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

LaTonya , looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

This year I took the biggest risk by opening my first dance studio. It has been a dream of mine for the longest, however self doubt held me back for many years. I took the risk because I am at a point in my life where I fully have confidence in myself experience wise and financially; to take the leap of faith.

LaTonya , 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 LaTonya, I am 28 years old. Born in San Diego , California and raised in Madisonville,KY. I am the owner of Urban x Dance Studios , A Staff Sergeant in the KY Army National Guard , and a mom of 2. I began my dance journey in middle and high school. After Highschool I moved to Louisville, KY where I began my professional dance career. From studio dancing, traveling to dance conventions/intensives, Choreography for different teams and studios, Semi-Pro cheerleaders and Performing at different events.

I wear many hats and trust me at times it can become overwhelming however, what keeps me disciplined in my craft is the prayers I prayed in my early stages of dance. In middle/ high school my coaches would always say “I used to dance back in the day but then I had kids”. I dont know why but that stuck with me and became my driving force. In this industry it’s almost like people view having kids as a death sentence for your dreams. I beg to differ, is it challenging yes, but I am determined to not allow that to be my story. instead “Im a dancer, who has childrens
My clientele is pretty diverse, I have worked with women in pageantry , middle / high school dance teams/ studios, artists, children, bride and grooms, etc. In short, if you’re looking to curate an unforgettable performance, I’m your girl. I enjoy this sector of dance because there’s a special dynamic that happens here. Usually the client paints the picture of what they want and the challenge is bringing their vision to life and maximizing it with the help of my creativity. It’s almost like starting out with a blank canvas , the client does the outline, I create the magic and boom they’re in an art gallery.

My proudest moment is developing a platform that allows me to give back to my community.
While Urban X Dance is transitioning to in-person, our foundation is online. We provide free dance and fitness classes on Youtube for those who don’t have the means, transportation, confidence, baby sitter, or maybe want to enjoy dance from the comfort of their home. This project is so fulfilling because it is a reminder of where I started as a dancer. We didn’t have dance studios, and my grandmother couldn’t afford to put us in classes even if we did. I learned by pausing videos on youtube and I truly enjoyed it.

I want the public to know that there is a safe place to express yourself with Urban. We are very vibrant and fun, but we also strive for growth. So sometimes classes may be a little challenging when you’re ready to reach the next level but our instructors will be there every step of the way.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

In my opinion I think non-creatives struggle to understand the lifestyle of active creatives. As a creative I get asked all the time “so what’s your plan” “what’s next for you” . Although those are common questions, I believe as a creative it’s difficult to answer because our minds and artistry are very fluid . Sometimes we don’t quite know what’s next , we sort of rely on our creativity to distinguish our future.

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

There is , I believe my purpose in life is to pull out the greatness lying dormant in other people. There’s a spark inside of us . Sometimes , we don’t realize how great/powerful we are . It’s my mission to pull whatever ignites them out ….so that they can live out their dreams as well . I am passionate about this because I know what it’s like to want to give up on something you love . It’s almost like giving yourself a death sentence. But there’s something inside of us that refuses to give up ….sometimes it just takes that 1 person to pour into you to give you the courage .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @latonyaburnes @urbanxdancestudios
• Facebook: Latonya Burnes
• Youtube: Urbanxdance_

Image Credits

Terrance Humphrey