Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Moon.
Hi Dan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t wake up one day and decide to build a line dance empire. It started way simpler than that.
Line dancing has been part of my life since I was a kid. I was literally two-stepping as a toddler, and that love for dance followed me into adulthood. For years it was just something I did because I loved it—going out to country bars, dancing, learning, soaking up the community. Eventually, I realized I wasn’t just dancing for fun anymore; people were watching, asking questions, wanting to learn. That’s when it clicked that this could be more than a hobby.
Around 2014, I officially stepped into teaching and choreographing. I started at Moonshine Flats—The day it first opened its doors, I was THE line dance instructor. For years thousands of people came into Moonshine Flats and Moonshine Beach, where they learned dances from host, Dan. I wanted beginners to feel successful fast and experienced dancers to still feel challenged and hyped. That focus helped me grow quickly in San Diego’s line dance scene, and over time I became one of the most recognizable instructors in the county, running line dance nights at breweries and restaurants across San Diego.
As my teaching grew, so did my choreography. I began creating dances that didn’t just work locally but landed nationally and internationally. Some of my dances are now taught and danced all over the world, and that opened the door to festivals, major stages, and partnerships—including becoming a resident country-festival DJ and line dance instructor with Monster Energy. Teaching at events like Stagecoach, Hoofbeat, and Sand in My Boots took everything to another level.
At the same time, demand exploded for private events. What started as the occasional birthday party turned into a full-blown business—corporate events, fundraisers, weddings, school events, city festivals, you name it. That’s how Dan Moon Line Dance evolved into a full-service experience: instruction, DJing, MC work, and turning any room into a dance floor where everyone feels welcome, whether they’ve danced before or not.
The biggest turning point came in 2022 when my wife Kaylie and I founded The West Coasters. We saw a gap in the industry—there were great dancers everywhere, but no large-scale, professional, traveling line dance team doing festivals at the level other dance genres were. So we built one. Today, The West Coasters are multi-city based, nationally recognized team with over 25 dancers and instructors and a roster of professional DJs. We perform, teach, and headline festivals across the country and are the only U.S. line dance team to be officially featured on a major festival lineup, Hoofbeat.
What makes it all work is community. Everything I do—from local lessons to massive festivals—is built around making line dancing feel accessible, inclusive, and electric. That mindset is how I’ve been able to grow from one guy teaching steps at Moonshine to running a business, a traveling team, and a brand that represents San Diego line dancing nationwide.
At the end of the day, I’m still doing what I’ve always done—creating high-energy, unforgettable experiences that bring people together on dance floors all across the country. The stages are bigger and the crowds are wider now, but the mission is the same: bring the hype, build connection, and make memories people take home with them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No—smooth is definitely not the word. But it has been purposeful.
A huge part of getting through the hard stuff comes back to my faith. There were plenty of moments where things felt overwhelming, and I didn’t have every answer lined up. Trusting God gave me patience, perspective, and the perseverance to keep moving forward without panicking or forcing things. That grounding made all the difference when challenges popped up—which they always do.
The leap from staffing a few private events around San Diego and Arizona to partnering with a 15‑billion‑dollar company and sending teams across the country was no joke. All of a sudden I wasn’t just teaching dances—I was managing flights, hotels, schedules, contracts, and last‑minute chaos for teams of 4–6 people at a time. Travel issues, delays, personality differences, preferences, energy levels—real-life stuff doesn’t stop just because you’re headed to a main stage.
It definitely hasn’t been a walk in the park. But honestly? It also hasn’t been that hard—and that’s because of the team.
I’m surrounded by people who genuinely love to dance and appreciate what this opportunity is. Getting to teach and perform at major festivals, main stages, and events across the U.S. isn’t something we take lightly. Because of that, everyone shows up hungry, grateful, and ready to work. When things go sideways, nobody melts down—we adapt, support each other, and keep the vibe high.
