it was an escape into a world that felt kinder, gentler, and full of possibility.
As an adult, I finally found my way back.
I began auditioning for community theater productions, chorus lines, and follies shows. Despite having little formal training, I discovered welcoming spaces where enthusiasm mattered more than perfection and where fellow performers encouraged one another to shine. In my forties, I joined a burlesque, cabaret, and comedy troupe and found what we affectionately called our “glitter tribe”—a sisterhood that was entirely produced, written, and choreographed by women. It was creative, empowering, and joyful.
Then, in January 2020, life brought me from Hawaii to Seattle. Shortly after my arrival, the world shut down. Building a social life in a new city is challenging under normal circumstances, but trying to make connections during a pandemic—and in a city famous for the “Seattle Freeze”—felt nearly impossible.
Over the next few years, I slowly built friendships and a sense of community. Looking back, my only regret is that I didn’t discover the Boot Boogie Babes the moment I arrived in Washington. They were the community I’d been searching for all along.
Finding My Team
Like many modern adventures, this one began with a little doom scrolling on Instagram. One evening, I came across an advertisement for the Boot Boogie Babes line dancing auditions and, on a whim, signed up both myself and my best friend. At the time, I simply thought it would be a fun way to get out of the house, express ourselves creatively, and maybe learn a few dance steps along the way. What I didn’t realize was that a random social media post would lead me to exactly what I had been searching for since moving to Washington—a true sense of community.
From my very first practice, I was welcomed with warmth, encouragement, and genuine kindness. The women on the team were talented, supportive, and passionate, not only about dancing but about lifting one another up. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I hadn’t just found a dance team; I had found my people.
One of the things that makes this organization special is that it offers so much more than dance. Of course, we spend hours learning choreography, rehearsing, and performing, but the real magic happens in the relationships built along the way. Through practices, performances, community events, and countless conversations, I’ve formed friendships with women who inspire me, challenge me, and make me laugh. We celebrate each other’s successes, support one another, and show up for each other both on and off the dance floor.
The organization is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: empowered women empower women. That spirit starts with DeAnna, whose commitment to creating a welcoming and empowering environment is evident from the moment you walk through the door. I’ve watched women walk into auditions feeling nervous and unsure of themselves, then grow into confident performers, leaders, and teammates. I’ve seen friendships blossom, confidence grow, and women discover strengths they never knew they possessed. There is something incredibly powerful about being surrounded by women who genuinely want to see one another succeed.
Being part of the Boot Boogie Babes has changed me in ways I never expected. It has given me a creative outlet, strengthened my confidence, improved my physical and mental well-being, and connected me with an extraordinary group of women. In a world where making meaningful friendships as an adult can feel surprisingly difficult, this organization has created a space where connection happens naturally.
Looking back, joining the Boot Boogie Babes was one of the best decisions I’ve made since moving to Washington. What began as a simple audition became a source of friendship, joy, purpose, and belonging.
Dance has been a thread woven throughout my entire life—sometimes front and center, sometimes waiting patiently in the background until I was ready to return. Through loss, change, new beginnings, and unexpected adventures, it has always found its way back to me.
And this time, it didn’t just bring dance back into my life. It brought an incredible group of women with it.
Written by: Kari Rose, Our Beloved Boot Sister
