We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michelle Slavik a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I took my first dance class when I was 3-4 years old at daycare. I bawled my eyes out at my first recital and did not want to perform. If my parents had to predict my future at that moment, they never would have guessed I’d become a professional dance artist.

After my short stint in dance as a toddler, I dabbled in the usual sports such as basketball, softball, soccer, and gymnastics. As the youngest child I tried everything my older sister and brother did.

While experimenting with sports, I continued dancing in my bedroom to Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, or Play on my CD player. I was heavily inspired by the Disney Channel Original Movie, “Gotta Kick It Up,” which is about a group of inexperienced dancers who form a dance team led by a new teacher who went to Julliard. Whenever I danced in my room, I imagined I was on a dance team competition in my very own pretend Regionals.

The only sport that ended up sticking was gymnastics, however, as I advanced the sport became increasingly dangerous and I developed intense anxiety which led me to quit at 13.

The summer I quit gymnastics my family began watching SYTYCD and I LOVED it. My mom suggested I try taking some dance classes and I decided to try it. From that moment on, I somehow KNEW deep within me that I wanted to pursue dance for the rest of my life.

I decided my freshman year of high school I was going to college for dance. It was the only path I could see for myself and I didn’t care what others thought about it. I knew I was behind most of my peers, but I worked really hard both in and outside my dance classes.

I went on to audition for colleges and committed to going to Slippery Rock University for their BFA program in Dance Performance & Choreography. At Slippery Rock I had the amazing opportunity to study under incredible teachers such as Ursula Payne, Jennifer Keller, Lindsay Fischer, Teena Marie Custer, Nola Nolen, Melissa Teodoro, Jaya Mani, Andy Hasenplflug, and Nora Ambrosio. My time at Slippery Rock shaped me into the artist I am now and gave me the tools to support myself with a professional career.

Now I can proudly say I have accomplished my goals and live and dance professionally in Philadelphia, PA.

Michelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Philadelphia dance artist. I teach, choregraph, and perform professionally.

As a teacher I aim to create safe spaces to welcome all and empower movers to embrace and challenge their authentic selves.

In my work, I enjoy blending highly physical contemporary dance with day-to-day mundane movement. I find inspiration in the way regular gestures can reveal emotions and stories adding an element of humanness along within a contemporary/modern movement vocabulary.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is the community I get to be a part of. I deeply appreciate all the people I have had had the pleasure to learn from, take class with, perform with, dance for, and teach. The support and inspiration from those I practice with brings so much meaning to my life and I hope to contribute as much of a positive influence back to the community I am a part of.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Be open to experiencing something new even if it feels weird, challenging, or uncomfortable. Whether practicing or witnessing, art can allow us to develop empathy, expand our knowledge, and build our communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michelleslavik.com
• Instagram: michelle_slavik

Image Credits
Brian Mengini – photos of me in the green pants and maroon shirt Jano Cohen – photos of me in blue long sleeve and black pants Me – the black tank top and red pants