Meet The Dancers of RVA
MEET SHANNON
Dance has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. So much so that it is at the center of my very being. It's not just that I like to dance or love to dance; it's that I have to dance. The movement of ballet is embedded in my bones and woven into my muscles. It sparks a creative drive deep within my soul. This journey to my love affair with dance has not always been an easy road, but it's one that I'm so thankful I chose.
READ MORE…
MEET MANDY
Unlike most dancers, I did not start at the age of three in a frilly tutu spending my time trying to find my spot on the stage. Rather, at an audition for a theatre group when I was approaching middle school, the director asked me to dance just to try it. I loved it! And she saw potential. Year after year, I worked hard to catch-up to the level of my peers. Then, other than a brief season, dance left my life in a formal manner for about ten years after high school when college, a job, and a marriage took center stage. Only after that marriage failed did I venture into a random studio and ask if they had classes for adults. When nothing made sense, and the future I thought was written had been erased, I found dance again. I had missed dance; I needed dance. My mind remembered the technique until my body caught up, but the stage--the stage brought new life!
READ MORE…
meet jen
I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to translate my passion for this art form into a career in teaching. For me, the most rewarding aspect of my job as a dance teacher is being able to help my students discover the unique individuals they are becoming through movement. They care about what I am doing and how I approach my dancing, and, in return, I get to witness how this transforms the decisions they make both inside and outside the studio. A lot of who I am as a person today is defined by the dance teachers I looked up to when I was younger and the positive impact they had on my life. I wake up every morning excited, knowing that I’ll be able to influence a life while doing what I love.
read more..
meet Rachel
I always thought that the moment I signed that first company contract, I’d be set. Or at least until I retired. Turns out that wasn't the case for me. I started dancing at the age of 10, and became professional at age 23 and held company positions for three years. At age 25, I took a leap of faith and pushed myself to dance for two companies, guest for multiple dance studios/companies, and maintain jobs at two dance academies. It all sounds adventurous until you look at the challenges I went through. These challenges or even set backs you could say, were nothing extreme, but at the time it felt like a never ending up hill battle of me against the world.
read more..
meet DeShon
DeShon Niajhi Rollins is from Southampton County Virginia and is an alumnus of The Virginia State University. He decided very early that he wanted to be a star. He started dancing, twirling baton, playing trumpet, and singing all at a very young age. DeShon Rollins has made a big impact in the cities of Southampton County, Petersburg , Richmond VA, and at his alma mater Virginia State University. After graduating high school, Rollins was considering studies in political science with a view of becoming a lawyer after graduation. That didn't happen…
read more..
meet Mattie
It all began the morning of my third birthday. I looked my mom in the eyes and with certainty said, “now I take ballet” and dance has remained in my life ever since. I think this came as a surprise to my mom since no one in my family had ever taken dance lessons and as the little sister of two older brothers I was surrounded by more camouflage and baseballs than pink tutus. However, what is meant to be will be and I was meant for dancing.
read more..
meet Daniella
I grew up in front of a mirror, in a studio, always looking for something that pushes me outside of my comfort zone while being wholeheartedly happy. Without dance there was an energy that I did not have an outlet for and I never found a release. Everyone is looking for a release; a release of emotions, responsibilities, negativity, worry. Creating is my release. Dance opens my heart, it allows me to let people into my soul without ever having to say a word. Dance is so incredibly magical because it is all about passion.
read more..
meet j. Static
Growing up in Richmond wasn't always easy. Before being "Weird" and "Different" was cool, I was teased and ridiculed a lot in the Richmond Public School system. It wasn't until I moved to Chesterfield and started attending Cloverhill High School when things turned around for me. This is where I found my passion of performing . I found myself performing with the number 1 show choir in the nation. This gave me a taste of fame and touring. I instantly fell in love.
read more..
