Kate Johnson Moves to the Arthur Murray All Star Finals

Kate Johnson Advances to the 2017 Arthur Murray All Star Championships

• Name:  Kate Johnson
• Studio:  Sydney, Australia
• All Star History:  "I have always won the Admin Assistant section, but haven't had any competition for a long time now."
• Year You Started in the Business:  2004
• Position:  Administrative Assistant

What is the AM All Star Competition? 

The Arthur Murray All Stars is a skills competition for every level of professional within each location around the world.  The goal is to grow, develop, and reveal the professionals that demonstrate the best customer service, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.  The competition begins in each studio and winners advance to small region, or District, competitions.  From there the District winners advance to the large region, or Area, competition.  Finally, the Area winners advance to the World Championships in Las Vegas where each Area team tests and one team is pronounced the winner. 

More importantly, the real winners are the students of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios as these tests, and accompanying training, help to deliver better communication, teamwork, problem solving, and confidence from every member of the staff.  

AML: First off, congratulations on moving into the finals in Last Vegas. How did you react when the announcement was made?

KJ: I was so excited, it is fantastic that I am part of a whole team from Australia and Japan.  This is a first for Area 10.  I'm so happy to be a part of it.  

AML: How did you feel going into the Semi-Finals?

KJ: Very nervous, although I'm not particularly competitive, I really wanted to win.  

AML: What kind of last minute things did you do to prepare?

KJ: Ran a 5Km marathon just before.  Just joking.  My Arthur Murray friends told me to just be myself and do what I do every day at work.  

AML: How has this process made you a better professional?

KJ: I think it has made me more aware of the big picture and the constant need to work together as a team in the studio.  I try to adapt myself to the very many different people and situations that I see everyday at the front desk.  

AML: What's you All Star backstory? If you can give a little synopsis of the highs and lows of this competition over the years.

KJ: This is the first year that Area 10 has sent a team to the All Stars in Vegas, so that is extremely exciting.  As the Admin Assistant, I have always been supportive of the teachers who have won in our studio and gone off to Vegas, often organising and helping them with the logistics of it, now I feel like it's my turn after all these years.  

I am truly excited to meet my Arthur Murray hero, Tara Christensen, we have had a lovely email relationship over the years and she is such a great help and support to us with the Area 10 Dance-O-Rama. 

I can't wait to see a Superama in progress.  

AML: What will it mean to you if the team wins it all this year?

KJ: Oh my goodness, that would be amazing.  What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.   

AML: Who are some people that helped you get to this point? 

KJ: My franchisee, Tracy Johnson, encouraged me to compete this year.  Our manager, Chris Dempsey, has given me lots of training, as well as all the fantastic staff here at the Sydney studio whom I have such a high regard for.  

AML: Last question: What does this mean to you? What makes it special?

KJ: This means I have the opportunity to experience the All Star Finals and get to see all the other studios from around the world competing, as well as witness Superama for myself, now that's pretty special. 

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 Tara Christensen photo - Joe Papas