We recently connected with Symphoni Wiggins and have shared our conversation below.

Symphoni, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I started dancing when I was 8 years old and always said I would open an adance studio and I did just that. Once I graduated from high school I was accepted to and attended Hollins University on a dance scholarship and received my Bachelor’s degree in dance. I knew I would use and need this degree.

I am happy as a creative. I currently still work a full time job (9am-5pm) and run my studio. Sometimes, I think “Thank God I have a regular job because this studio isn’t it” but then other times I think “This is exactly what I am supposed to be doing full time so when will I quit my 9am-5pm”. Being in a creative career is very stressful, fun, exciting, and emotional all at the same time but I love it. I started my studio with only drop in classes because I didn’t want to just quit my full-time job (stability) and teach dance. There were so many thoughts going through my head like, will I get students, will they stick it out, am I good enough, will they like me, will they pay, etc. After a year of drop-in classes, I started offering regular classes throughout the week. I started with 7 students. My enrollment grow to about 16 students after year 2 and then I started a majorette team within the studio. We then grew to 30-35 students in years 3 and 4. The majorette team started growing so more money was involved, parents had to commit, etc. This caused some issues and my team split and started another team with another coach. I was devastated because I didn’t know what I did wrong and heard so many things being said about me that weren’t true. I then started thinking: should I close my studio? I almost gave up but something said, “You are not done, this is just the beginning”. I got it together and kept on going. I did a complete revamp and wrote out exactly how I wanted my program to be. Now, I am in year 9 with 112 students. I am so thankful for the obstacles, the lessons, the relationships being built, the growth in the dancers, and the reputation that has been set in our city around A Creative Symphoni Dance Studio. I have currently outgrown my studio space and am in need of a warehouse-type facility to continue to offer everything I want to offer my dancers and WE WILL GET IT SOME WAY SOMEHOW, I am glad to say that all the dancers that graduated high school while dancing at A Creative Symphoni are now in college and thriving. Two are currently pursuing a BFA in Dance and are on scholarship and 1 is a dancer in marching band in college. They are still perfecting their craft outside of A Creative Symphoni and that warms my heart and makes me feel that I am doing something right.

Symphoni, 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?

I am from Augusta, Georgia where I attended the Academy of Richmond County High School and graduated in 2007. Upon Graduation, I attended Hollins University in Roanoke, VA on a full dance scholarship and obtained my BA in Dance with a minor in Communications. I trained in the disciplines of Ballet, Tap, African, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, and Majorette and have over 26 years of dance experience. I have been a scholarship recipient at American Dance Festival at Duke University and the New Orleans Jazz Dance Festival at Tulane University multiple times. I have performed extensively, locally, regionally, and nationally as well as abroad during her dance career. I began teaching at age 14 and never looked back. I feel that I am a gifted performer; however, my real passion is teaching. It is a God-given gift that I hold dear to my heart. I love to teach dance as I feel that this is one way I can inspire young people through my craft by sharing with them a healthy way to express themselves. A Creative Symphoni Dance Studio has a Performing Company that competes on a majorette and a technical level. Some of our dancers have earned scholarships to various programs and we have an extensive list of accolades including Grand Champion, Regional Champion, 1st-4th placements, Mini Division Title Winner 2x, and Senior Title Winner, just to name a few. A Creative Symphoni Dance Studio is in the 9th Season and I am most proud of our growth and that we are still standing and doing great.

MISSION
A Creative Symphoni Dance Studio is a business based on mentoring students through the beautiful discipline of dance however, our vision for our students is more than simply teaching the steps of dance. Of course, we are thrilled when our students excel in their dance technique and accomplish their dream of performing on stage, but A Creative Symphoni Dance Studio offers more than the thrill of the stage. Our motto of “Building Versatile Dancers” follows our dancers for the rest of their lives. The confidence, self-esteem and the work ethic that dance teaches them will last forever. Through the many changes that children experience: different schools, different teachers, and different peers, A Creative Symphoni Dance Studio is a constant friend and refuge. We accept that honor and with it, we accept a great responsibility to provide our students with the best dance training and mentorship.

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

A particular goal I have is to mentor and change kids that thought they wouldn’t make it far or won’t amount to anything in life. This is driving my creative journey. I build relationships with these kids and serve as someone they can come to if they need to talk, look at me as a role model, and know that I do not expect any mess from them. I hold them to a high standard in dance and school. I treat them like student-athletes so when it’s time to “leave the nest”, they can fly a little easier.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I feel the most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is FREE WILL! I can do whatever I want because I am displaying my interpretation of this art.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.acreativesymphonidance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acreativesymphoni
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acreativesymphonistudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC37cn__DftZwSVzvbwqgZyg
• Other: Dance Team Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwuQ9icw_W7JH_AHKt25fBg?app=desktop Tik Tok: @acreativesymphoni