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

Hi Kyrstin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have danced since the age of 2. I knew at the age of 7 after my first hip hop class that I wanted to pursue dance as an actual career. I remember watching music videos on 106&Park and being so intrigued with Ashley Everett, one of Beyonce’s dance captains, that one day my time would come to live in that same light. When I was little, I would have concerts in my room as if I were on stage in front of thousands of people. As I started to grow, I started taking my dance classes more seriously and even started auditioning for things around the city. At the age of 14, I booked my very first professional gig dancing for dancing Coco Jones. The commercial dance industry was new to me around this time but I was so excited to learn and step into a new world.

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

At the age of two, I began dancing at a Ridley’s School of Dance in Nashville, TN. At 13 I started training and competing at Spotlite Dance Studio in Murfreesboro, TN. While there, I was also training under Zach and Dorinda Walker who has played a significant role in my professional career. At 14, I booked one of my first professional gigs dancing for Coco Jones at various shows across the US. During this time I was still in high school at Nashville School of the Arts so I was having to manage school, rehearsals, studio rehearsals, and living a regular teenage life. As much as I thought it would be difficult. I was really having the time of my life. Other than always having to do my homework on the plane all the time, it was great! This taught me discipline in the industry at a very young age and has set me up for anything else I’ve been booked for. After graduating high school in 2017, I continued my education at Austin Peay State University where I danced on the dance team for four years. Getting to attend UDA camps and competitions my last two years granted me the opportunity see dance in a whole different light. It definitely sparked interest in pursuing a choreography care in the dance team world. While In college I worked super hard on my brand #kreateyou and what exactly it meant. #kreateyou was created in such a dark time in my life but it truly stemmed from feeling like I wasn’t good enough. I was also able to release two books while in college, “ Seven Paths, One Destination”, where I co-authored with six other beautiful souls and “Kreate You by Kyrstin Young”. After graduating in May of 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Business Management, I moved back home and geared up for the next phase of my life. In October 2021, I was granted the opportunity to move to my dream city, Atlanta, GA, to further my career in professional dancing, choreography, and creative direction. I’ve wanted to move to ATL since I was 13, so when it finally happened, I knew it was time to get everything I dreamed for. While in ATL I’d been training, networking, and getting used to being in a new city. I also had the opportunity to be in a few shows around the city and was able to book a show with DaBaby in December 2021 at the Coca Cola Roxy. Life was absolutely amazing but unfortunately, February 1, 2022 me and 2 of my closest peers lost our home and everything in it due to an apartment fire. Still to this day I can’t wrap my head around it but I can say it has made me a stronger person. I returned home in March 2021 to get myself together. I battled depression and anxiety during this time but weekly therapy sessions truly helped me keep my mental sane. I am now teaching at various studios in my hometown and creating a lane for myself to move back to ATL.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The answer to this is so simple.BE MORE SUPPORTIVE! As artist we can be very sensitive when it comes to our work. We spend countless hours to produce art that means so much to us. It can be extremely hurtful when it’s not appreciated. It can be hurtful to feel unseen or unheard. So I say just being more supportive. That goes for family and friends too.Support is not just monetary. Reposting, helping pack orders, helping backstage, cleanup and breakdown, and just showing up for each other is just as important. We are all trying to make it. Shining light on someone else will never dim yours. There is room for us ALL!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There have been a few times in my life where I felt like I was being pushed further and further back. One time in particular was my apartment burning down in a new city away from home. Literally walking away with only the clothes on back I kept asking myself, ”How do come back from nothing?”. For a while I didn’t think it was possible. Things I had for years gone in a matter of seconds. It truly broke me down. However, I then remembered I made it out alive and was able to walk away untouched and unharmed. That alone is a blessing. From that day forward all I can do is be grateful. Picking myself back up was not easy however, I am so grateful for that experience. It taught me to be grateful for everything because it can be gone in a matter of seconds.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: _kyrstinnnn
• Facebook: Kyrstin Young

Image Credits
@eyecreatemagic | @yungceophoto | @elliottlopesphotography