If someone were driving around the town of Washington, then they have certainly passed by Moschetta’s Performing Arts Center. Moschetta’s has three locations: Washington, owned by Jacqueline Moschetta-Warren, and Waynesburg and Fredericktown, owned by Barbara Moschetta. Collectively, Moschetta’s has been in business for 66 years.
Owner Moschetta-Warren’s main goal is to make her studio a place for children. She achieves this goal by using appropriate music, dancewear and costumes. She makes sure to use her social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to promote her studio as a place where kids get to be kids.
With competition season on its way, Moschetta-Warren notes, “We have been preparing for competitions by having extra practices, and I’m really trying to instill in my students the importance of showing up and doing what you are supposed to do in order to succeed and accomplish your goals.”
Moschetta-Warren strives to promote important life lessons in all her dancers that can be used beyond the studio later in their lives.
The Washington studio location has been in business for over 30 years. Moschetta-Warren feels that the key to running a business is being consistent in what one produces as well as not just working for money. She believes in sticking to one’s beliefs and work ethic when it comes to being a business owner.
When first opening her studio, the biggest struggle for Moschetta-Warren was learning to become a better teacher. Moschetta-Warren was used to performing and dancing at an advanced level, and even though she had taught for various studios, she usually worked with competitive students. When it came to opening her own business, she had to discover what it took to build a dancer.
To this day, Moschetta-Warren’s mother remains her biggest inspiration. Moschetta-Warren comments that her mother has more drive than anyone she has ever met. She also watched many old movies and musicals throughout her life that inspired her, the movie “A Chorus Line” being one the most influential.
Moschetta-Warren always knew that she wanted to be a dancer and dance teacher. She is now the current President of Dance Masters of Pennsylvania, an organization that focuses on dance education for both students and teachers. Dance has become her life, and she can’t imagine how anyone wouldn’t want to dance.
Dance is an amazing way to meet new people, and make close, tight-knit friendships that last a lifetime.
“Every job has its ups and downs, but I’m very blessed to go to work doing what I love to do. I’m a cancer survivor and dance got me through. It drove me to want to keep living to do what I love to do. And like my mom, I don’t plan on stopping,” she adds.
Throughout Moschetta-Warren’s life, one thing has stayed the same: her love of dancing.
