We recently connected with Brianna Downey and have shared our conversation below.

Brianna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents were not perfect. That is the truth, but as I mother my own four children, I realize more about my imperfections as well. This is not a despairing realization, it’s encouraging to know that my ability to parent is backed by what my parents did and my own kids will hopefully have a similar experience. However, I don’t think this would be possible if my parents didn’t fight through tough times, make mistakes, but also seek after Jesus Christ in both the good times and the bad. There is so much I don’t want to emulate , (maybe less than I now even consider), but they steadfastly pointed me toward God through Jesus Christ and always made an effort, even when hypocritical, to try and explain the hope that is true in the Gospel.

Today, a lot of folks confuse the Gospel with the imperfect people who share it with them. But do they consider their own imperfections as well? Christ teaches us to “remove the log” in our own eye, before we focus on the speck in anothers eye. I can admit, I am not great at doing this all the time. It is extremely difficult! I have felt real pain at the hands of the people who have preached the gospel to me. I have also seen the impact showing grace, forgiving and loving my enemies has done. Not just to those people, but myself as well. My parents modeled that for me. They knew their imperfections. They still do, and perhaps some of those won’t ever go away this side of life. But they keep going and doing their best to seek after a perfect God, a God who sees something much more beautiful in us than we can ever see in the mirror. This has given me hope. The Gospel gives me great hope and also inspires me as an artist, as a mother, and as a wife. I can thank my parents, and do thank them, for doing their best to model that. Even if imperfect.

Brianna, 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 am a dancer, a choreographer and a business owner. That’s a lot of what the world sees. I was a professional NFL cheerleader who traveled the world as well as a professional dancer in another globally present dance troupe. I’ve taught for over 15 years of my life. I’ve met countless people from all walks of life. I have managed businesses, to include dance studios and Thai restaurants and bars, and now I own and operate my own dance and performing arts studio in Junction City, KS with my husband and a great team of teachers.

However, what people need to know is that I am a Christian, first and foremost. I am a wife and a mother. A mom who educates my children at our home and alongside our business. I am a friend to many and I am blessed to have great sisters-in-christ to surround me and help me learn and grow. Those are foundational truths about me.

My goal is not simply to teach dance. As an artist, I always do have aspirations for my choreography and desire to work with better dancers. Part of that goal requires us to train up excellent dancers, which is not always commonplace in small towns of Kansas. However, I want my dancers to be trained up as a whole human. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and socially. I hope for their salvation and pray for them. I guide them with the wisdom that has been passed down to me through many people, both Christian and non-Christian. And I try to train our teachers to do the same thing and have that impact on them. In that way, our studio is an arts ministry and I think its more effective that way. We rely on God for everything, and He has provided us with what we need. Even our beginning has been very prosperous, despite the typical tough beginnings other studios may face, because I believe God has ordained this work. He may take it away one day or it may end, but that’ll be fine. Because I know that His will is good. Believing that allows me to be a better teacher and studio owner, because to some extent, I know it’s not necessarily my efforts that are producing good works. I think artists in general understand the spiritual nature of their work regardless of viewpoint, but without Christ, we are the ones manifesting that. With Christ, we are simply showing up and doing what were called to do. That may not sit well with everyone, because we do want to feel accomplished… But I don’t think they need to be separated things. I can believe that God truly does the work and point to Him, while I know that the dance I choregraphed truly is something I take great pleasure in and I am happy I did it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was supposed to go and audition for the Los Angeles Lakers. There are many days even now that I miss the cheer life and the sisterhood that came with it, as well as the exciting performance aspect of it. I never did audition though. I ended up meeting my eventual husband, the father of my four children and the love of my life, and decided at the last minute I was going to skip LA so that I could marry him two weeks later. Many people thought I was making the wrong decision, but I had faith that God was directing my steps. There was some doubt, especially since we had to pack up and move to Kansas the day after our marriage. It was a huge step. I never thought about living in Kansas, most people don’t, but that was where the Army was stationing us. Years later, now, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I believe it was all ordained and has been a wonderful journey that I couldn’t have planned better myself.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There’s a lot of different risks that I have taken. Some maybe I shouldn’t have taken, but overall I think non-creatives perhaps would look at some of what I’ve done and think it was too much of a risk. However, I just go back to my confession that God has set out the path before me. There’s definitely risks I perhaps should not have taken, but even looking at my marriage and moving to Kansas. Or even opening a studio. Or even having four kids. We were never the seemingly prime candidates to do a lot of this. Particularly financially. But it was in God’s plan, so it’s all come together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.activatejc.com
• Instagram: @activatedarts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bri.anna.4774