Check Out Danielle Swatzie’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Swatzie.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My introduction to dance began at a local studio in Stone Mountain, GA called Susan’s Dance Studio, now known as the Academy of the Arts, founded by Susan McGee Crawford. Under her leadership and teaching artists, dance became a burning passion.To explore the art form further, I attended DeKalb Elementary School of the Arts (DESA) and later auditioned into the highschool, DeKalb School of the Arts. (DSA) Through these performing arts programs, I studied dance, drama, and broadcast media, which are now all disciplines that fall under my interdisciplinary artistic practice. Creatively, I was able to tap into my artistic expression through choreography and performance. As a Senior, I was encouraged to submit my first work, set on my classmates, and won my first choreographic award at the Regional High School Dance Festival in 2015. As a 17 year old, I had no idea I was capable of achieving something so major. This was the moment I knew I wanted to pursue this passion further.

My artistic education grew at The University of the Arts in the city of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. Yes, at this point, it is safe to say I’ve been in arts school my entire childhood. Reflecting back, being immersed in it has exposed me to genuine and innovative artistic practices that stem from culturally vibrant black cities such as Philly and ATL.

The University of the Arts provided me the opportunity to nourish the essential tools as a performer, choreographer, and soon to be director. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and traveled to 3 countries through study abroad programs geared around dance and culture.

Upon college graduation, I had to really think about who I was becoming. My goals were to dance with a multitude of artists, choreograph bodies of work, become a filmmaker, business owner, and travel the world. Typically, artists seek out New York City to be in a professional dance company, or Los Angeles to work with the most distinguished commercial dance artists, but this norm did not align with my long-term goals. I took a chance, and chose to begin my professional freelance career where it started, my hometown of Atlanta, GA.

Although Atlanta is known for their strong commercial dance presence, this city embodied a multitude of artistic possibilities that exposed me to more than just dance. It has given me the space to mature my artistic voice and collaborate with young professional dancers, musicians, and producers. After two years of commitment, I’ve been blessed to have built a strong network of artists in the Atlanta Metro area and through other cities, making innovative work and creating my own path along the way. I’m extremely grateful for my family, mentors, friends, and colleagues who’ve contributed to where I am today. So much love to you!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been some wins, but definitely some struggles along the way. As a child, I was heavily involved in competition dance. Competitive environments weighed on my perception of myself and made it hard to maintain and healthy self-esteem. I was rejected a lot, and sometimes I felt isolated from my peers. Over time, the pressure to be the best and rejection became a trigger to my anxiety. Entering my professional career was a challenge within itself. A major change for 20-somethings is leaving the institution of the education system. There is K-12, then college for 4-5 years, to finally be thrown into the real world with the expectation that everything will simply come into fruition. I was a bit oblivious. It became hard to maintain a peace of mind as a freelancer because this path is a creation within itself. I needed to establish my short-term / long-term goals and figure out how to feel comfortable mentally and financially. To this day, my career is full of spontaneity, which can be liberating. Although, when my life feels professionally empty, my anxiety and depression reneters. On an optimistic note, the rejection, pressures to be the best, and the fear of being without work has made me persevere through any obstacle that may come my way.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a freelance movement artist, choreographer, and filmmaker, my work specializes in contemporary dance, film, poetry, & literature. My work is based in Atlanta, GA but I travel out of state to places such as New York City. My films and choreographic work includes growing roots through concrete, a short dance film which premiered in November 2020 at the Modern Atlanta Dance Festival. This film opened the doors toward my directorial debut. Its development began as a senior thesis project in 2018, and the research continued into 2020. Shortly after, I co-directed META, a short dance film created as a Dihvinely Konnecked Fellow through Kenny Leon’s True Color’s Theatre Company. This film later became Best Music and Dance Video at the BronzeLens Film Festival in 2021. I have also set work on Spelman Dance Theatre as a guest visiting artist and created a work in progress through the Atlanta Contemporary and Dance Canvas Summer Choreographic residency in 2020. My performance has found its footing with Komansé Dance Theater for their 2020-2021 season. I have served as a collaborator with waheedworks founded by Tommie-Waheed Evans and also been a research participant with Helen Simoneau Danse. Alongside my concert work, I have expanded into TV and Film, with performances on networks such as YouTube Red, BET and Apple TV.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Although my achievements showcase the beauty of living in my purpose, I am most proud of the support system I have developed to get to this point. If it hadn’t been for my Mom, family, friends, mentors, and active supporters who follow my work, I would not be where I am today. To have my own sacred community is what has contributed to my success.

Contact Info:

• Email: danielleswatzie@gmail.com
• Website: www.danielleswatzie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniswatziee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleswatzie/
• Youtube: https://vimeo.com/user105313344

Image Credits:
These assortment images are captured by Marquise Eppinger (@eppsshotme) and Georgia Wescott Photography (@georgia.jpg) Additional images are stills from film work. Cinematography by Kamryn Harris (@rynproductions) Active image include dancers Morgan Burns, Brionna Williams, Patsy Collins, Virginia Spinks, Takia Tiki Hopson, Brianne Sellars, & Jada Willis. From the film “growing roots through concrete.”