We recently connected with Desirae Woltz and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Desirae thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I most definitely wished I started it sooner. I started training in the 10th grade. Since I did cheer and track for most of my schooling life, I had rhythm, but I was stiffer than a door knob. It’s a common thing for people who dance to start in elementary school or even younger.
My first real ballet class was at 19, in college. By the time the second semester was about to start, my body was so beat up I didn’t even bother signing up for it. It just wasn’t for me. I never in my life used half those muscles. I started having neck spasms so bad I couldn’t sleep. It was a lot! On top of the body part, I missed a lot of the fundamental training they already had embedded in their daily habits from knowing how to stand at the barre to knowing what to the teacher saying because she was literally speaking French. A part of me started to feel like I couldn’t keep up. It was hard to get out of the bed without feeling so inadequate and useless. Thank God I was a part of an ensemble that supported me and poured life into me. The girls and my professors reminded me every day that, even with everything that I felt I lacked, I had so much heart and passion, it got me in that same room as everyone with all the stuff I felt I needed to feel qualified to be there. Somedays that got me through, some God had to pull me through, but If I didn’t go through that experience I wouldn’t have learned how to truly take care of my instrument. That experience forced me to be more Intune with my instrument and with myself. Before then I had never been to the chiropractor, or any sports specialist at that. I made sure I went to the nearest five and below and got busy with the yoga blocks and foam rollers. Sometimes you have to show up the wrong way , to learn what the right way is. Scary yes, but necessary.

Did I mention we were smack dead in the middle of covid? Whew chile…

Desirae, 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?

My name is Desirae Woltz. I am a Dancer, Choreographer, Podcaster and Youtuber. I founded the Detroit native contemporary, hip hop dance crew “Eve’s Ensemble” in 2021. We always keep 7 members for the number of completion. So far this is a new journey for me, being behind the scenes. I love creating choreography and having people around me who are willing to trust the vision and fulfill it, all while telling their own stories. I’m forever grateful to them for always putting their hearts on the floor. I rotate out pretty often since most of us are freelance or signed dance artists, so I’m always down to vibe with new people. Check us out on YouTube : https://youtu.be/5LKzjk3QfFU I also solo- host my own podcast show called “Just Ask Rae” where I answer questions from the listeners whether they are crazy or taboo, nothing is off limits. I post new episodes every Sunday, 7pm eastern standard time. Bi- weekly I give people the opportunity to come on the show and tell their testimony about their life and what God has brought them through. It’s only for entertainment purposes, so if you’re doing chores around your house or driving home from work and just need something comical to put on, definitely check me out. “Just Ask Rae” is available on every podcasting platform. Follow the podcast on Instagram to stay up to date on what’s going @justaskraepod, or click this link to the webpage: https://zez.am/justaskraepod

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

After I graduated high school, I got lazy. I got a car, I got comfortable and started making class optional, putting unimportant stuff before my career. I called myself, “trying”. People that started training before me started booking tours and big gigs, dancing in ways I couldn’t even try to begin to move my body. I had nobody to blame except myself. I was winded, I looked tired, and I was dancing sloppily. I had to own up to what I had become. I was depressed about it for a while. I felt intimidated in certain rooms, cause I knew I was physically prepared. I had developed these insecurities based on me simply not doing what I shoulda been doing from the start. Taking care of my instrument. There is no such thing as trying in my vocabulary anymore. You’re either doing it, or you’re not and that’s simple. To me, trying entails that you’re almost doing it. You can’t almost pay your rent, you can’t almost get your car registered, you either will do it, or have already done it. there is no in between. When it comes to taking class or stretching, we try, and never do it. Stop giving yourself that in-between option, you will never reach what you’re going to obtain.

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?

Dear Non- Creatives:

I am not a space filler.

I am not background noise.

I am the physical representation of emptions

I am the vibe.

I am a dancer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zez.am/justaskraepod
• Instagram: @justaskraepod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090576249317
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdRl6jIeMqh6YvL4WwDf9JA