That passion makes leadership easier. It makes travel smoother. It makes the pressure feel lighter. At the end of the day, we’re doing what we love, at a high level, in rooms full of people who are there to feel something—and that shared purpose keeps everything moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At its core, my business is about creating energy, connection, and unforgettable experiences through line dancing—whether that’s in a San Diego ballroom with 50 people or on a festival main stage with thousands.
I run DMLD LLC, which is a full‑scale line dance and DJ experience. We specialize in private events, corporate events, weddings, fundraisers, schools, and festivals. What makes it different is that we don’t just “teach steps.” We create high energy experiences for private or corporate parties, to leave lasting and memorable experiences for all guests – It’s equal parts instruction, entertainment, and controlled chaos in the best way.
On top of that, I’m the co‑founder – with my wife – of The West Coasters™, a nationally recognized, San Diego‑based traveling line dance team. We perform, teach, and headline festivals all across the U.S. We’re built for big stages, big crowds, and high impact—professionally trained dancers, seasoned instructors, and festival‑tested DJs who know how to keep energy high from start to finish. We’re not just a team that dances—we’re an experience that elevates events.
What really sets us apart is scale and intention. Most instructors stay local. Most teams stay regional. We’ve built something that works at every level—from backyard parties to major festivals—without losing quality, authenticity, or heart. We specialize in inclusive, high‑energy environments where everyone feels welcome, whether it’s your first dance ever or your hundredth festival.
Brand‑wise, what I’m most proud of is the culture. Everything we do is rooted in a genuine passion for line dancing and a deep gratitude for getting to do this all across the U.S. We show up. We bring the hype. We create memorable moments for people everywhere we go—and we truly love what we do. That combination builds trust fast: clients feel confident, crowds stay engaged, and teams are easy to lead. That confidence is mutual, too—brands trust us enough that from April through November, we have teams traveling and working nearly every week of the month.
What I want readers to know is this:
If you bring us in, you’re not just booking line dancers—you’re booking people who love connecting with others. We meet people where they’re at, dancers or not, pull them into our passion, and create experiences they take home with them long after the event ends. Sometimes it’s the kindness and openness of our team that sticks. Other times it’s the first line dance they ever learned that sparks a brand‑new passion. Either way, we don’t just show up—we show up to be remembered. That’s the brand. That’s the mission. And that’s why it keeps growing.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success looks very different for me now than it did years ago.
For a long time—almost a decade—line dancing was very me‑centric. I was the instructor at Moonshine Flats. I was the face on the mic. I loved the attention, I loved building my name, and I loved pouring everything I had into my passion for line dancing. That season mattered, and I’m grateful God allowed me to grow through it.
But success has evolved.
Today, success isn’t about me being front and center. It’s about recognizing that God has blessed me and my wife with an opportunity—and a responsibility—to impact people’s lives in a much bigger way. I get to equip others to carry this passion all across the U.S. I get to watch teams travel, experience new states for the first time, step onto major stages, and attend festivals I only dreamed about at their age. Many of them are 21–24 years old, living experiences that most people spend years wishing they could do.
My responsibility now is stewardship—being faithful with what God has put in front of me. And the timing couldn’t be better. Line dancing in 2026 is having a real cultural moment. With artists like Pitbull bringing it back into the spotlight and TikTok and Instagram pushing it nationwide, people are diving into line dancing in droves. Success for me is having a team ready to meet that moment—to deliver energy, professionalism, and unforgettable experiences wherever we go.
What makes it even more meaningful is watching the growth. What started as a team of four has grown into a community of over 35 people, all impacting the line dance world in their own way. Watching them grow in confidence, leadership, and purpose—that’s success.
Success isn’t about the spotlight anymore. It’s about faithfully building something that serves others. It’s about bringing the joy of line dancing to thousands of people—whether that’s in San Diego or across the continental U.S.—and knowing what we’re creating is bigger than me, lasting longer than me, and changing lives through the people I get to lead.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.danmoonlinedance.com and www.westcoastersteam.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewestcoastersteam
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm1_iMjb8dg