meet HeaTher
In the world of ballet, careers typically end by the age of 30. For me... 30 was my rebirth... when my passion for dance serendipitously started all over again. I walked into a Richmond studio with my 3-year-old daughter, Audrey, looking for a place that may introduce her to the imaginative, disciplined and life changing world of dance. Little did I know, the question they asked would help me rediscover my lost love... "We offer adult ballet. Have you ever danced before?"
meet Lauren
The biggest constant in my life is dance; so much so that I truly don’t even remember a life without it. My mom signed me up for ballet classes when I was four years old, and from there I didn’t turn back. I never complained about going to practices or performances, I made up dances with friends in my spare time, and my mom continued signing me up for more and more classes every year. I never even tried another sport (except for one dreadful year of basketball in the third grade that I choose to ignore). I didn’t want to play sports, I really just wanted to dance.
read more..
meet Rasheeda
My story with dance seems to be able to be summed up by one simple statement . . . “the right place at the right time”. When I think back over my life, I cannot remember a time that dance wasn’t part of it. My love of dance all started with a chance meeting one afternoon at the age of 4. That particular afternoon, I was sitting and observing a dance class that my babysitter’s daughters were taking. I remember the instructor inviting me to participate in the class and I was hooked from that very first moment.
read more..
meet Jason
Starting late in life has caused me a lot of anxiety in my dancing. This anxiety has caused me to define for myself what it means to be a dancer and who I dance for. My realization is that I dance for me. I dance because I enjoy it. It makes me happy and allows me to express myself in a way that nothing else allows. Yes, I do hope that when people watch me dance it brings them enjoyment as well, but for me the point is more about internal fulfillment. Through dance I have a way to express myself that I never really had before I found dance. I’ve found a way to tap into my soul, through my body.
read more..
meet Taylor-Leigh
When it came time for college, I was lost, and had little guidance. I ended up accepting a late offer to George Mason’s dance program, only to pull out at the last minute. I was listening to people question the “practicality” of studying dance, so I spent two years taking general education classes, changing my mind everyday about what I “wanted to do,” and keeping myself busy by becoming a fitness fanatic. I even competed in a few bodybuilding shows. At that time I cursed my mom for not putting me into gymnastics, where my career would have been over by age 16, so then I could pick a “normal” occupation and my life would be easier. But she said I wouldn’t do anything else. I wanted to dance.
read more..
meet SAndi
I’m in my mid 40’s, a mom to three boys, and I’m dancing better than I ever thought possible. I’m also growing in the gift of teaching dance. It proves that anyone can do anything they put their mind to. It really doesn’t matter what it is. If you have a passion for something, do it. Do it big. Go all in. Don’t hesitate. Love it hard. That’s the only way to find the abundance and reward in it. I believe I’m living proof of that.
read more..
meet Chelsea
My dance journey began at the age of 6 years old. I started with ballet, but despite my natural abilities I wanted to quit within months. At that time I would have rather been playing outside somewhere with my friends (the good ol’ 90’s!), but my mom wouldn’t allow me to discontinue until I performed in the spring recital. She always taught me not to quit something until I saw it all the way through, to finish what I committed to. We arrived at the recital only for me to see and hear tap dancing for the very first time. Immediately I was captivated. I looked up at my mom and said “Mama, I want to make that sound”.
read more..
meet Eric
When I started dancing my junior year of high school, I would’ve never thought I’d be where I am today. At first, I only took a dance class in high school because I needed an elective. When I saw my friends who could dance, train, I knew I wanted to be as good as them. After a few months I decided to dance recreationally at PowerUp Dance Center. I used to have to pay for my own dance classes because my mom wasn’t too thrilled of the idea of her son being in ballet. It was actually pretty hard for a while because I knew she was so apprehensive. Thankfully she’s now seen how much I enjoy dancing and how far I’ve come with it.
read more..
