Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Taylor (Harrington).
Hi Alyssa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hello!
Well, my story has been quite a journey so far! I have to pause and reflect at times taking all that I have experienced along the way and what I continue to learn every day.
My pathway began in Lincoln, Nebraska. Growing up in the Midwest there are many opportunities and many limitations, with the support of my parents I was able to explore the arts in every aspect. I always felt like the arts molded me and kept my curiosity afloat. My parents always played music and danced around the house, so I began dancing at the age of 4 years old. It was so intriguing to learn directions, rhythm, instructions, musicality, coordination, use of props, and take on life lessons!
I fell in love with movement! I competed in dance until the age of 11 and my desire to immerse myself within the artistic lifestyle began shortly after. I happily trained around 30-40 hours a week. After receiving many awards, “Academic Scholarship Award,” “Nebraska Young Artist award, and my certification in Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Ballet Certification. I became the youngest member in the school’s history to be accepted into the University of Nebraska – Omaha’s “The Moving Company”, that really gave me the confidence to know I could dance as an ongoing career.
I was able to explore other passions as well! Horse riding/training, volleyball, working for my dad’s company in a mature business setting and was endlessly exposed to many career options. I was able to grasp where my passions were leading me.
I watched a documentary on dance, and it stated you could have a career in dance with salaries, health benefits, and you were able to tour the world theatre to theatre. That was very eye-opening for me! I couldn’t believe I could tour the world! That was my boost to do anything to become a professional dancer! Overcoming injuries and learning who I was as an artist and how I would be able to share at the highest capacity from the inside out. I graduated from highschool at the age of 15 after being homeschooled the majority of my life. No, we are not socially awkward beings! Ha! It felt amazing to focus my time in the way that worked for my passions.
I later attended Kansas City Ballet and The Ailey School on a level 1 scholarship. I didn’t know much about NYC, but I knew that I loved the determination, focus, routine, culture, and the many languages I heard on a daily basis. I learned so much from The Ailey School and I definitely would not be where I am now without having the powerful legends as instructors throughout my stages of becoming a professional dancer.
During my time at school, I received my first full-time contract with SD|Prism Dance and my instructor invited me to Dallas, TX to attend the Dallas Black Dance Summer intensive where I assisted and demonstrated for Master Teachers, Dudley Williams, and Milton Myers.
Little did I know I was going to reside in Dallas for the next 10 years! I was able to begin a solid journey in Dallas from there! I worked with Larrwell Productions for Mary Kay, Southwest Airlines, and Sally’s Beauty Supply, became an ongoing representative for Brown Girls Do Ballet and Mahogany Blues Dance Apparel. I joined Dallas Black Dance Theatre as a member of the second company (DBDT Encore!) and was later promoted to Soloist in the first company. I have performed prominent works created by the world’s top artists. Works within my comfort zone and outside of my comfort zone!
I am in awe of the amazing individuals in the world and humbled to have been able to travel and perform in 10-plus countries, choreograph, engage in commercial work, campaigns, teach The Bar Method, assist in suicide prevention groups, and human trafficking/domestic violence groups, and acknowledged at the NYIT Animation & Film Festival (New York, NY) for my organic performances and contributions to the performing arts. It is truly amazing how art can change your perspective on life and change lives altogether.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh as smooth as life allows! I think the obstacles and challenges are there for you to appreciate the growth and the reward so much more. When I was 6, my parents were not able to afford dance lessons, and I always state that it was one of the hardest years of my life. I overcame that challenge fairly quickly when my parents and Grandparents worked so hard for me to dance continuously from that year on.
As dancers we have many anatomical challenges and obstacles that we work with, we, unfortunately, cannot control these factors as much as we would like to. I have inflammation in all my joints from my hypermobility and with the inflammation, my body reacts in a way that is so painful to even get through a full ballet class. That has been a huge roadblock, working through abnormal degrees of pain that caused me to dislocate my knee 3 times in the past and over the years led to many other injuries.
Taking time off is a mental challenge as well as a physical challenge. Every artist has an instrument whether that be their mind, musical instrument, or tangible tools to achieve their art, and as dancers, we have our bodies as our instrument. It is a lot more noticeable when you step back to heal. You can learn how to accommodate, appreciate, and work with your setbacks and you find a way to move through those sticky situations. We tend to expect ourselves to be pristine and perfect, but accepting how we evolve with problems is very enlightening and uplifting. How we use our challenges for a deeper purpose to heal others through art is what stands out the most to me as a person.
In the time we set aside to overcome challenges or obstacles of any kind, we learn to create art. Art can cultivate from many areas in life, but for me as a dancer it derives from maybe the darker areas in life or the struggles we come across in life. That is truly where the most beautiful creations are made and when you are past that time of struggle you tend to amplify it to the world. Sharing your art is beyond healing for me and for others who witness how you evolve. Surrounding yourself with people that keep you motivated is so important. I am beyond appreciative for the support of my Husband, parents, and my best friend Addison Ector who is also in the same field that I am in. It truly helps you overcome and navigate life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a professional performing freelance artist, dancer, instructor, educator, judge, rehearsal director, dance adjudicator, audition facilitator, Bar Method instructor, and a very bubbly person! I am known for my unique performances, choreography, inspiration, organic performances, attention to detail, positive teaching approach, uplifting spirit, and contributions to the performing arts around the world.
I tend to draw the audience in with me. If I am going to share, it will be from within. As I state to my students… You have to dance 150% full out for the audience to be involved at a 50% capacity. You have to be so authentic that the audience has no other choice but to relate, pause, and be vulnerable enough to “feel what they need to feel” in that moment.
I am most proud of the impact I have had on my students; this is a recent discovery. The feedback from each student and visually seeing their growth in silence has been one of my greatest achievements. It takes a lot to speak about yourself and be proud of yourself. To hear or see their growth from an authentic and honest place has created the feeling of fulfillment within me.
I stand by being unique and applying many approaches when I take the stage. Simplicity, focus, drive, positivity, realistic views, length, width, vulnerability, and being a good person on and off the stage make the entire package come to light. I love the fact that I have always been different. Something is very eye-catching about my performance style. I feel that if I figured out what that exact detail was or is, I would lose sight of that special innate component that comes to the surface for others. I don’t focus on what makes me different from other people. I try to see how I can impact their life differently leaving them feeling fulfilled.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Favorite childhood memory… Wow so many! I would say the most highlighted memory was when I woke up at 345am and danced to loud music with my dad. He had one CD he would play over and over and still does to this day! Ha! Shortly after my mom woke up and made pancakes in the early hours of the morning. We all began to dance and found so much joy in the room.
It taught me that it’s okay if your timing was a little different than most common timetables and that you can make a choice to be joyful no matter what the circumstances you are presented with.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Livin_my_dreamz
Image Credits
Omar Ramos
Alexey Views
Braxton Klavins
Mark-Anthony Mascunana
