We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angelita Pollard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angelita below.
Hi Angelita, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
As a full-time creative, I am the happiest I have ever been. I started my dance company, Xtra Productions Dance Company (XPDC) at the age of 14. Obviously at 14, I was in no position to be a full-time entrepreneur. I went on to pursue a Business degree with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland, College Park. Following my graduation from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, I began an internship as a Talent Manager at an experiential marketing agency. Within the 4 years I was employed there, I occupied several full-time roles including a full time talent manager and the marketing manager for a non-profit division of the organization. I also had the chance to dabble in other departments and complete several projects for the creative department, the digital department and the revolutionary drone company.
In mid-August, I decided to move on from my amazing full-time position to pursue a life of limitless creativity and limitless art. Because I had become an entrepreneur at such a young age, I never got the full opportunity to see what I was capable of. On November 3rd, I launched my next venture, Xtra Productions. Xtra Productions is an eXperiential Visual Entertainment Company. I created this company to challenge the way we look at media. I aim to test the boundaries of editing and the audiences physical experience, while enjoying meaningful and visually appealing content.
To answer the second question, I don’t wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. I had a “creatively regular job” for 4 years and loved it. It was exciting, spontaneous and all of the things you would expect an experiential marketing agency to be. Do I regret going into full-time work before pursing full-time entrepreneurship? No. Working at that company was the best move for me. My mom always pushed me to learn and observe before “jumping out of the nest”. The knowledge and connections I made at my previous company are irreplaceable. So many things I learned in my full time position have put me in a better place to grow, learn, and develop my own ideologies surrounding the topic of “experiential”. I give nothing but praise to that company, but I have never felt more free than after I left. The projects, events and ideas that have come in the short time following my resignation, astound me. It is amazing to see how far you can fly when you decide to live your purpose (after the correct training lol).
Angelita, 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?
“This girl is a Mini Mogul”. This statement flooded the homes of Prince George’s County, as I, Angelita Pollard had the honor to receive a spotlight in the Washington Post and grace the front cover of the Gazette. I was not in trouble, nor did I believe that I had done anything extraordinary. I was simply living my life in a way that seemed to be as fulfilling to me as the people I came in contact with. I have lived my entire life by three principles and 1 motto: Be Smart, Be Talented, Be Humble and remember that ‘Doin’ Xtra Gets You Noticed!’.
At the age of 3 I began my dance career. Most girls dabble in the dance world while they are young, bouncing in and out of basic ballet, jazz and tap classes all throughout their adolescent years. Not I. From the ages 3-13, I danced at the studio 6 days a week for hours. I was a competitive dancer, completed several workshops, engaged in performances in the community and across the East Coast. Most people develop a fear of the stage, but it was where I came to life. The stage became my sanctuary, my happy place. The lights shining in my face, reflecting off of the $400 costumes, dazzled in authentic Swarovski crystals. The make-up forever caked on my face, making me appear 5 years older. Hearing the music, loud and strong, drowning voices, thoughts… doubts. My brain had one job: dance.
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that dance was my calling and my passion. I just had no idea how influential it would be in my life thus far. At the age of 14, I began my passion project: XPDC. Xtra Productions Dance Company (XPDC) is my most prized possession and my largest accomplishment, despite the many things I have done since its creation. My mission with XPDC is to create a family oriented environment that promotes the use of dance and other art forms to funnel healthy expression of emotions.
The creation of XPDC has allowed me to discover myself as an artist, a director, a choreographer, a leader and a professional. I was able to learn about myself while learning how to teach others. The creation of the company and content was the easy part. The hardest part of owning XPDC was learning the balance between demanding respect and earning it. The company was populated by individuals that were my age and older. At the start, I was not an effective communicator. I thought that yelling was the way to go. I quickly learned that my core competency as a business owner was my personality. As time went by, and I encountered more students, I was able to earn respect by just being me. My talent and the product that I put out was enough for people to listen, to learn and to follow.
