We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful India Hawkins . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with India below.

India , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I first realized my passion for pursuing a creative and artistic path professionally during my senior year of high school. Growing up, I was surrounded by music, thanks to my father, a talented keyboardist and vocalist, and my mother, who had a love for country and alternative genres. This diverse musical exposure allowed me to develop a deep connection to the world of creativity. Despite being a shy child, I found solace and self-expression in music, making it my best friend.

As a young girl, I started creating my own dance routines to various songs and performed them privately. As I grew older, I mustered the courage to showcase my talent by participating in school talent shows and dance concerts. It was during my time on Taft High School’s dance team that the idea of turning my passion into a career truly crystallized. Even though I lacked formal training, I believed in my ability to become a professional dancer. However, after high school, I initially pursued a degree in Psychology, earning my BA, but my love for dance remained steadfast. I minored in Dance at San Jose State University, where I gained a deep appreciation for technique and expanded my dance repertoire through Modern, Ballet, and Jazz studies. After graduation, I returned to Los Angeles with a renewed determination to make dance my profession, recognizing how this art form had saved my life in many ways and filled me with immeasurable gratitude.

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

I am deeply rooted in the world of arts and performance, with my early inspiration stemming from my father’s home studio—a sanctuary where creativity thrived. Witnessing the transformation of ideas taking shape through imagination and brainstorming set me on a lifelong creative journey.

Throughout my life, I actively sought environments that nurtured creativity, be it participating in school drama class, crafting with my mother on weekends, or my time as a cheerleader. This unwavering passion eventually led me to video editing, which became a beloved pastime during quarantine and remains central to my creative process today.

Each dance video shoot is an opportunity to infuse life into a narrative, and it brings me boundless joy. Despite facing obstacles, my dedication to self-improvement has shaped me into an adult, a dancer, a professional, and an artist.

My story is one of determination and resilience, demonstrating that with unwavering commitment and hard work, we can achieve anything, regardless of circumstances. I hope to “inspire” others with my journey, reminding them that there is always a path forward if we keep pushing forward.

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?

You know, it’s kind of funny how people who aren’t deep into the creative world often scratch their heads wondering why we’re all in on this creative gig, right? They tend to zoom in on the downsides first – the instability, the financial rollercoaster, and how it feels like forever to make it. And yeah, those hurdles are real, but being a creative is about way more than just that stuff.

I mean, think about the sheer joy and pride when you’ve put your heart and soul into a project, and it finally comes together. It’s like the ultimate high! And then, there are the long-term rewards you reap from sticking with it through thick and thin. Plus, there’s this incredible feeling when you inspire others on their own creative journeys. It’s all about believing in yourself 100%, and when you can say, “Wow, I did it!” That’s when you realize you’ve grown into a stronger, more well-rounded person, picking up some seriously valuable life lessons along the way.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’m sharing something deeply personal and vulnerable with all of you. Not many people are aware that I’ve been dealing with Severe/Chronic neck pain (Spondylosis). As a professional dancer, this condition has presented a formidable challenge for me. I navigate through days of excruciating pain and others that are more manageable, but the pain is a constant companion in my life. Despite searching for effective treatments since 2014, I haven’t yet found a solution that offers lasting relief.

The realization that dancing might actually be contributing to my pain was a devastating blow. I wasn’t ready to give up something I love so passionately. Every day brings a different set of challenges – from feeling achy and incredibly stiff, affecting my range of motion, to days where I have to take a step back, focus on stretching, do some soothing yoga, and rely on ice and relaxation. I’ve battled self-doubt as a dancer, often feeling that my condition has held me back in terms of my abilities. But my love for dance is so profound that I refuse to give up, and I can’t envision a future where I stop pursuing it, even if I have to keep dancing until the wheels literally fall off, as they say! 😄

Contact Info:

• Instagram: itsindiarae
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW355e5DzPez_vBD2Q-ow4g

Image Credits
Ewelina Polnicka @my1way2, @simmscityactivity, @avisualmetaphor, Alissa Roseborough @alissarosie