Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anastasia Waters. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Anastasia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

The funny thing is, is I DO have a “regular job”, in addition to my dance endeavors. I work full-time as Office Manager for a concrete construction company by day, but in the evenings and weekends I teach dance, and run a professional contemporary dance company, imPULSE dance project. My pipedream would be that I didn’t have to do both. Being able to support oneself solely as an artist is a great challenge. I am very blessed and grateful to have a stable place of work in the construction company, and I have learned a lot about running a company through that line of work, but I’d love to be able to invest all of my time, energy, passions, and talents into dance explorations. As it is, I have to balance my time, and efforts between the two. I am not able to say yes to every dance opportunity that comes my way. In spite of this I know I have accomplished a lot in my artistic pursuits. I have taught in several schools throughout the DFW metroplex, The Ballet Conservatory, Fort Worth Ballet Center, Chamberlain School of Ballet, Dance Academy of Mansfield, Innovative Dance, and Artistry in Motion, to name a few. I have learned something new from each of those opportunities. I have been commissioned to choreograph works on several schools including, on Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, the Arlington Heights High School Dance Department, Tarrant County College, and Chamberlain Performing Arts Company; not to mention the countless creations on imPULSE dance project. I have been able to produce over 10 new projects with imPULSE dance project that have featured my own creations as well as housed the opportunity for other artists to create work. So, though it is challenging, and exhausting to pursue artistic opportunities and work a full-time office job, it has always been my mantra and understanding that things of worth are not always easy, nor are things that are easy always of worth. So, I am blessed to have the opportunity to work, and work hard for what I love.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a dance artist. I am the Artistic Director of imPULSE dance project, a professional contemporary dance company I founded in 2012. Dance has been in my life for 33 years now. I began at the age of 3 when my mom put me in ballet. I went through years of intense training in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. It was not always clear that dance would be something that I would pursue long term; there were many ups, and downs, challenges, and obstacles I faced as a young dancer in training. These challenges included body image issues, balancing 25 hrs. a week of dance with school responsibilities, managing the high expectations of teachers, and the emotional/physical/spiritual toll all of this took on me. But as I got older and more mature in my training, dance went beyond just steps, and something that TOOK from me and became something that GAVE to me in spite of the challenges. I discovered the possibility of healing, and artistic expression within this art form. I discovered I had a particular knack for contemporary/modern dance and grew a passion for the artistic possibilities within this style of dance. This is when I decided to pursue dance in college, so I went on to receive my BFA in modern dance from Texas Christian University. There under the direction of some wonderful dance professors, I deepened my skills and understanding of what dance means to me. Dance is a mode of expression, creativity, as well as communication for me. Dance has always helped me communicate and express, what words cannot. This is why I love to not only experience dance within my own body, but to CREATE dance. And this is why I chose choreography as the avenue of dance to pursue the hardest. A seed had been planted in my mind throughout my dance journey that I should start a company someday. That seed grew in my heart at this point in my life and I was led to start imPULSE dance project. This company for the next 10+ years would become the outlet where I poured so much care, time, resources, energy, and quite literally, blood, sweat, and tears into. There has been great reward in running this company, but oh so many challenges and obstacles to overcome. I think this is what sets me apart from others. I do not give up when things get hard; I meet these roadblocks with determination to overcome them. There were many times it would have been easy to quit, but had I quit, I would not be able to look back and recognize all of the unique and amazing artistic opportunities I’ve had within this company, or the amazing artists I’ve gotten to interact with over the years and still have connection with today. I can look back to the humble beginnings of iDP and the amazing journey it has been to get where we are now, and there is more to do! I credit the character building challenges I learned in my younger years of training for equipping me with the endurance, and discipline necessary to be successful in the rigorous world of dance. But more than anything I thank God for gifting me the passion that makes it all worth it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

There are actually several unlearning’s I had to do in order to overcome many of the aforementioned obstacles, but I think the most important one was, I had to unlearn my definition of success. Previously, being a successful dance artist meant I’d move to some big city and dance professionally, or teach dance at the collegiate level, or support myself solely on dance related income, or that my company would reach statewide, nationwide, worldwide audiences (I’m a big dreamer, ok?).
In my more immature days, I would have considered anything less than that quite unsuccessful. But that is quite belittling to what I have accomplished, learned and achieved and the impact I have made right here in the DFW metroplex. Through the many studios I have taught at over the last 18 years, I have been a part of countless young students dance journeys. I have students from many years ago reach out to me and tell me the difference I made in their lives and dance training. I have the cards and notes to prove it! Those experiences shaped ME as well. Dance Academy of Mansfield where I taught ballet and modern for 5 years, showed me the possibilities of dance as a form of worship, and connection to God. This is something, that if I learned nothing from dance other than this, I am grateful for that being shown to me.
Though imPULSE dance project, is a small budget company, through founding and directing this company it has not only given me the opportunity to create so many dance works, and produce so many projects, but I have been able to provide a dance home to other hungry dance artists, and provide them a place to dance, explore, and create. iDP has been a steppingstone for many amazing dance artists over the years whom I am honored to know and to have worked with. And imPULSE dance project has been a solid and consistent presence in the DFW dance scene for 11 seasons now.
So, after all of these experiences, I believe success is based on what we are willing to learn, the level of passion held in our pursuits, the impact we make in others’ lives no matter how big or small, and not giving up on our dreams.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Art, specifically dance art, is an integral part of our world. It fosters community, education, breaks cultural barriers, and brings beauty and healing to our society. I think the arts can best be supported through spreading the awareness of this important aspect of our community. This is done through educational outreach, and thus fighting to keep the arts in the education system. Seeing the benefits dance art has on young students, will help the art form continue to thrive into next generations. But I think one of the simplest forms of support society can do for art these days is forego the night of mindless scrolling on social media and get out and attend live theater, or an art gallery viewing, or concert, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.imPULSEdanceproject.org
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/imPULSEdancepro
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/imPULSEdanceproject

Image Credits
Bill Young Nancy Loch