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

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

It all started when I was 25. At this point in life, I have already trained 7 years in the dance community under the guidance of the late Kavin Grant. If anything, his community company-space entitled ARN (a rhythm nation) was the true foundation of experiencing professionalism in dance. This space was the start of seeing myself becoming a professional in dance. I auditioned for FSCJ Dancerworks Dance Company and was accepted. During this same week, I received news that my father had passed away on December 17, 2011. At this time, participants had to complete the final process of the audition which required a letter submission explaining why should we be accepted to the program. I simply expressed that although I am a late bloomer, I am a natural dancer with a heart. My dad knew I could do this path. After being accepted. the real discovery began.

Being a lover of movement, my first love is in Hip Hop. During my time at FSCJ I took this dance humanity course, that was required and I noticed one day that Hip Hop didn’t have a lot of pages. Meaning, I wanted to learn more about the culture and history. Compared to the other dance styles like ballet, Jazz, contemporary, and modern which had at least 3-4 pages, Hip Hop had less to share. I felt discouraged due to feeling like I didn’t have a representation that looked like ME. Between the lack of Hip Hop representation and losing my dad who was a Hip Hop pioneer himself, I truly believe my calling started here. I often felt left out because not only was I the only mixed black and Filipino woman, but I was one of the few who was into Hip Hop. Often got questioned and somewhat targeted by other peers and company managers at the time for not conforming to the modern world. Although I loved, respected, and enjoyed learning modern, my heart wanted to know more about Hip Hop. Due to feeling let down due to the lack of educational resources, I wanted to create a Hip Hop club at the school. Unfortunately, it didn’t come to fruition, but the passion kept growing. I knew due to not seeing the proper representation of Hip Hop, I wanted to build my career in being an advocate for the Hip Hop dance movement and culture.

I am most grateful to have explored this space and time. I believe it served what was needed. Being a dancer from the community NOT the studio but the streets, I proved that I was just as good. I allowed myself to be submerged in another dance style. In this, as a person who had to take off my earrings, put up my hair in a bun, and put on leotards, I want the same in return for Hip Hop. The same discipline that exists in the technique world, that same respect and approach is needed in Hip Hop. Hip Hop is so much more than the fun or cool dance. It is a voice of the oppressed and a representation of the movement that helped black and brown people to feel free through creativity.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My services in the community are through the dance community platform, In the Midst, or as seen on the socials, In the Midst Jax. I have been doing dance services for now officially 8 years. I also have performed and taught dance for 16+ years. Some teaching experiences I have are international travel for the U.S Embassy cultural exchange program, Next Leve, in Timisoara and Bucharest Romania, First Hip Hop program at Douglas Anderson (3 years), Guest Artist work at Lavilla, Jacksonville University, University of Florida, and University of North Florida. In the Midst has had the honor to put on events and performances here in Jacksonville. as the dance coordinator for James Weldon Johnson Park for both the Hip Hop Festival, Love Fest (Love Culture) Art Walk-Hip Hop’s 50th Birthday with Moving the Margins, and have organized community performances at Riverside Arts Market for five years.

ITM Services consists of providing free dance classes, training workshops, and dance performance opportunities for dancers to explore. In collaborating with other creative events, ITM provides dancers to partake as performers and entertainers.

Where it all began: I had a dream and divine intervention that instructed me to do a production. In the Midst is driven by who I have been “in the midst” of in my time which inspired me to start this dance platform and career. In the Midst is also built on the scripture Psalms 46:5 “God is within her, she will not fall: God will help her at break of day.” The first dance donation-based production took place on December 3, 2016, at the Foundation Academy. This led to pursuing dance ministry training with Word in Motion as well as exploring the dance culture in California from 2017-2018. Upon my return, I hosted 2 months of free dance classes to jumpstart the platform back into Jacksonville at the Performance Academy.

