Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mikayla Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mikayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to be a performer from a very young age. From designing my Barbies to doing a concert in the middle of the floor, I always wanted to dance and sing for anyone I saw. When I was about 2 or 3 years old, my mom took me to my first dance class. I remember wearing my ballet dress with a skirt and ballet tights so excited to go into class. When we finally finished class I knew I never wanted to stop dancing, and at that moment it became my first love. As I got older and I became more exposed to the art form. I began to venture online to watch dancers of all genres. I would sit there for hours on hours mesmerized by the dancers on stage, and then after watching try to replicate them. I remember feeling this overwhelming sense of happiness, inspiration, and motivation as I watched them move, and I knew right then and there that I wanted to do this as a professional career.

Mikayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Mikayla Johnson, 2021 Ashanti Teen Miss, dancer, choreographer, model, recording artist/performer. She is a stunning choreographer, dancer, and model who has done it all. From being a designer/model for New York Fashion Week to performing for Nascar. You can find her doing regular performances, bring her creativity and emotions to the stage. Mikayla gained her associates in liberal arts at South Piedmont Community College. As an artist in Vision Elite Royalty Studios LLC, Mikayla has performed nationally in various company productions: The Dark Chocolate Nutcracker (2015-2022), Annie (2015), Lion Queen (2017), Neverland (2016), Happily Never After(2017), Queen City Awards (2019), African Festival (2019,2021), Atlanta Black Theatre Festival (2017,2019,2022). She composed and published a single featuring Miss Teon’a, called Amazing.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I find it funny as children we do not fully realize how much you love something, but when you get older you know that you could not live without this passion. And reflecting back on my younger years, that passion I had was so strong. Dance was that one thing I could always go to no matter what my mood was, I always felt better. Dancing has always been a huge part of my life and it’s something that brings me so much fulfillment. Recently, I have began venturing out to begin teaching and choreographing. Teaching others the gift of dance , especially young dancer, and seeing them venture and blossom as not only a dancer but as a person has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. At so many times I thank God, I feel so lucky to be able to pursue my passion professionally and to share my love for dance with others. One thing of advice for any who wants to become a dancer and I know this might sound cliche is, Never give up! Seriously, because there are times you are going to want to quit and give up. Just remember you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you and that you are a champion. Once you make your mind up, that is when the beast is made.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

One thing I wish I would have knew sooner in my career is promoting is just as important as having talent. Because if you have talent and do not have a way to promote yourself, no one will know who you are. As dancers, we tend to focus only on the creative side and sometimes forget that there is a business side that will push you to where you want to be. You can use resources such as Hootsuite to have your social accounts on auto post, this way you never have to depend on only yourself to post content daily. It will just automate and you will send the results.

Another tip I wish I would have knew sooner is that you are valuable no matter what style of dance you do. I know various great dancers that have second guessed themselves just because they do a certain style of dance and it may not be what style is popular at the time. Even I have fallen victim to that type of thinking at some points of my life. I find staying authentic is key in being you, but, also defining your own style as a creative. And of course you can always tweak, change, and learn other styles, but you never want to lose who you are in doing so. When I look to learn something new YouTube has been my go to, where it is whacking, break dancing, tricks, and contemporary/jazz/lyrical moves. I always find something that broadens my horizons. Even in more modern days T-Milly, Steezy, Vision Gymnastics and Dance, and Cli Studios help to enhance your dance training if you need a programs for you to follow.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/mikaylajohhsonofficial
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mikaylajohnsonofficial1
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@ThatsSoMikaylaShow

Image Credits
Jane Johnson Jerry Taliaferro