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

Hi Bre, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Since I can remember, dance has always been a part of my life in one way or another. What started with a few baby ballet classes quickly led to a head first dive in to competitive dance. And once I was in, I was hooked. My schedule was packed to the brim with classes, rehearsals, conventions, masterclasses, private lessons. You name it, I was there. Though dance has always played such a strong lead in my life, I honestly never could’ve imagined I’d be where I am today.

My freshman year of college I was approached by a studio owner to work with some young dancers over summer break. I was beyond excited to not only work with dancers in our community but to get to call it “work”! I never considered teaching would be a longterm reality, but after my very first class I found a whole new passion for dance. By my sophomore year, I was teaching consistently at two studios, choreographing competitive and performance routines, guest teaching around Kansas City, and working privately with young dancers in the area. It was at this time I watched two of my closest friends create their dream studio in Kansas, and I fell in love with the idea of being a professional choreographer and studio owner.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I opened Refine The Studio in July of 2019, holding classes five days a week in my parents basement with just a few determined kids. Flash forward to 2022: We’ve had over a hundred dancers walk through our studio doors, an award winning program, six class instructors, and a studio full of incredibly hardworking and talented dancers.

Refine The Studio is a place for the passionate dancer who is ready to be pushed to their full potential. A place where dancers are celebrated at every milestone, learn how to create their personal style, break down barriers, and find their confidence. We prepare dancers for any and all future endeavors so that they too may always have a chance to dance.

I am so proud of the environment and culture we’ve created in such a short amount of time. I truly cannot wait to see where the future takes us.

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.

I think the most difficult aspect of my job is that dance is ever-changing. There are always new styles developing with new tricks and flips and skills. The minute you’re up to speed on one, another comes along. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact if I want to truly succeed in this industry, I am just as much a student as I am teacher. I have to be willing to constantly adapt and learn to further my own art. Because of this, I think often times people don’t understand the intensity that comes with the constant push to create something “extraordinary”. Competitiveness often gets in the way of art, and it’s a very fine line to balance on. With time, I’ve started to really dig down and trust my own intuition rather than letting my self doubt take over. After all, every aspect in life can be communicated through art, in one way or another. And not everyone can or will communicate through the same lens.

So I guess my best insight is, do what makes you happy and remember there is no art without risk :)

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

As cliché as it sounds, the most rewarding aspect of my job is truly watching my dancers find their own style through my choreography. Seeing dancers completely change from when I first started working with them, to now… It’s just such an incredible feeling and so positively overwhelming. We pour all of our knowledge, love, and support into them, and get to see them soak that up like a sponge and turn it in to something great. It’s truly incredible! And the more they find their personal confidence to step outside the box and succeed, the more I’m able to watch my art really come to life on stage and communicate the underlying story. There really is no greater feeling!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.refinethestudio.com
• Instagram: @RefineTheStudio @Branahh
• Facebook: @RefineTheStudio

Image Credits
Mari Charlson Photography