Under the company name, we have had the privilege to perform at the Prince George’s County Fair, Harlem Renaissance Festival, Rising Star competitions, Glenarden Community Day, at Roosevelt, Wise and Flowers High School, University of Maryland, College Park and Bowie State University. In addition to the community performances, XPDC hosts annual productions. The productions are used to entertain and create awareness of community issues and thoughts through the use of music and language that is relatable to both the dancers and the audience. Under XPDC’s name, I have produced 10 productions, in which I choreographed, produced, wrote and directed.
December of 2016, I challenged myself to find a way to promote community awareness without the use of dance. From there I founded my community outreach program, Xtend N See. The first event that Xtend N See hosted was called “Spill the Tea”. I was fortunate enough to gather some of the most influential women in my life and have them “spill the tea” and share a couple of their personal tips on being a woman, a mother, a wife and a professional. The panel ranged from college students to adults that had been in the government for 20+ years. I was able to find a variety of women entrepreneurs that were able to showcase their businesses and network. At that event, I made a statement that has changed my life. I stood in front of all of the strong women in the building and said, “I am going to be working in the school system next year. I don’t know how or where, but saying it out loud to you all right now gives you the space to hold me accountable.” October 2017, I began coaching the dance team at College Park Academy.
I started the largest and newest after school program in the school’s history. XP-CPA was an after school program with around 25-28 students, that aimed to teach students different genres of music and art through film, dance and research. I had the opportunity to supervise and teach the girls for one year after receiving an offer to become the Varsity Head Coach of Bishop McNamara High School. I was the head coach for Bishop McNamara High from 2018-2022.
In mid-August of 2023, I resigned from my full-time position as a talent manager for an experiential marketing agency. Since then, I have begin the filming process for my upcoming project, GLASS: The Movie. GLASS is a unique artistic approach on two important but seemingly different topics; women’s resilience and recycling. It features a combination of dance and acting to create a visual experience that is both educational and entertaining.
“What are you going to do next?” is a question that I encounter once a week. It is a question that I ask myself everyday. I have a passion for dance, a passion for the arts and a passion for being a positive role model in a society that teaches girls that their bodies are more valuable than their minds. No matter where life takes me, I know that I am meant to be there. “Aspire to Inspire Until you Expire”.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is being able to collaborate. I am an extremely independent person lol. As a child, I would mistake collaboration as a weakness. As I have matured, I have found so much beauty in being in creative spaces and bouncing ideas off of other creatives. Greatness takes a village, and as important as it is to be well rounded in many aspects of your craft, it is very difficult to be a SME in everything that can take your idea to the next level. By becoming vulnerable and curating a team of driven, motivated, loyal and creative individuals, there is no limit to the possibilities of creation. I absolutely LOVE walking into a space with an idea and after 2 hours of deep conversation and research, walking away with a more in depth and out of the box idea than the original.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
One thing I believe non-creatives will struggle to understand about my journey as a creative is that I don’t have a 9-5. As “duh” as that seems, it plays a large role in how I view time.
As I am transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship I am struggling with the idea of “work-life balance”. It was a lot easier to establish boundaries with my time when I was expected to work from the hours of 9am to 5pm. After then, I would begin working on my art. Now I have the ability to work on my craft 24/7. If I get a sudden urge to write a script at 3am, I can justify pulling an all-nighter and then completing the rest of my day as planned.
When do you sleep when you love what you do, make money from what you love and have a passion for creating in general?
I can’t answer that question just yet. I found myself experiencing burnout from self-inflicted deadlines and impulsive projects. I justify my busyness with the thought of “if I don’t do it, who will?”. Although I strongly believe that, I am working hard to establish boundaries, because (creatives especially) cannot pour from an empty cup.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @__juhlee__
- Twitter: @__juhlee__
Image Credits
Matthew Evans, Nolita Pollard, Anonymous