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

Hi Hope , thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I started dancing when I was 4 years old. I always loved it and never wanted to do anything else. I danced all through school and when I graduated high school, I knew I had to continue dancing in college. During college, I danced in a couple of dance companies and started my own company with my friend, Lindsay Giedl. I was always told that I could not make a career out of dance from friends and family alike. I knew that I had a passion for dance but I just was not sure how I could turn that passion into a career that could support me. I graduated from UGA with a degree in English and traveled and worked internationally for a couple of years while I figured out what the next steps of my life would be. I landed in Chicago working a corporate job in 2018. Chicago always called to me and I knew that I needed to try it out to see if I liked living in the Midwest. I worked 3 different corporate jobs in Chicago from cultural exchange account executive to COVID reported to Executive Search Assistant. All along I had this nagging feeling that I was not being fulfilled by these jobs. I made enough money to support myself but I was always living for 5 PM and the weekends and did not feel rewarded. So, when my friend, Lindsay, that I started the dance company in college with, offered me a job at the studio that she just opened, it was a no brainer. I knew that I had to pursue my love of dance and that I would find the purpose and drive that I was so desperately looking for. I committed to moving back to Georgia in a years time (I still had a year left on my lease in Chicago) and in a year, I moved to Athens, GA. It was a huge change from the bustling city of Chicago and I had to go from corporate life to the life of a dance teacher. The risk was massive but I always knew that this would feed my soul and I would find what I wanted to out of a job and a career. 2 years later, I am still working at the same studio and have learned a ton. I have no regrets from making the move and urge anyone thinking of doing the same to do it!

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

I danced for my whole life and always felt like it was where I most belonged. I was offered a job at my friend’s dance studio a little over 2 years ago and accepted immediately. I have learned so much along the way from how to structure a class to how to teach certain steps in a concise way. I offer a range of services. I mainly teach children ages 4-18 jazz, hip hop, and contemporary, but I also teach adult classes weekly and offer private lessons for my clients of all ages. I love to create an atmosphere that is welcoming and promotes positive growth in all of the dancers! I am most proud of the work that I have done over the past 2 years to grow the program 3 times the size that it was when I started and to see the senior dancers go on to pursue their love of dance in college.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me is seeing the growth in my dancers and to see them feel proud of what they have accomplished. Dance can be very difficult due to standing in the mirror every day, feeling pressure from parents and loved ones, and the technique being so concise. But, once a dancer feels confident and they are growing in their training, there is nothing that feels more rewarding as a teacher!

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

Growing up, I had some amazing dance teachers. I have so much love for them, but dance can be so image focused which can be difficult for a growing dancer. My mission is to create a trauma-free space for all of the dancers to thrive and grow to be technically proficient but with positive language and affirmation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hopebrowndance.com/
• Instagram: hopebrowndance

Image Credits

Chase Brantley & LaDarius Thomas.