We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alyssa O’Neal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alyssa below.

Alright, Alyssa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yes, I do earn a full-time living with my creative work, but it wasn’t always that way. I started dabbling in teaching Ballroom private lessons (mostly to wedding couple I knew personally, or fellow members of our collegiate competition team) as I was going to graduate school for Art History/3-D Modeling. While I loved being a student, and constructing 3-D worlds, at times it was incredibly lonely. So, as I craved more personal, one-on-one interactions, I decided to take the leap teaching Ballroom professionally for a small studio in Minnesota.

The atmosphere was incredibly competitive and often difficult to make ends meet, but my first major milestone was teaching (and maintaining) enough weekly lessons to qualify for health, vision, and dental insurance as well as a 401k. As a dancer, our work stems from use of our bodies, so reaching this milestone was important for the longevity of my career. Unfortunately, the industry took a massive hit during Covid, and it was difficult for studios to recover, prompting me to move across the country and launch my own Ballroom Dancing business.

The initial transition to a business owner was difficult. My favorite part of my career (interacting with my students on our in-person lessons) only made up about 10% of my work time as I was trying to launch and code my website, manage the SEO and marketing, attend vendor events, scheduling, and payroll. As I was trying to build my business and client base, I could feel myself rapidly burning out. Some of my biggest milestones have been intentionally setting and maintaining days off, charging what I value my work (versus just being competitive), and putting policies and marketing in place so that I capture my ideal client, which in turn allows me to pour more energy and creativity into the choreography I create. Do I wish I had learned these things sooner? Sure, but I firmly believe these burnouts and crossroad-type moments have really shaped my business and creative path into something I am proud of.

Alyssa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I initially got into Ballroom dance, because it was something I had always fantasized about and our college offered community social classes on Wednesday nights (my one free night from classes). While I enjoyed the social aspect, I had my sights set on competing, going on to win National competitions with my partner throughout our collegiate career. We decided to part ways as I sought a professional partner, just one aspect of pursuing a professional career in Ballroom dance. While I still enjoy performing professionally and with my students, I really enjoyed working with wedding couples creating choreography for their big day.

In terms of wedding dance lessons, my company exclusively offers choreography packages, as I really enjoy deep-diving into the musicality of their song choices and mapping out how to deliver it in an approachable, beginner-friendly way. My couples love their song choices, but are intimidated by the idea of blending steps and transitions with signature moves like dips and lifts. The choreography I provide puts them at ease with this, and I often get feedback that they couldn’t believe they were able to perform the basics, spins, and tricks and how comfortable it felt. I never want my wedding couples’ dreams or manifestations for their dance to be limited by their perceived dance ability, so I try my best to create a roadmap to achieve their goals. In addition to the final product, I truly cherish all the laughs, mistakes, and tender moments I get to experience with my clients throughout the choreography process.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a reformed people-pleaser, I had such a difficult journey learning to not say “yes” to every project proposal and inquiry. I unfortunately learned the hard way that spreading myself too thin just lead to resentment and burnout, which in turn began to creep into the tone of my e-mails and in-person lessons. When I began turning down jobs that I knew wouldn’t be a good fit (located too far away, not enough pay, coming in on my days off), I felt like a villain, but I have slowly learned it is necessary to stand up for myself and what I need to deliver an exemplary service. I had to remind myself that time and energy are commodities too, and to make space for my dream clients by saying no to ones whom might be a better fit for my competitors.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I come from a family of non-creatives, some with a background in the military, others with government jobs. Throughout my creative journey and launching my business, I was constantly being told about the monetary instability, lack of benefits (401k, healthcare, paid vacations, etc.), and how fruitless the endeavor would be. Being located in DC, I have witnessed countless government workers lose these same comforts and securities my family harped on my about, and can’t help but think how lucky I am to have created a brand that people continue to support, offering personal fulfillment in addition to monetary security. When I held “secure” jobs, I had a hard time feeling valued, seen, or like I had made an impact on others’ lives. My profession and business allows me to do all of these things in addition to finding financial stability and saving towards retirement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artofmovementdc.com/
• Instagram: artofmovement__dc

Image Credits

K Nicole Photography