Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Davis.
Hi Lesley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in studio dance at Stars of Tomorrow & in pee wee drill-team in Mesquite. In high school I was in colorguard and drill-team; I went on to dance on scholarship at Trinity Valley Community College as a TVCC Cardette, before attaining my BA in Dance Education from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. After graduating I went back to my roots and taught pee wee drill-team. Once our pee wee drill season was complete in 2012, I felt like there was way more that I could offer the kids I was teaching. Along with the firm support of one of my dance mothers, I started N’ertia Dance Company utilizing Eastfield Community College as a training ground provided to me by A’jaydin Roberts and Danielle Georgiou. I worked in the Eastfield space until June of 2013, and then found our facility of highway 30 where we are located now. I never had a desire to open my own studio, but I come from a family of teachers and my parents were entrepreneurs. I saw a need and God really laid the foundation for everything I need to facilitate movement within my community. I say this because it was never my plan, I had nothing to start my dance company with. It just so happens, Contemporary Ballet Dallas was relocating at the exact time I was moving into the facility and I was able to procure dance subfloor, marley, ballet barres, mirrors and other equipment needed to start working with the kids I had. It was truly a aligned by God in accordance to his divine plan, none of it was me except the passion I had for dance arts and helping people.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are many battles that I have faced and continue to face being in this industry. We are not in an ideal location where we have food traffic so there has always been a challenge of getting our name out for people know we exist. Because of this we have remained a small company and it presents some financial challenges. Unfortunately, society see arts as elective rather than necessary so when the economy takes a hit, so do businesses that facilitate arts to the community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a diverse dance company that teaches everything from ballet to acrobatics. I think that what sets us apart from an average dance studio is the value in connection that I and our teachers have. We are a family of people supporting each other. We appreciate all families and our non-judgmental atmosphere makes it easy for new students to acclimate because we accept dancers exactly where they are. Each artist is able to shine rather than a select few. I think that many studios forget that the point of a dance school is to also trained the un-trained dancer as well as celebrate who they are as individuals. My biggest accomplishment is providing a space for kids and adults to feel safe, seen and heard.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am also a personal assistant, photographer, interior decorator and painter.
I love pickles and the color yellow.
My favorite thing to do is travel.
I am left handed and 1/4 Portuguese.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nertiadance.com
- Instagram: nertiadanceco_ndc
- Facebook: Nertiadancecompany
- Other: tik tok @artshperendc @nertiadancecompany
Image Credits
Artistic Images by Lesley
