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

Hi Branndi, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

Before I ventured into a career as a freelance creative, I worked as a full-time teacher in a public performing arts high school. At the time, I whole-heartedly believed that I had the most ideal job. I could work as a creative, get paid regularly (not great pay but at least it was every two weeks), build meaningful relationships with students and share my passion. What could be better? It’s not until after I transitioned into my current career, that I realized the lessons my prior job taught me. I wish I could limit the lessons to just one, however, once I understand that I didn’t even know what I was going through while I was experiencing it, the lessons kept piling up. It was like the light kept flickering on. 1). Go where you’re adored, not ignored, 2). People will not support you the same way you support them, 3). Not everyone wants to see you win, 4). You can be humble and confident at the same time.

I had no idea that the work environment that I was so deeply immersed in on a day-to-day basis was a place that didn’t value me until I experienced workplaces where I was valued, supported and celebrated. Transitioning from a W2 employee to a freelance creative, I have been able to work in different workplaces and experience exactly what a healthy work environment is. Once I was able to relearn how I should feel when I go to work, express an idea, pursue a passion and delve into work processes, I began to thrive. Sometimes we don’t realize the depth of a circumstance until the circumstance is removed from our midst. Sometimes we accept, overlook and blind ourselves because we need a job and don’t allow ourselves to truly feel the nuances of situations for the sake of “putting up with it for the greater good.” I will never allow myself to do that again.

When you go to work you should feel inspired, fueled by passion, have a sense of freedom, be energized and leave refreshed. I have vowed to allow those ideals to dwell in the forefront of my mind.

Branndi, 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 graduated from the University of Florida, majoring in Dance & Dance Composition and earning a Bachelor’s of Science from the College of Health & Human Performance in 2013. After graduation, I actually obtained a plethora of jobs that had absolutely no connection to my degree. I was an instructor at Pure Barre, a server at a Plant-based restaurant, a group fitness instructor at LA Fitness and then I created my own event planning company where I programmed a Health & Fitness Festival for the City of West Palm Beach. Eventually I realized, I craved to create.

In 2015, I started teaching ballet, modern, and jazz at U.B. Kinsey Elementary School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida. With a strong commitment to teaching dance and dance therapy in a low-income, underserved community, I introduced arts-integrated education through dance. By 2016, I became the Director of Dance at U.B. Kinsey Elementary School, expanding the program to offer classical ballet, modern, and jazz dance training to a community that lacked access to such art forms. I also initiated a free after-school training program and secured scholarships for students to attend nearby dance studios in Palm Beach County.

I transitioned into a more well-rounded and highly-skilled Dance Educator in 2015 when I began my journey at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, where I initially served as a Guest Choreographer. In 2016 I completed the Pedagogy program at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, receiving extensive training in implementing Horton technique education. In 2017, I accepted a full-time position at Dreyfoos, teaching Horton, contemporary, improvisation, dance career preparation, dance history, and composition.

In early 2020, I was invited by the Artistic Director of the second company at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to choreograph for a national and international tour as an emerging choreographer. Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and along with a bit of a delay, I successfully fulfilled my commission with Alvin Ailey. In September 2022, and 2 days after I had ACL reconstructive surgery, I received a call from The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. I thought I was either dreaming or my anesthesia hadn’t worn all the way off. I was commissioned to choreograph for the Professional Division of The Ailey School to take placed October 2022 – January 2023. Within a few weeks of that commission I was invited to instruct contemporary dance repertory lectures at Marymount Manhattan College during the fall semester. I went from a full-time school district employee to moving to NYC to work as a choreographer for 4-months.

I had planned to return to my school at the conclusion of my residency and even established a solid plan with the administration at the school that I believed I was only temporarily leaving. However, things did not go as planned. I was completely blindsided and informed just 2 weeks prior to my return that I could not return for a couple of reasons, 1) Too many teachers were upset and complained that it was not fair that I be allowed to take a leave and return and 2). The principal moved my full-time unit out of the dance department and to another department so there was no position to return to. Thus, regardless of my prestigious accomplishment I was not welcomed back to the job I held for almost 7-years. It broke my heart. I felt undervalued, unappreciated, useless, unwanted, embarrassed and betrayed. I suddenly went from a career high to an all-time low and being unemployed. But, you know what they say, “when one door closes, another door opens” and a minor setback is a set-up for a major comeback.

In early February 2023, I established GroundedWPB, a dance education and mentorship program aimed at providing dynamic dance education and mentorship tailored to aspiring professionals in the arts. This program focuses on offering quality training and mentorship to families in underserved communities.

In March of 2023 I was selected as a Jacob’s Pillow 2023 Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellow. I was 1 of 8 emerging choreographers selected internationally as a Choreographic Fellow which granted me a 2-week mentorship and exploration period at a world renowned institution. Later that year I received 7 choreographic residencies and commissions! In early 2024 I was a top 5 finalist, out of 1500 applicants, for the Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway Choreography Fellowship. I’m currently preparing for two premieres to close out the Spring 2024 Season, one in NYC and the other in Washington D.C.

Within my first year as a freelance Dance Choreographer I’ve had choreographic work be commissioned by institutions like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Rice University, and premiere in New York, Atlanta, Houston, and Florida. In addition to my choreographic accomplishments, my training company, GroundedWPB is preparing for our 2nd annual summer intensive where we will train, inspire and guide 50+ dancers and host esteemed faculty from South Florida & NYC.

I aspire to grow as a creative while maintaining a deep connection to my spirituality. I have always been in complete awe of the human body and how it has been incredibly and intricately designed. I believe that the beauty of dance is its ability to facilitate inspiration, tell stories and transport observers to an emotional state of being. I’m inclined to capitalize, through exploration, athleticism, and artistry, the various ways that the human body interprets and expresses how we experience the world around us. Dance has a unique way of utilizing the body as an ideal instrument to communicate, deliver metaphors and embody circumstances. My largest fascination is the connectivity that dance establishes between thoughts and how it can transform feelings into a tangible state. Dance grants us the ability to build thoughts with physicality and passion. I admire the process of creating and using the human body as a parcel to deliver ideas, theories, concepts and feelings. Dance is a gift of humanity that I aspire to share through empowering creative works.

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

Being a creative is absolutely exhilarating as much as it is tedious. The freeness to explore your deepest passions with time, people and space are aspects that I love, as well as, the ability to connect with my imagination in a physical form. The most rewarding aspect is the process and what you learn, who you connect with and how you experience the smallest moments.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to create work that I love, am proud of and to enjoy every millisecond of my career. I never want my work to feel like an obligatory job. So, my deepest aspiration is to never allow the joy of crafting to be extracted from my creative journey. Whether that be through the creation of boundaries, the implementation of balance, giving myself grace, delving into research, taking more risks, creating my own opportunities or knowing when to take a step back, my goal is to sink into my creative journey with joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.groundedwpb.com
• Instagram: @branndileww
• Facebook: Branndi Lewis
• Linkedin: Branndi Lewis
• Youtube: @branndinicole1120

Image Credits
Van Richardson Instagram: @vantrichardson