Meet Ameia Mikula-Noble

We were lucky to catch up with Ameia Mikula-Noble recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ameia, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I know the world is unfair, and some people are luckier than others. As someone who was adopted by parents who gave me unconditional love and support as well as financial stability, I know that I am incredibly lucky. My childhood was dictated by a different form of luck: ‘talent’.
I grew up competing in piano festivals and dance competitions, and I attended a school with high academic standards. I was always in a competitive environment and around people who excelled in different areas. However, I learned very quickly that behind every seemingly effortless grade or performance was hours of dedication and hard work. Talent may play a factor in skill level, but it’s my own responsibility to maximize my potential.
In dance, I had a habit of ‘chasing the leader’. I would scope out the best dancer in the class and copy them. If they could turn, I worked on my turns; if they could jump, I would jump as high as I could; if they could move fast, I’d move fast.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become less focused on ‘talent’. I still take inspiration from people around me, but I don’t see their abilities as some unattainable gift. I know they’ve worked hard to achieve those skills. Talent and luck are undeniably important factors, but ultimately, it’s hard work and dedication that will carry me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

One of the most pivotal dance performances of my pre-professional era was “Red Room” which was based on Charlotte Bronte’s story of Jane Eyre’s descent into madness. This was the first time that I really told a story through my dance, and I ended up winning a full ride scholarship to my first summer intensive dance program which totally changed my life trajectory.

A few years later, I wrote and published a novel, Thirteen. This was a new way for me to tell stories. Since then, I have continued writing including obtaining a minor in Creative Writing from New York University. Since graduating, I have submitted stories to writing competitions and have been working on two new novel manuscripts.

I’ve always been drawn to expressing emotions and sharing stories, and dance became the language in which I could do that. That same passion is what led me to writing. A lot of people assume that since I’m a dancer and writer, I write about dance, but that’s not the case for me. My passion for writing stems from a desire to build new worlds, create characters, and tell stories that resonate with readers. While the two disciplines influence each other, they are separate and equally important parts of my creative life. The thrill that I get being on stage and connecting with the audience is the same as when I share a story with a friend and they tell me that they loved the piece.

At my core, I’m a storyteller. Whether through movement or words, I’m always reaching for connection. One of my long-term goals is to create an evening-length performance based on a story I write—bringing together dancers, writers, musicians, and designers in one collaborative piece. But before that, I want to continue growing as both a writer and a dancer, refining my voice, exploring new ideas, and sharing stories in both forms along the way.

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

The three qualities that were most impactful in my journey to becoming a dancer were physical expressiveness, musicality, and a love of storytelling

The biggest factor that influenced my decision to pursue dance was my need for movement. As a child, my dad nicknamed me “Squirmin’ Shirmin” because I was always in motion. I wasn’t just squirming around like any impatient child, I was cartwheeling around the backyard, climbing trees, jumping off walls, rolling down hills…and mountains. One of the most important parts of dance is that you are constantly channeling energy through your body, and through dance I was able to channel my energy into something with meaning.

Musicality played a large role, as I played classical piano and sang my entire childhood. Most notably, I received my Grade 10 piano certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music and performed in the Vancouver Opera performance of Carmen. Piano and singing were my first introductions to expressing emotions through actions instead of words, and that transferred seamlessly into dance.

What truly made me fall in love with dance was the storytelling aspect. I’ve always been drawn to expressing emotions and sharing stories, and dance became the language in which I could do that. That same passion is what led me to writing. A lot of people assume that since I’m a dancer and writer, I write about dance, but that’s not the case for me. My passion for writing stems from a desire to build new worlds, create characters, and tell stories that resonate with readers. While the two disciplines influence each other, they are separate and equally important parts of my creative life.

Dancing is a brilliant way for me to bring together my physical energy, musical connection, and love for storytelling, but I didn’t fully see how the different parts of my personality wove together until I looked back in hindsight. I didn’t choose dance because it checked a box or aligned with a master plan, I simply followed what felt natural. That’s the only advice I can give: trust what naturally draws you in and go for it.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I once wrote a character based off the Shakespeare quote: “Jack of all trades master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one”. The character was constantly around people who excelled greatly in different areas. In an attempt to still feel accomplished and not drown in self doubt, she decided that if she couldn’t be the best at anything, she’d be good at everything. In some ways, this character was a projection of my own position in life and outlook.
Earlier, I talked about talent and how it dictates the starting point for someone’s skill. Some people have an affinity for a certain thing, and oftentimes they use that advantage to point the direction of their life and career. I was exposed to many activities growing up but didn’t have a clear affinity for anything in particular. I was pretty good at a number of things but not necessarily the best – I was a Jack of all trades. As a result, I never knew what skill I wanted to prioritize and build my career around.
I floundered for a while, trying to become a master of everything, but in actuality, trying to be good at everything is exhausting. I ended up focusing my efforts on dance and writing. Once I made that tough decision, I was able to then build the skills that helped propel my career.
When approaching dance, specifically, I think about being well rounded. Everyone has a specific style, a distinct way of moving, and they usually have a standout characteristic. There are people who are great turners, jumpers, those who can hold their legs up high, or those whose movements are like liquid. Keeping in line with my “Jack of all trades” mindset, I worked hard to be the dancer that can do anything a choreographer asks. For me, it’s the greatest compliment to be told that I’m versatile. In fact, versatility has become my greatest strength as a dancer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Ameiamikulanoble.com
• Instagram: Ameia_mmn
• Linkedin: Ameia Mikula-Noble

Image Credits

All photos we retaken by Racheal Neville Studios