Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Finleigh Zack. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Finleigh thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?
My company, Finleigh Zack Dance is heavily influenced by personal stories and collaboration. I find that creating an environment where not only my ideas and creativity are pertinent but also my team’s creativity is where the true magic happens. Something that I have seen starting to shift in the dance industry is creating a more inclusive and collaborative space to create new work. I think one of the most influential moments thus far in my career has been my company traveling to France for outreach and a residency to create a new work. My team and I spent 7 consecutive days being able to collaborate and work together to create a brand new work that premiered in November of this year. Diving into the work and being able to research, process, and experiment really helped us shape how the work was defined. From past experience in the dance industry, a lot of the time the dancer’s voice is not able to be heard and we were not able to have input on the work that was being created. I wanted to flip this into creating a welcoming space that celebrates everyone’s voice involved. Another way my company does this is by hosting talkbacks post performances so that the audience can also get involved too. When all parties join together to examine and dive into a piece of work, the more our community collectively grows together to appreciate the arts.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My company, Finleigh Zack Dance, Inc. was founded in 2020. Our mission is to inspire conversations around mental health through dance and performance. As a collective, we host and perform around New York City and beyond and use our art to promote mental health advocacy. This idea sparked from my personal experience of wanting to be able to share my personal story and battle with mental health struggles and wanting to show other artists that we are able to talk about the way we feel and celebrate our differences. The work we do involves artists based in NYC and showcasing professional dancers and their own personal journeys through dance. As a team, we produce and execute a mindful approach to dance and performance, allowing both the emotional and physical body to be present in the space. My work is heavily influenced by the people I am surrounded by and how we can all celebrate our unique journey as artists and humans.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Visual aesthetic and brand pattern is super important to me. As a very visual person, creating visual mood boards for all projects we produce helps create a consistent brand for the organization. Before beginning a new project for the company, I like to hone in on what images come to mind and how I would like to implement these in our social media platforms. Once the ideas are solidified, we then begin creating and using the ideas from visuals as a driving force for our marketing while also keeping the company’s personal brand in place. This gives us creative freedom to have different aesthetics for each project we create while continuing to weave our own colors, fonts, and social patterns throughout. Because we have such a distinct brand, people are able to recognize us better!
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
While my company is still growing, I look back at where we started and where we are today and I am so proud of our growing community and team. Since I have been a dancer the majority of my life, I have always had the goal to create a company and be a professional choreographer. If I were able to go and tell my younger self that we are fully pursuing our dream, I know she would be proud. I think the most important thing when turning your dreams into a full time reality is that you have to be goal oriented and hard working. I know that if I set my mind to something, I will do my best to pursue my goal. Looking back three years ago to now, the company has set and produced three evening length shows, hosted workshops around New York City, created collaborative opportunities for artists, as well as promoted a safe environment for both artists and audience members in the theater and studio space. Never in a million years would I have expected to come as far as the company has in just three short years. I am proud of our team and so excited to see what we have in store for us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.finleighzackdance.com
- Instagram: @finleighzackdance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finleighzackdance
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finleigh-zack-dance-inc
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@finleighzackdanceinc.73
Image Credits
Photo credits: Ava Pellor