Meet Hope Brown

We recently connected with Hope Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Hope, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?

The most important thing that I try to do to avoid burnout is to set boundaries for my time and energy. I have found with being a dance teacher and a studio manager that you can be working all day, every day if you do not set clear boundaries for your time. For example, I decided last year that I would not work on Sundays whenever possible. This allows me to have one day to rest, reset, and prepare for the week ahead. This is not always doable, as we travel for competitions sometimes, or if it is the only day open for choreography, but as much as possible I try to hold firm to this boundary. I think the best way to overcome burnout is to continue to create and do things for yourself that make you happy. I am a part of a dance company that meets every week and that is my time to dance for myself and enjoy myself. It helps to keep the joy alive. I also think you can overcome burnout by getting inspired again and choreographing exactly what I want to, rather than trying to choreograph what I think will “win” or what people want.

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

I am a dance teacher, choreographer, and studio manager. Growing up, my dance teacher, Miss Becki, was very influential in my life and showed such a great care for me not only as a dancer, but as a human as well. To know that I had a safe space at dance made all the difference in my life, and I hope to create that for my students. I aim to create a space in my classroom where dancers feel safe, but also challenged in their dance training. In addition to teaching dance, I am a freelance choreographer. This job is very fulfilling, but in a different way than teaching dance. Choreographing is rewarding in that you get to see your visions come to life and it fulfills me creatively.

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

The most important quality that I have found to be helpful is not being afraid to ask questions when you do not know something. I have learned so much from asking people questions and being like a sponge and soaking up all the information around me. Asking questions is not a weakness and does not show that you do not know anything, I believe that it shows a strength and a curiosity that can take you very far in life.

Another important skill would be learning how to manage your time and your calendar. When you teach dance and choreograph, one day looks different from the next, so it is important to stay on top of your calendar so that you can make sure you are prepared for what is to come and you do not miss any important times.

Lastly, being open to opportunities has allowed me to do things that I never thought that I could. I have been pushed and uncomfortable, but I felt that is when I have grown the most as a choreographer and human. I would say to go after any opportunity that interests you, even if it scares you because you never know what could happen!

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I think that it is better to be more well rounded by investing effort in improving areas you aren’t as strong in because it makes your more marketable and a more well rounded teacher and choreographer. For example, choreographing for the UGA Theatre Department taught me a ton about choreographing musical theatre and I have been able to bring that forward into my teaching and choreography. Also, as I learn and take more classes in a variety of styles, I am able to incorporate those styles into my choreography which makes it more interesting. Lastly, I think that learning from a bunch of different teachers and taking all opportunities has made me a better teacher because I have more background knowledge of more styles, rather than just specialize in one.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: hopebrowndance

Image Credits

@ladariusshotthis