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

Andrea, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Hands down, Motherhood is the most meaningful complex project of all. Raising two young girls to be fearless, educated, well-rounded, confident, independent, respectful, gentle, and caring is a constant juggling act. It requires patience, resilience, and adaptability. No book could prepare me for this. All I do is to provide the best for them. I want them to be better than me. Of course, It can get a bit rocky working on this motherhood project, but the instant sense of purpose and fulfillment as I witness them grow and develop into unique individuals, is a joy unmatched. They are my muse and #1 fans.

Another noteworthy project occurred in June of 2023. I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a mission trip with ‘The Collectif Project’ to the historically rich and beautiful land of Poland, to be a part of the ‘VI Soulwalki Gospel Workshop,’ alongside DMV Based Gospel Artist John Tillery and other amazing artists. I conducted the West-African portion of the children and adult 2-day workshops. Also, assisted in choreography and composition for the dance portion of the live production. The Mission, ‘Make Us One.’ Within four days, I was completely immersed in a deep and enriching cross-cultural experience with the people of Poland. The language barrier was thick but not enough to stop me from communicating through movement, expressions, and pure love. The respect everyone shared for the love of the performing arts, and God was overwhelming. My experience will forever be described as MAGICAL. There is no other way to interpret how it feels to dance internationally, with a live orchestra, international choir, and Polish dancers alongside my Collectif dance sisters. It was refreshing how kind, hospitable, and happy everyone was. I just hope this level of unity continues to sweep the nation and that I am blessed with more opportunities to serve.

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?

Dance is an art form that transcends words and engages the body, mind, and spirit. It has the power to evoke emotional release. Whether finding solace, joy, healing, or an escape, dance connects with those innermost feelings. It has been a part of my anatomy since the age of three with the “Anointed Dance Ministry.” Like a deep conditioning in the depth of my total being. In my 10+ years of dedication and performing there, the burning passion for ministry and the performing arts was stirred. After that, I continued in Ministry, teaching technique, musicality, choreography, and performing for St. Paul Baptist Church, Bethel Deliverance Outreach Ministries, other local churches, and different events. Also, I traveled and sang with the New Creation Band, Uplifted, and the Shiloh Church of God 7th Day Praise & Worship team & choir for years. I gained technical dance training at the Marcellus Dance Studio, Divine Dance Institute, Dance Place, Arlington Centre for Dance (now Ballet Nova Center for Dance) under Kathryn and Kenneth Fredgren, where I mastered pointe and danced ‘The Nutcracker.’ I’ve also enjoyed training at The Alvin Ailey School, NY, and Ailey Extension Masterclass, DC.

Fueled by passion and led entirely by grace, I serve as a revolving choreographer for Dr. Henry A Wise School Dance in Prince George’s County, where I graduated and too danced with the school dance company under the direction of Michelle ‘Mimi’ McDonald and performed in the PG County Dance Ensemble for two years. I still solo or teach upon hire and have been performing since 2019 with ‘The Collectif Project’ Company and Ministry; I also serve as their Executive Director. It’s a real blessing to be still drawn to Ministry and have an outlet to exercise my gift. Thus far, I have taught and performed in school shows and churches all over the DMV area. I’ve performed at the Annual Black Caucus and for different musical artists. I’ve even been featured performing in the powerful short film “Mindset.” At the top of 2023, I joined another company, ‘Soul in Motion African Dance and Drum.’ I’d been eyeing them for years, but when I was ready, covid stopped time. Being born African American only gives me the American experience and not so much the African experience. Now performing with ‘Soul in Motion’ satisfies that craving, reconnecting me to my roots through the sound of the drum. It’s grounding and feels natural, like muscle memory. Since, I have performed in theatres, libraries, mega-churches, colleges, festivals, and private and public schools across the DMV area.

After studying at Strayer University in Business Administration/Accounting, I served three years on the AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School Board in DC while simultaneously working as an Accounting Tech with ‘Heart to Hand, Inc.’ where I’ve been for over ten years. Heart to Hand is a 501c3 providing support services to those living with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. We aim to promote healthy lifestyles, decrease health disparities, and increase access to quality healthcare.

I run a small business when I am not moving or counting. I founded ‘Pretty Perfect Graphix,’ a creative graphic design business sprung up out from good peer pressure. I was designing marketing and flyers for free because it was fun, and people kept telling me I would be crazy if I didn’t turn it into a real thing, so amid covid, I did. From logo design and branding to web design, print materials, social media, and production graphics, Pretty Perfect Graphix can tackle a wide range of projects. I mend my style and approach to the unique requirements of each client and project. I love pushing boundaries, finding solutions to creative challenges, and brainstorming fresh ideas. I take great pride in delivering perfect creations that captivate and engage your target audience.

I am most proud of my drive to do it all with sanity. Motherhood is like those sour patch kid commercials. Two girls with separate extracurricular activities, working full time, running a small business, and still making room for my passions is an authentic flex. To anyone with that drive, you are doing a fantastic job; you should be proud of every accomplishment, big or small. Give yourself grace because you deserve it. To everyone feeling stuck right now, pause. Take a second to feel every feeling and then do something positive with that energy. Keep pushing toward your goals, prioritize, and stay focused.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to bring something new and unique into the world that can leave a lasting legacy. Plus, it provides a platform where I can communicate in a way that words alone cannot. It’s the best route for self-discovery, forcing me to challenge myself and develop new skills. It fosters resilience, originality, and adaptability. Seeing your work come to fruition is immensely satisfying.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I mean, seriously? Spending money on something completely digital has so many risks I’m unwilling to take. When has digital art ever been worth more than physical artwork? Never! How do you know it’s real? It’s just too many opportunities for fraud or scams for my liking. Don’t get me wrong; the metaverse is FUN for games, not spending money or buying property. No matter what, the reality is life is still very real, unpromised, and short. We all must continue to be present and inspired through our real-life experiences.           

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @drea_nicky @prettyperfectgraphix
• Other: prettyperfectgraphix@gmail.com @thecollectifproject @soulinmotion

Image Credits
LeRoy Armstead Esha Studio Suwalki Izabela Muszczynko Skippah Hewlette Pearson