Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Wilder.
Keith, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, music and dance were the two things I began to love and learn at a very early age. My father, Keith Wilder Sr., and uncle Johnnie Wilder Jr., were the two lead singers of Dayton, Ohio 70’s Disco group “Heatwave”. My earliest memories that I have of my childhood is being on stage with “Heatwave” singing and dancing like I was a full-on member of the group! Both of my parents, Linda and Keith Wilder Sr., were very much in music and dance, as well as my three older sisters, Lisa, Tami, and Jade, so it was only a matter of time that I would follow along!
As I got older, I started pursuing my music career as a singer-songwriter. I wrote and recorded pop and R&B music in my bedroom whenever I could. On top of that, I was also in a Gospel group that was lead my older sister Tami. I started working with producers who are in the music industry, like Miykal Snoddy, performing on stages, even opened up for “Heatwave” in LA the night before my High School homecoming dance here in Gwinnett, so I got the full on Pop Artist feel, and it was outstanding!
When I was attending Collins Hill High School, I started taking technical dance classes, like ballet, jazz and modern, and I loved it. Growing up, Hip-Hop was always the style that I adapted to naturally and practiced throughout, so these styles were completely new to me. Once I graduated, I would go back and choreograph here and there, but never thought my career path would be made from it.
While pursuing music, I was trying to still find money for studio time. A friend of mine recommended a dance studio she worked at, called Southern Performing Arts Academy, and said they were looking for a new HipHop teacher. I thought I would give it a shot, and once I did, I instantly fell in love with it. From that studio, I started branching out and teaching at many others in the area, like N-Step Dance Academy, Heather Wayne’s Performing Arts, and Southern Bells Dance Company, along with choreographing for more high schools in the county. So at this point, I found out where I wanted to take my career.
This is now going on my fifth year as a dance teacher/choreographer and I love it. I was able to get to know and learn from members of an Atlanta based dance crew, “Collizon”, who appeared on season 7 of MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew”. I started choreographing dances for competition dance companies, which helped me meet and build great relationships with choreographers and dancers in this industry as well. On top of that, my mum, my sister Tami and I started a nonprofit called “Positive Impact International”, which was branched from my aunt’s original nonprofit, “Positive Impact” in Liverpool, England. With it, we’ve built our own dance studio and help kids and teens in the area express their love for dancing, singing, acting and so much more!
Still writing and recording music, being a dancer, choreographer, and teacher, I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me. With only being 24, I want to learn as much as I can from as many people and take it along with me in this journey!
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been the smoothest. There were times where I didn’t think I had what it takes to be a dancer, or choreographer. I fought with liking the material I made and posting it because I didn’t think it was good enough. Also, I had a late start with dancing because I never grew up in a studio or took it seriously until after my high school years, so in my head, I always had this picture that I was just steps behind my peers who have been dancing and training for it their whole lives. It hasn’t been till recently that I’ve overcome that thought and started making the best out of my own path.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Keith Wilder story. Tell us more about the business.
I love being a dancer/choreographer! I love being able to put a dance together and showcase it! The style of dance that I choreograph and teach is HipHop. I love this style because it’s so raw and authentic! I can be funky, smooth, hard-hitting, and everything in between! I’d like to say what sets me apart from others, is the energy I put into my dances. The personification behind my grooves and style stands out. I tend to mix other styles within my dances, so that my students can get a taste of other styles they wouldn’t usually go for, like dancehall or jazz.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Dance itself has always been changing with every year we come to, that it’s interesting to think where everything will be in the next decade. For dancers and choreographers, I think it’s safe to say that some are getting recognition as if they were music artists or actors. So in the next ten years, especially how Atlanta is growing, we could be making more of an impact in the media!
Pricing:
- $12 per class
Contact Info:
- Address: 950 Scales Rd. Building 400
Suwanee, GA 30024 - Email: kwildmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwildmusic/
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/kwildmusic
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