Today we’d like to introduce you to Blessing Odusola.
Hi Blessing, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Blessing Odusola. I’m a 23-year-old Yoruba woman originally from Lagos, Nigeria. I came to the US for school at 17 years old and found my passion for dance and the arts at my college. In 2019, while studying Nuclear Medicine Technology in Uni, I joined a dance team known as Dancers United, and that introduced me to a world of new things. Majorly focusing on hip-hop, I was immersed into this new exciting world that was just the best to me. While on that team, I met Nina Jordan and Ashley Miller, and we basically formed a heels-based dance team, now based in Dallas, known as Fulheel.ing. During all of this, I had been watching Afro-dance on Instagram and youtube, but I never really had the chance to explore it outside of social media, so when we started getting professional with it, I made the decision to study it and explore and play with it, and I believe I’ve found my pocket within it. So fast forward 3 years now as I started dancing in 2019. I’m super grateful for all the experiences and opportunities that has come my way, and I can’t wait to see where God is taking me next.
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?
It most definitely has not been a smooth ride, but we thank God. Between juggling Nuclear Medicine school, the three main dance styles I was trying to learn (Afro, Heels, and Hip-hop), being present, and working, there were times it was so overwhelming. I’d have to go straight from school to a dance class or to a performance. We had a tour year (2021) where we brought out professional dancers every month to teach masterclasses, so I’m in that car studying while we were driving 4 hours to Dallas (my school was in Arkansas). My teammates really made it work for me as they would always work around my schedule just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I really owe that to them; extremely amazing individuals. After my father passed in 2021, my group of Afro dancers known as Nollybabes finally formed, and they had my back big time. As well as my heels team Fulfheel.ing, and my amazing friends and family. Everyone in my life has been so accommodating to me, and I honestly will not be here without all that support, so shoutout to my people.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional dancer. I specialize in most forms of Afro-dance, heels technique, and fusion choreography. I am a part of the heels-based company; Fulfhee.ling based in Dallas, and my afro girls, Nollybabes. I would love to have my style identified within the community. I’m very varied with my choreography; I love to learn the rules and break them like an artist, which fuels my passion for fusion choreography. Emphasizing the division in dance is extremely important as each style does deserve its respect and knowledge. For me, I love to see how far my creativity can take me; fusing different styles is like an expression for me; I never know what will come out, but I end up loving it every single time. You do need to learn the potential basics of each style in order to fuse or teach a fusion, so I typically work with people who do, but I’m always open to working with those who don’t. We can all learn from each other, is what I believe. I am most proud of my creativity so far. God bless God for the brain he gave me. My creative direction and ideas are what sets me apart for sure. I can’t wait for the world to see what we have coming up!!!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I listen to a lot of music, so Spotify for sure. I also love to escape in fiction, as it gives me a lot of unconscious inspiration. Spotify has audiobooks and podcasts inbuilt, so I listen to Mythology, African Folk tales, Parcast, Diaries of a Dancer, and many more. I love old Regency stories, so I read. a lot of Amelia Howard, Julia Quinn, Sydney Sheldon, and others. I love to escape because it refreshes me so well that I’m ready for whatever when I return.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odusola.b/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blessing.odusola.9?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOMPt7r8O_ra9lTHdR9duag
Image Credits
shotbyaji
