Art & Life with Chelsea Warren

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Warren.

Chelsea, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have been dancing since a very young age. From ages 7-18 I was a competitive dancer; throughout the years, I won several dance scholarships, trophies, and titles. I am trained in various styles of dance: ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, African, lyrical, modern, and more. Outside of the competition season, I had great dance experiences such as dancing in videos, dancing on stages at Disney World, dancing on a cruise ship, and even dancing on a tv show directed by the wonderful Ms.Debbie Allen. After I graduated, I knew that I wanted to continue dancing in college. I was accepted into the dance major program at Valdosta State University; those were probably the best four years of my life! I learned so much not only about the dance world, but the theater world as well. Valdosta State University does an amazing job educating their students and providing as many opportunities as possible for them to be able to thrive in this industry. In 2015, I suffered from a knee injury and knee reconstruction surgery caused me to sit out for a semester. During my time away, I was able to do research and discovered a new love for choreography and teaching. My return to the dance floor in 2016 was driven by my motivation to become a great choreographer. Although I hated having to temporarily step away from dancing, I’m thankful this injury took place when it did. My family, friends, and professors were supportive and helped me direct my focus on this new side of dance. I wanted to be more than a performer; I wanted to be a creator.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
In 2017, my professors gave me an opportunity to compose/present a dance project that really meant a lot to me. I used my dance platform to display the struggles as well as the beauty of Autism. My 7-minute dance routine was performed twice at Valdosta State University and then again in South Carolina for the 2018 American College Dance Association formal concert. I received great feedback from adjudicators and other college professors from colleges in the southeast region. I plan to reset this work throughout my career to not only display the movement but to raise awareness for Autism.

Aside from my project, I am currently teaching dance in Walton County high schools, stage managing at Stone Mountain Park, teaching private lessons, choreographing and directing productions, and teaching adult classes in downtown Atlanta and on college campuses.

My most popular adult dance classes are my Feels contemporary dance classes and my Booty Work twerkfit classes. The huge contrast between the two classes is the beauty of it all. The Feels class allows me to use my platform to help dancers push through life’s challenges through the art of dance. The Booty Work class allows me to help dancers work out while also having a great time as they learn some moves.

My brand is Chelsea Aleece Choreography. Whether I’m pouring into the youth or dancing it out with the adults, I truly love what I do. I found a way to turn my injury into a blessing. I may not be able to be a performer forever, but I will keep teaching as long as there is breath in my body. I want my younger students to be inspired; I want to use the discipline of dance to help them grow in all areas of life. I want my adult students to have all the confidence in the world to reach new levels both inside and outside of the dance industry.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
My advice to other artists would be to never lose faith. Prayer has been the one thing that has kept me going. I believe we get so caught up in comparing our lives and accomplishments to the person next to us instead of comparing our old self to our current self. When I look back on where I started to where I am today, I have to thank God. There were many times I wanted to give up because I didn’t think anyone was seeing my work. There were many times I wanted to give up because I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. What has kept me going is the constant reminder of why I started. I love what I do, and my family and friends have supported me through it all. As long as your actions are driven by your passion, you will be successful.

Being a competitive dancer put me in a competitive mindset for the longest. I am now at a point where I don’t have to compare myself to the next dancer or choreographer; my focus is on my work and my brand. I am turning my passion into a career, and I am blessed.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
When it comes to displaying my work, Instagram has been the main social media platform I use. I am posting dance photos, dance videos, dance flyers and more to my Instagram weekly! Please feel free to follow me at @iamthatdancer_ to stay updated on what’s going on with Chelsea Aleece Choreography.

Contact Info:

• Email: chelsea.aleece95@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamthatdancer_/

Image Credit:
Artes’ Productions @Adose.of.artes

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