meet Christine
I’ve been singing and dancing with my family since I was a little girl. Holidays are a big deal for us and it’s a tradition for the “youngins” to provide entertainment at family events; singing, dancing, stepping, the playing of instruments, you name it; it’s been done. I learned so much about performance and show-womanship from my family, especially from my mother. My dance journey started when I was nine years old. My mom put me in a summer dance camp at Flair Dance Studio in Baltimore, MD. I started with 3 of my friends, and at first it was just another bonding opportunity for us, but I ended up falling in love with dance class. We also did vocal music, acting, tennis, chess, and visual art at the camp. My parents would always say they wanted me to be well rounded, so this camp was perfect for that reason.
read more..
meet Deandra
My dance inspiration growing up was Janet Jackson. I studied Janet, her background dancers and other iconic performers on TV during my entire upbringing. It wasn’t until I was almost a college graduate that I decided to start pursuing dance professionally. My senior year at VCU, I was finishing up my Radio Broadcasting degree, interning at WBTJ 106.5 The BEAT and performing with a college based hip hop dance group. Once I graduated from VCU, I became an actual employee at WBTJ (as an On-Air Personality), but I still felt like I was unfulfilled. One night at the station, I was explaining this to my co-worker and mentor at the time (Zxulu) and he made a life changing suggestion. “Why don’t you start your own dance group?”
read more..
meet Megan
Through my years of teaching dance, I have become more confident in my abilities, not only in terms of my technical and artistic abilities, but with my presentation and performance as well. Working with a wide range of ages helps keep my skill-set diverse. As I continue to perform, I am forced to keep working on my technique, while also navigating the changes in my body as I age. Just as dance can be so fluid, I too must move with the currents. Growing and adapting and shifting so that I am able to sustain a career in movement.
read more..
meet Morgan
As a little girl, I started off taking one or two classes a week, which then turned into three, four, five classes a week. By the time I was in middle school, my life outside of school was completely filled with classes, rehearsals, and shows. I missed out on a lot of activities that seem important at eleven years old: birthday parties, sleepovers, and school dances. But for me, it was all worth it.
read more..
meet Noelani
I have found that my happiness in dance relies on the giving and receiving of this art form. I am able to receive dance as a student to many teachers, and nothing can replace the feeling of taking a dance class. The giving of dance comes from choreographing and teaching. When I choreograph, I create these worlds that invite the viewer or audience in through movement and creates an urge within them to dance. When I teach, I am able to strengthen dancers of all ages and share my passion with them. As I continue my dance journey, I believe that simply giving and receiving will always lead me where I need to be.
read more..
meet Lisa
It was my grandma’s idea to sign me up for dance classes at a local studio when I was in 6th grade. Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical were all a part of my early dance education. I fell completely in love with Ballet right from the start. I loved the precise alignment and clarity of the movement.
read more..
meet Laura
My story starts like most dancers in that I began taking classes at the young age of 3. My mom was a dancer and knew the benefits of having me enrolled in dance class (discipline, coordination, creativity, etc). I grew up in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and what makes my early years unique is that in this small, artsy town, there were, and still are, multiple dance studios. I was extremely fortunate to take classes at two. Why take from two? The focus and philosophy was completely different in many ways, but both taught their students to love and appreciate the art form.
read more..
meet Katherine
When I was 3 years old, my parents told me that I would use the handle of our kitchen oven as a ballet barre. They shared that when I was a little girl, I would hold onto this “ballet barre” and I would point my toe back to front and bounce along to every beat of the music. When it came to dance, my imagination supposedly ran wild. I would leap around the house and make up my own dances. My mom said I had this natural ability to hold a rhythm in a way unlike most children. And she began to soon realize that dance would be a significant part of my future.
read more..
meet Kelly
As a black dancer raised in a predominately white suburban studio I often struggled with my identity. I didn’t know who I was or what I was supposed to be. I only saw myself as “the token black girl” of the group. Though I was very social I hid my personal struggle from those around me because I knew they wouldn’t understand. Eventually dance became an escape from my identity crisis. Through dance I began to find myself. Dance helped me build an identity for myself breaking all the stereotypes being forced upon me. Dance taught me self- discipline, commitment, and determination. Dance defines my existence as an artist.
read more..