Influence: In the Midst is inspired by my own experiences in the dance community of Jacksonville. To share Kavin Grant, who is no longer with us, has hosted productions that were performed by young teens and adults throughout the early 2000’s at Boleros which is now known as the new Florida Ballet Location. These years of training to become a dancer in Jacksonville have been very impactful. What I took from the experience was how selfless he was in holding space for people to experience dance which led to people walking out with a path and career in dance. People like Amari and Jore Marshall, Carlos Garland So, Ryan Carlson, Woody Mclain, and Alex Aleman who became well-known dancers in the dance industry came from this very same space. Seeing how holding space provides such a foundational place in a person’s career, my heart’s passion grew to be that for future generations to explore. I fell in love with doing for the community, because of how it took care of me.

Currently In the Midst educates on the history and culture of dance predominantly on the socials. Continuing to create community classes, In the Midst is inspired to advocate for social injustice through dance to help bring awareness to the dance community sharing the history of dance being a powerful tool to use in our everyday lives. Alongside providing free classes through the dance platform, I as the creative director create training classes-w0rkshops to continue to instill professionalism in the street dance culture- Hip Hop, Whacking, House, Vogue, Krump etc. Creating classes, workshops, performances, and informative posts is to advocate for the dance culture in Jacksonville and all over.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to learn is to keep following what is in me intuitively to follow. It is sad to say, that although genuinely people may be happy for your success and support you for following your dreams, some people may project fears, envy, and jealousy onto you. In stepping out in general, I wanted to honor the experiences I gathered as a dancer. I found inspiration to be a dance educator. My goal is to become a dance professor on a collegiate level. This inspires me to be around people who are doing the things that I am inspired to do. In doing so, I learned in my years that everyone you start with won’t be able to come with you. It’s not because you are better than others, but simply because you are on a path that you worked hard to be on and it doesn’t require everyone but only you. Sometimes those whom you were inspired by would downplay you and make it seem as if what you are doing is not good which can be discouraging, but you have to remind yourself of your whys. Some people don’t want you to be successful because they didn’t see it for you. Some people wonder why YOU. This can lead to a deep dive of questioning. My words of encouragement, whoever is for you, who will support you. Not just by being a “Yes” person, but by being real and doing all with love. People who want it for you will let you know sincerely. Those who are struggling with themselves will project their fears due to not being successful in whatever they are trying to do. Hurt people hurt people, so it’s important to do your inner work so you can keep shining that light for others to see.

I have plenty of experiences where people have told me I am not doing enough, that idea sounds stupid, why are you doing it that way, and other phrases that have made me feel little. What I learned is sometimes, people may feel a way towards you because they can’t take credit for who you are and what you do. With that, although it has been hurtful to experience organizations, people, and figures that I thought were for good mistreat me, it helped me to be the dance educator and advocate I am today. NO matter what, you have a job, mission, calling, dream, and purpose to fulfill, don’t allow the negativity of others to steer you away from those things. Don’t allow these actions to dim your light, let it shine brighter.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative must be the vulnerability I share with people. I believe vulnerability is my superpower. To create a space for people to discover is a beautiful thing. There’s nothing like someone coming up to you and saying “You’re amazing.’ in return, I’ll say “You are what you observe.” This means encouraging and pouring into individuals to pursue self is the reward. I had a tough upbringing and what impacted my life were teachers who gave me chances to show up and be that student or dancer despite my circumstances That space to release and explore self is so needed. In my classes, there’s a good chance that I show appreciation through happy tears to the students for saying “yes” to themselves. Showing up is hard to do in life let alone in a dance class. People share with me how I am inspirational, and I just know my inspiration came from hard places. The vulnerability to cry, share, and express these deep wounds of ourselves creates healing for people to explore and use for themselves.

Additionally, to carry all of this on stage! THAT is the reward. To share my gift of dance and bring smiles to people who are watching makes me feel the happiest. I can feel the inner child in me jumping with joy for she just knew that she was meant to do this life with dance. To do this with people I love, my sister who is the leading lady of Love Culture, and my finance as my dance partner, I just didn’t think I would experience this great amount of love. Overall, to pursue your gift is the reward that just keeps giving.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthemidstjax_/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@inthemidstjax_?si=boIS6MJi74hkzS7v
• Other: personal page on Instagram where you can see my work as an dance educator outside of In the Midst @See_Chelle86

Image Credits
Photographer credit goes to Toni of Cre8 Jax and Ron Tirado.