Check Out Eliza Yarbrough-Saxon’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliza Yarbrough-Saxon.

Hi Eliza, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m an Atlanta-based choreographer and dance educator. I work with a wide range of students , from young kids to high schoolers to adults – choreographing for schools, studios, and various productions. I also teach dance classes and, just as importantly, make sure I still take class myself. It’s really important to me to stay a student of dance and choreography, no matter how long I’ve been teaching.

Interestingly, I didn’t start choreographing until college. Before that, I honestly hated the thought of coming up with even an 8-count. I would get so stuck and uninspired. But once I got to college, something shifted. I finally found the creativity and confidence to start exploring choreography, and now, it’s my absolute favorite thing to do. It’s been such a full-circle journey, and I feel really grateful to do what I love and help others find their love for dance too.

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 definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Growing up as a dancer in the early 2000s was hard, especially as someone who didn’t fit the traditional, thin dancer mold. A lot of people didn’t take me seriously because of that. On top of that, I spent a lot of time training in environments where not everyone was truly encouraged to flourish. But honestly, that taught me a lot about self-motivation and building confidence. There were times when I had to be the only person rooting for myself, and that shaped me in a big way.

More recently, I faced a pretty tough injury that took me out of dance for about a year. That was one of the hardest seasons for me, but it also gave me so much perspective. It reminded me how much of a gift it is to have a body that allows me to move and express myself. Now that I’m healed, I don’t take that for granted for a second.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a choreographer, and I think one thing I’m definitely known for is being pretty nit-picky when it comes to cleaning a routine. I’ll always choose a clean, sharp, simple routine over a sloppy performance full of tricks. I really believe dance is for everyone. It gets passed down, shared, and means something different to each person, and I find so much beauty in that.

Most of my work is choreographing for musicals, and one of the pieces I’m the most proud of is my take on Rich Man’s Frug. I specialize in Fosse, and I poured my whole soul into that number. It really represents my style and my love for storytelling through movement.

What sets me apart is how skilled I am at working with non-dancers and still being able to get the finished product exactly where I want it. I love helping people who might not feel like “dancers” discover what they’re capable of and making them look and feel confident on stage.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Trixie & Katya’s Podcast The Bald and the Beautiful I love those young women.

Pricing:

• Email Me for Pricing ( Lessons/Choreo )

Contact Info:

• TikTok: Eliza Yarbrough-Saxon
• Instagram: Elizayarbroughsaxon
• Facebook: Eliza Yarbrough-Saxon

Image Credits
KBT Photography
Katie V Cathell