Meet Deanna Brooks

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

Deanna , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I believe I get my work ethic from my mother. Growing up, I saw her work countless hours to provide for me and give me the best she could. She was always making sure I was satisfied and happy with everything. In addition to that, she would give up a lot of her free time to get me to dance and attend all of my events. She has gone to every dance competition, every picture day, every recital. If there was a dance class or intensive I wanted to go to, she would find a way for me to attend it. She truly pushed me to be the best human and dancer I can be. Seeing her drive and determination made me want to be the best I can. For myself and for her.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Deanna Brooks! I am Jersey-born and LA-based. I started dancing at the age of 4. My dance journey includes numerous classes, competitions, recitals, and more. I moved to LA in 2021 to pursue dance as a career and to get an education in dance. I am now gearing up to graduate college and am excited to pursue dance full-time! I am most excited to put myself out there more and to continue to train alongside amazing artists. I am also super excited to be training and performing with the Vixens Dance Company this year! Dance brings people together, and it is so inspiring to be in a city where others are pursuing their passion as well.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Courage. Dedication. Consistency. I believe these are three qualities that any artist should possess as they begin their journey. Courage is number one. Many people will judge you. Many people may try to steer you away from your craft without fully understanding it. It is important to be courageous and believe in yourself first. External validation means nothing if you can’t trust and feel you have all it takes to succeed. You also must be dedicated. You can’t have one foot in and one foot out. Every artist should believe in themselves and dedicate time to their art. It doesn’t always have to be for profit either. Take the time to do stuff just for you. Recall the joy and pleasure art brings. If you remember why you love to do what you do or even how you started, dedication may come easier on those tough days. Consistency is a big one! Keep training. Keep creating. Even be consistent with rest and taking time for yourself. Work ethic and consistently seeking out your goals is so important. Nothing will get done if you do not take that one step forward. Continue to build yourself up and work on your craft.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Over the past 12 months, I have focused on not holding back. I did many things I probably would not have done a few years ago. I co-choreographed and performed in a musical. I joined a heels training program and did the first month virtually from home. It was challenging but proved that I could learn dance from videos and live stream. I am not incapable of anything. I continued to take more classes in and outside of school in various styles. Taking open classes in a big city is daunting, but I remind myself that I am there to train and learn. Perfection is not always the goal. One last thing I am particularly proud of is that I auditioned for a heels company. I was apprehensive at first, but it turned out to be a great experience! I had a lot of fun, and I made it into the company! I will continue on this path. I will fully embrace my potential. No more holding back.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photographer: Alissa Roseborough @alissarosestudio
MUA: Manuel Espinoza @88manuel88

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