Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Simon . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Julie , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from the people I serve and the people I share an intimate all encompassing practice with – dance.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am 53. I own SALT STUDIOS a dance studio for adults and am the director and founder of Tropicaleiza Dance + Drum Co. I dance full out, full time, celebrating and honor the divine feminine at any age..
My practice, my art, my teaching and my repertoire impart joy, vigor and vitality utilizing dance + music, so much so that a full studio was born from the overflow.
I dance I drum I empower.
I am words demonstrated.
My work transcends current circumstance.
My work is in the intimate.
My work incites unique energetic expression.
A move is a move is a move.
A phrase is a phrase is a phrase.
Techniques are taught.
Steps are learned and require a dedicated practice.
BUT
What also requires and deserves dedicated practice is developing our own unique feeling our own unique expression.
I INCITE THIS
It is my goal to help you, me, us develop, create, and
revel yes REVEL in our MAJESTY.
SALT STUDIOS is so unique – a dance studio dedicated to adult dancers and every single day I see dancers revel in their majesty . I see dancers excel in their craft. I see dancers problem solve. I see them win. I see them pick themselves up after a set back. I see dancers rediscover their relationship with their bodies, I see dancers fall in love over and over again. I see triumph I see, excitement, I see MAGIC. There really is nothing like it. It keeps me going when I just want to crawl under the covers. It emboldens me, causes me to rise up. SALT STUDIOS is a destination spot filled with community, culture and amazing classes. We have classes for all levels from absolute beginners to professional level. It’s hard to find a dance studio for adults, that has excellent classes and a welcoming community. To take a class www.saltdancestudios.com
Tropicaleiza Dance + Drum Co founded in 2006 was birthed our of an international dance training, performance and teaching career spanning 30 years and 14 countries. We are a multidimensional, dynamic group of 12 powerful diverse women fully expressing themselves through the joyful acts of dancing and drumming. We empower our audience through compelling storytelling, movement workshops, cultural lectures and audience interaction.
Unique in the fact that we drum and dance simultaneously, our repertoire honors the complex and vital art of the feminine incorporating grounded uninhibited African-influenced expression, fluid voluminous contemporary movement and the playfulness and joy of Brazilian dance and music. Musical component is under the direction of Brazilian Artist Marcus Santos and Grooversity. It is our goal to create a vibrant energetic connection between dancers/musicians and audience members. We tell stories and thrive in the intimate. We believe we should live and breathe to our fullest expression always in all ways. Our Invocation: We drum, we dance, we empower. When people experience us, they want to join us. We are so full that our overflow blesses and gives- abundantly. We are currently touring She | Her | Us – self produced, written and directed by myself along with the beautiful women of the group. To learn more www.juliesimondance.com
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. You must fall in love with you. Like can only take you so far. You have to be so in love that you have the courage to do it as many times as it takes.
2. The power is in our own hands. We have power in our hands. Power to do this life and do it fully and abundantly.
3. Integrity and honesty are everything. They carry to safely to your next stop.
one more just because
4. It always gets better. It really does.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I had just lost something very, very dear to me. I thought it was all over. I really didn’t know how to move forward. I was crying day and night, really the depths of despair. I felt that I had lost my identity as well. I looked at my mother crying the ugliest type of crying and said, “How many times will I have to start over?”
Her response.. “….as many times as it takes. Now go be f%#$ing great”
I got up.
And as I said in the previous question… it always gets better. It just does. There’s always a way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.saltdancestudios.com
- Instagram: @juliesimondance, @saltdancestudios
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085375872344
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saltdancestudios. https://www.youtube.com/@tropicaleiza
Image Credits
Racz Photography Crystal Edwards Photography
