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

Nicole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

Like most little girls at age three, I found myself in a ballet class at our local recreation center. Every summer after that, my mom would ask me, “do you want to do dance again this year?”. I’m sure I gave back an enthusiastic, “yes!” As I got older, I would get asked a few more questions, “do you want to try tap this year? Try jazz? Do you want to do two classes this year? Do you want to do a different class than your sister” My mom would always remind me of my other commitments too- girl scouts, softball, church groups… and made sure I could commit properly to each of those things.

I always appreciate that growing up, I didn’t really know what kind of financial situation my family was in. I would get told “no” sometimes, I was told we can do the fundraising options, or I would lend my mom my sacred $20 bill if she asked (but always paid me back). I’ll never truly know all of the conversations my mom and my dance teacher, Miss Lori, had when I didn’t know. I’m sure Lori knows more about my family dynamics in those days than I do.

Starting in middle school, I said no to more things that weren’t dance and yes to more and more dance. When i was in high school, there were years when i had 7 or 8 dances (all that was offered for my age group). My twin sister was in about 4-5 classes. Miss Lori and my other teachers were good at trying to have us re-use our last year’s costume, go to the mall and get our outfits or other crafty ways to not have parents need to buy expensive costumes for every class, every year. I didn’t think twice of it.

After I graduated and went off to college and studied dance. The “love of dance” seed that was planted in my early days bloomed more and more. In my college time I always said, “I never want to be a dance teacher”. I’m not sure why- maybe the lack of experience working with children, maybe falling into the false pretense of “those who cant do, teach”. But funny story- here I am in my 8th year of teaching dance.

The kindest thing that anyone has done for me was the backdrop of all of these accomplishments and growth. My studio owner/ teacher knew that we couldn’t afford all of the classes me and my sister wanted to take. I didn’t know at the time, but my teacher let us take all of our dance classes for free. I don’t know how many years this was the case- we paid for our costumes in payments and showed up whole-heartedly each week.

I truly would not be the dancer I am today without this kind gesture. I know Miss Lori didn’t even think twice. I try to repay her by continuing my dance journey, teaching my students with my whole heart (even last year joining the teaching staff at my home studio), and paying it forward to my students. I am by no meant rich on a dance teacher salary, but I try and pick affordable costumes, I will pay for students to attend dance opportunities if they cannot otherwise afford it, and I try to always remember the kindness bestowed upon me.

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

I am a dance professional in the Detroit, MI area. I am Assistant Director of Dance Uprising (Ann Arbor, MI) and a company member of Diversiform Dance Project (Rochester Hills, MI).

I provide collaboration efforts in the dance practice around diversity and inclusion, disability artists, social justice issues and introductory dance opportunities. My personal goal is to share profound thoughts that inspire thought provocation in an audience. I strive for accessible art that gives viewers action steps, or to inspire my moto that “everyone can dance”.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of dance for me is inspiring people. Not in any profound, “I inspired them to be a dancer” or I changed their entire view of the world way, but in small ways. After a performance when someone says, “it was wonderful to watch you dance”, or a choreographer saying, “I love the way you move”, or a student saying, “I love coming to dance class, you’re my favorite teacher!”. I always say, “planting seeds”. When I am dancing, I want to accurately portray what my choreographer’s intention of that work is. When I make dance works, I try to ask myself how accessible it is- would my mom “get it”? Would a seasoned dance professional “get it?”.
When i get asked in casual conversation what my job is, it goes like this:
Them: “so what do you do for a living?”
Me: “I am a professional modern dancer and dance teacher”
Them: “Yeah, I took ballet when I was three, but I wish I could dance”
Me: “Everyone can dance! No matter how old you are, it’s never to late to start!”
Sewing seeds in students is much easier to see. My goal as an educator is to give my students tools and knowledge that they can use anywhere- if they want to be a professional dancer, a doctor, an astronaut, etc. My second year of teaching, I taught a competition tap class and the kids who “hated tap” at the beginning of the year, ended up maybe kind of liking tap (one of these students now teaches tap too!)

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 really don’t need fancy training or anything to start. Find something you like to do & that feels good and start there! It doesn’t matter your physical ability, age, location or anything else- dance truly is for everyone!

We all have different paths in our lives so do the compare your journey with someone else’s- they’re going somewhere else!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @dance_miss_nicole

Image Credits
Focal Life Photography Awake Dreaming Photography