Meet LaShanna Newton of Everything LaShanna

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaShanna Newton.

Thanks for sharing your story with us LaShanna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was always writing and dancing when I was younger but I grew up in a small town which didn’t necessarily offer avenues to hone these skills. Therefore, my writing and dancing were merely cloaked outlets. When I started college, I began to write more. I think it was a way to release frustrations associated with becoming an adult mainly in the realm of relationships. I let one of my line sisters read a poem I wrote and she immediately told me that I needed to continue writing and considering doing it professionally. That same year, I tried out for the dance team and I made it. It was a big year for me in that my hidden talents were being validated for lack of a better word.

My dancing took off publicly but I continued to write privately. People would see me dancing at different events (football and basketball games at THE Fort Valley State University) and invite me to teach at their studios which I was very reluctant to do because I was a self-taught dancer. However, I took that leap and have been teaching ever since. I put my writing on the back burner mainly because there wasn’t time for it until I went through a really bad break up resulting in me calling off a wedding a month prior to it happening due to infidelity on his part.

Immediately after that happened, I took a job that required me to be on a Navy ship for a couple of months. That is when I started writing The Point of it All. However, I did not finish it immediately. Not to give anything away but I was having a problem writing the ending because I didn’t have any experience to base it on if that makes sense. So I went back to my poetry. My poetry was the first thing I released in 2014. Again I was hesitant to not only release the book but to get on a stage and perform live! I still get nervous but I do it because I like it and people request it.

After releasing my poetry, I took another break because LIFE happened. I was really going through some things and I remember locking myself in the house one Christmas and finishing the book in two days that had been sitting on my computer for five years. I then released it in 2016. By releasing that book was more about overcoming challenges and having a moment of healing. I never started dancing and writing for money. It was my therapy. It still is. But I never want it to feel like work. I continue to bounce between spoken word, dance and writing.

I am just wrapping up a dance season and will likely have more spoken word performances this summer. More than anything, it’s time to get back to writing. I have two books I need to finish preferably before the end of the year. I just hope my creative flow agrees with my projected timeline.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not! The biggest struggle for me has been dealing with several significant deaths and trying to handle grief in addition to the usual daily struggles. When you lose so many people in a short period of time, you don’t want to do anything. I didn’t want to dance. I didn’t want to write. I was in a really dark place and none of my creative outlets were providing me any type of relief.

Thankfully I had people praying for me and I was able to come out of that space. Those losses have truly taught me that death doesn’t discriminate and grief has no expiration date. I have to live for today and use the gifts God gave me. Not just to help myself but to help someone else.

Additionally, I didn’t have any idea of how to run a business, market, track sales, etc. I had to learn in the process. I am still learning. It isn’t easy managing all the different avenues that come with a business especially if you don’t have anyone helping.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Everything LaShanna story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is truly a “solo” mission dedicated to spoken word, choreography, and writing. I have performed Spoken Word at several events in the Atlanta (and metro) area. It is something I would like to do more frequently if/when my schedule permits. However, I admit that I like being a beautiful surprise when I show up at an open mic and no one knows me. Most of my time is likely spent teaching dance. Up until 2012, I was the assistant director at Eagles Landing Dance Center but when I changed jobs and begin to travel, I had to step down. I continue to provide choreography for the performing company there but I have contracted out to other organizations as well.

The performances I have choreographed for range from private events to dance competitions for both children and adults. I have also written two books available on Amazon: Dance With Words Vols 1 & 2 (poetry) and The Point of it All (romance novel). I am proud of the fact that I finally stepped out there and just gave it a try. I don’t have a set blueprint or timeline for how long I will be doing it. I am just going with my gut at the moment. I think that is what makes me different.

Of course, I would love t be able to make money off of this… enough to be able to do it full time. But I also won’t be heartbroken if that doesn’t happen. That gives me a lot of flexibility in picking and choosing when and where I want to perform and how often I want to write. I can also write and choreograph in a variety of different genres. My poems range from dealing with mental health to erotica. I have choreographed dances in genres to include hip-hop, salsa, African, liturgical, and jazz. I’m not in a box and I like that.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck per se. I do believe in God blessing me with a gift that I don’t have to always advertise. When you love what you do, it radiates throughout a room. Rarely have I solicited for a dance gig. I was always that girl dancing anytime and anyplace music was playing because it’s what I love to do. It brings me joy. I forget about all of my problems when I am dancing and I truly dance like no one is watching.

Because of that, people would come up to me and offer me jobs. It was the same thing with my writing. I didn’t have as many people offer me jobs with my writing and speaking until I began sharing it. But once I allowed people to read my work or hear me speak, I would get offers to be a feature or asked to write for an event, etc.

The bible says your gift makes room and that is my experience. That is not to say that people should not advertise or market themselves. I admit that this is an area I must work on but I think I have done pretty well so far.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 678 763 4146
• Email: everythinglashannallc@gmail.com
• Instagram: @everythinglashannallc
• Facebook: @everythinglashannallc
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Sbpz4z1JP98_5wa-kg8jQ

Image Credit:
Caught it on Camera, Mia Bella Fotografia,  Drea Nicole Photography

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