Hidden Gems: Meet Britney Brown of ExtraOrdinary Productions Dance Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Britney Brown.

Britney, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my training in ballet, tap, and jazz, at the age of five at Edwin Holland School of Dance in Miami, FL under to direction of Edwin and Gaile Holland. As I began to advance in dancing, I attended magnet dance programs at South Miami Middle and Senior High where she was introduced to Modern, Pointe, and Lyrical dance. During my freshmen year in high school, I became a student dance assistant and later an instructor.

I has participated in various community events including but not limited to the Chocolate Nutcracker, Orange Bowl Parade, Halftime show Honoring Dan Marino at Joe Robbie Stadium, and FAMU TOPS student orientation showcase.

While in college, I joined Essence Dance Theatre where I served as Keeper of Finance and stage manager. This led me to teaching at Prophecy School of the Arts under the direction of Dr. Latoya Davis-Craig working with students between ages 3-12. I am proficient in teaching various classes including but not limited to ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, acrobatics and creative movement.

At this time, Britney began to branch out and started a dance class specifically geared towards children with disabilities so they could receive the quality individual attention needed to promote growth and development of gross motor skills. She was then later able to mainstream these students into her regular Saturday classes where they continued to thrive.

Moving to the Atlanta area, I reconnected with a fellow instructor and began teaching in 2011 at a studio located in Powder Springs, GA. For three years, I taught ballet, tap, and jazz to ages three and up and instructed both Junior and Senior competition teams. Both teams participated in various community performances including, Downtown Douglasville Expos, Powder Springs/Austell Elementary Black History Showcases, Sew-Creative Fashion Shows and the Powder Springs Day Parade. They also attended various competitions including Starquest, KAR, and Stage One Dance.

In 2014, I started on my journey and life-long dream of owning my own dance studio known as ExtraOrdinary Productions Dance Company (EOP). Through hard work and dedication in and out of class the studio continues to grow. EOP’s competition groups have competed in numerous competitions and scored High Gold, Platinum, Top Ten, and various special awards such as High Intensity, Divas, Excellent Entrance and Dynamic Pictures Awards.

Going into our 9th year if business, With Extraordinary Productions, It is our vision to also expand the world of dance to those that may require more direct and student-driven paced instruction including those with special needs such as developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities Theses classes along with our other classes benefit children by improving coordination, balance, focus, listening skills, self-esteem, rhythm, and overall fitness and social skills. It is our goal to promote character, team building, technical and personal discipline through the art of creative movement and dance within a family-centered atmosphere. It fills my heart knowing that “my babies” not only take home dance lessons but everyday life lessons that will help them to continue to grow and develop along their life journey. We strive to outreach and promote unity within the community while engaging in various art forms of dance that may have limited exposure within the suburban Atlanta area. Promoting individuality and creativity in a family-geared community where students can feel they are free to express themselves and call “us” a home away from home.

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 has definitely not been smoothing a road. Of course, the recent struggles with COVID and us adapting to the masks and social distancing. This was a struggle because I didn’t have a clear picture of what my dancers looked like and it took away some of the personal aspects of classes with being able to high-five each other and holding hands and just being able to embrace them when they needed a hug.

Outside of COVID, we’ve had the usual fluctuation of enrollment especially in the summer which can impact budget and revenue, building issues with someone hitting our building (No one was at the studio at the time) and just learning how to work through the expansion of our studio over the last three years and changing our way of thinking to make sure we still keep the personal and family aspect of our studio.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the owner and Artistic Director of Extraordinary Productions. We are geared towards students and adolescents ages 2 and up (including adults) with an interest in learning and further developing technique within the world of dance and creative expressions. We offer classes including ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling, majorette, contemporary and hip hop. We believe that every student is unique and important and has an impact on the studio. I believe that is one thing that sets us apart from others. We don’t just focus on our competition or performance team but we include every student at the studio in our community performances and parades. We try and make sure everyone student knows they have a safe space at their “second home”. I am big on making sure the dancers keep their grades up while participating in extracurricular activities and their attitudes and overall demeanor is a positive one no matter what they may be going through. We are not just a dance studio, we are a family. I truly believe that Unity is the strength which is why our studio symbol is a pempamsie and that it still does take a village to raise our future generations.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am not a huge risk-taker. I am very much a planner and like to have things strategically figured out. This past year I did take a risk and expanded our studio from one room to two in anticipation of an increase in enrollment. I also increased our instructor positions which meant an increase in studio expenses. This definitely was a prayer and wishful thinking that definitely worked in my favor. With increased marketing on social media and word of mouth this past year, we were able to double increase our fall/spring enrollment as well as our summer enrollment. This reminded me that sometimes you just have to trust your craft and your gift and know that when you put yourself out there, you may get some rejection but those that are meant to come will come and you will thrive.

Pricing:

• $45-$50/month depending on the class

Contact Info:

• Website: www.extraordinaryproductionsdance.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/extraordinaryproductionsdance
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/extraordinaryproductionsdancega