meet Kara
The story of how I came to be a dancer is not a typical one. Many dancers start at the tender age of 3 and have memories of sparkly costumes, bobby pins and hours-long recitals. I grew up playing soccer. Instead of spending weeknights in the studio, I spent them on the field. My memories include juggling competitions, Adidas massage slides and orange wedges. I discovered dance accidentally, and continued that discovery rather haphazardly. But don’t worry, my story ends with more conviction than it begins.
read more..
meet Elliot
Dance is among the most primal experiences encountered as humans. Movement, however pedestrian in nature, transcends cultural barriers and creates a language, raw and paramount in character. The simple movement of a hand, or step in a direction surpasses superficial meaning and dives into the essence of the human experience. An experience so relatable that it can be understood by varying cultures around the world. With history instilled by generations of our ancestors, these movements bare weight sometimes larger than word. Creating a vocabulary of emotion and aesthetic, through dance. A vocabulary that knows no bounds, and is always pushing towards new meaning. This is how dancers communicate. This is how I communicate.
read more..
meet Ryan
A dare… that’s how all of this started…
I was twelve years old and my sister’s dance studio needed boys for a production. My friend, Justin, dared me to dance, and the rest is history. I didn’t quite realize it at the time, but dance would save me. It’s never just been an outlet for me, dance has always been something my soul needed.
read more..
meet Solrush
It was the early 2014 when I decided to take dance extremely seriously. My original crew was broken up due to their individual life journeys. I discovered how precious dance was and what it truly meant to me. Most because around this time because of the things going on in my personal life. Dance was the only thing I was able to count on to support me mentally and emotionally. I live my life not for myself, but for my family and family only. Dance is one of the things that allows me to have a reason to live my life for myself. Since I discovered this, my bond with dance has only become stronger and still continues to grow up to this very day. Whether I become well known or not is completely irrelevant to me. From now until the day my body can no longer move, it will forever be just me and the music.
read more..
meet Stacy
When I try to reflect on my dance journey, it is hard for me to remember a time that I have existed without dance in my life. Dance is and has always been innately a part of me and who I am.
read more..
meet Ilana
My dance journey has been full, but it’s far from over and it hasn’t lost any of its magic because I still find it constantly growing and evolving. I’ve turned my favorite thing to do in to my purpose, and I find gratitude and motivation in that every single day.
read more..
meet Faith
I was not a brainiac in school. I constantly felt stupid, because no matter how hard I studied, I could not understand the material being fed to me. My academics were becoming a lost cause, because if I wasn’t interested in what was happening in the classroom, I would completely dissipate into my own little world and daydream and scribble out all of the creative ideas that were flooding my brain. Going to dance everyday made me realize I did not have to earn straight A’s in school to be smart. I was bright in my own sense; learning choreography, remembering corrections from instructors, working hard physically outside of the studio, all proved that I was an intelligent, budding artist.
read more..
meet Kara
I found dance on accident. A family friend signed her daughter up for summer classes at a studio down the street from both of our houses and asked if I wanted to come. My mom sent me along in a t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes for my very first class. I loved it and continued out the summer which turned into seven years taking class from Tiffany’s School of Dance.
read more..
meet jESS
When I was a little girl, I had dreams of being a dancer. A professional dancer. That’s all I wanted. My childhood bedroom was full of dance posters, and pointe shoes, and pictures from years and years of recitals. I naturally knew that I wanted to go to college to study dance, and then from there go on to audition all over the country and the world to dance with professional companies.
read more..
meet ANNA
It all began when I was four years old and my mom took me to the ballet to see Richmond Ballet's “The Nutcracker.” I was mesmerized by the movement, the colors, the characters, the lights, but most of all I was in awe of the ballerinas on pointe. I wanted to go up on my toes like that and float across stage as all the dancers did. I was on the edge of my seat the entire show; pretty sure I didn’t blink when the snow queen and king came out and did their pas de deux together and I was sold. I had dreams of being a ballerina. So, as any mother of a daughter did, she signed me up for dance classes down the next day at my local studio, West End Academy of Dance.
