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

Brandi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I feel like I’m constantly in the role of being a student, even when I’m teaching. I’m still learning what to do, but training with various choreographers and learning different styles has helped the most. Different choreographers can give you different types of movement, various levels of difficulty, and make you more diverse especially during improv. To speed up the learning process, I wish I would’ve been more consistent when I was training in Philly, and placed myself in situations that were more challenging to me more often. Putting yourself out there is extremely important, and I feel like I could’ve explored more dance styles and networked better. I think my confidence and shyness stood in the way of me learning more, as well as the commute from Delaware to Philly more than once a week. I was very shy, and didn’t talk to as much people as I should’ve. However, I’ve learned so much since moving to ATL to pursue my career, and I feel like I’m in all the right rooms now.

Brandi, 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?

Well, my name is Brandi Alexis, and I am a professional dancer that is currently pursuing the commercial dance industry in Atlanta, Georgia. I am also the founder of “Head over Heels with Brandi Alexis” heel classes in Delaware, where I teach beginners how to properly walk and dance in heels. We also work on choreography retention, performance quality, and confidence. Head over Heels isn’t a regular dance class, because students often leave with not only a step, but a boost of confidence, a happy spirit, and a fulfilled Friday night. I really strive to provide a judgement free environment so my students feel comfortable expressing themselves.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Networking is SO underestimated and not talked about enough. We really need to teach our kids to get off their phones and learn to talk to people because networking can take you very far! I’ve always felt comfortable expressing myself through dance in front of hundreds of people. However, if you asked me to talk to someone I didn’t know, be in an environment where I didn’t know people, or publicly speak, I would almost be moved to tears because I’d be so scared and shy. Being in Atlanta has forced me to take initiative and introduce myself to people and make connections. I absolutely love the connections I’ve made so far because they keep me motivated and provide advice and resources that help me get better at my craft. I’m constantly inspired by the people I have surrounded myself with, and it makes me feel like the dreams I want to accomplish, are possible. I was extremely shy when I was younger, and in dance environments I was new to. I wish I would’ve been more bold and confident to talk to people. I could’ve made stronger connections sooner.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I wish society would let creatives be themselves without judgement. There are times where society is extremely harsh on artists and creatives because everyone has an opinion and social media is so popular these days. Some people will have their spirit broken, by society, and then quit doing the thing they love because of what society is saying. My biggest fear is being posted on TheShadeRoom (lol). The comments are brutal, even on the most positive posts. So I just wish society was less negative and more into helping to share and engage with the given content positively. Even if there is something you don’t like about what a creative or artist does, you don’t have to engage with their content if it brings about negative non constructive feelings.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @headoverheels5678
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@brandialexis3595?si=-PBy5wSgZePFLFDh

Image Credits

Devision Photos
DFA Production
Jr the Kid Productions
Ran with a Cam