Meet Libby Mattmiller

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

Hi Libby , thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

I have spent my entire life dog-earring book pages that speak to my soul, highlighting poetry that feels like it came from a part of me, replaying song lyrics until they’re engraved into my memory, but somehow, I still feel unable to vocalize what goes on inside my own head. I have always had a fundamental need to verbalize what I am feeling inside, like my soul needs to be heard and understood. I have felt an ever-growing frustration in my chest that’s rooted in my inability to express, with words, the way I feel inside. I know exactly what I want to say, I can even recognize when someone says it for me. My mind has continued racing with questions of why this could be; How come other people can say EXACTLY what I feel, but I can’t? Being intuitive feels like a waste when you can never find a way to express this intuition.

There is a part of me that has always realized that dance is a language, a way to communicate. I knew that to plié meant putting my heels together and bending my knees, although to the French it means to fold. I understood that to battement meant to kick my leg, but to French speakers it means to beat. I knew there was a reason that every time I watched the Nutcracker, tears streamed down my face. On some level, I knew that movement was a tool that could be used to communicate emotions, in the same way as language. I have watched people exercise this ability my whole life. But in May of 2021, I came to the realization that I could use this physical language to express the way that I’m feeling, the way that I’m thinking, and that other people could understand it.

In March of 2021, my brother’s lifelong friend passed away. I had known him since I was one year old. So, shortly after I was tasked with composing, choreographing, and presenting a piece in my dance class, I knew my inspiration would be my friend’s legacy. I chose to choreograph to the song Beautiful Boy by John Lennon, the song that was playing at his funeral when I walked in. At the time, whenever I attempted to talk about his death, I would begin to choke on my words, tears would form in my eyes, and I would cry until my stomach hurt. It was uncomfortable to present something I had choreographed that was so personal to me; it felt not only vulnerable but intrusive. I didn’t want to tell anyone the inspiration behind my piece because they would have known how difficult it was for me to share.

Before I knew it, it was the day of the presentation. I assumed the opening position of my dance and waited for the music to begin. The song starts with what sounds like bells ringing and waves crashing on the sea. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and opened my heart, letting the music transport me to a place where he and I are playing again, innocent giggles from the childlike joy of being alive. As I danced, I forgot about my nerves, and I was able to express my feelings of grief and loss through my movement. I didn’t even have to open my mouth.

After the showcase, I got into the car with my mom. As we began to drive away, she gushed, “I loved that you did your dance for him, I knew it was about him the second the music started playing”. In this moment, I realized that my movement was able to communicate my inspiration without using any words. I began to understand that dance could act as a way to authentically, passionately, and uniquely express these feelings inside of me without talking about topics that are so difficult for me. I felt the ever-growing frustration inside me shrink.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m currently studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where I’m pursuing a major in Fashion Design as well as a minor in Dance. I’m consistently inspired by human connection, people fascinate me, how complex we are, we’re full of multitudes, entirely unique.

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?

Commitment, gratitude, and sacrifice have been transformative qualities in my personal journey, shaping not just what I’ve achieved but, more importantly, who I’ve become. Commitment was something I adopted at a young age, something that dance taught me. It kept me grounded during uncertain times. It meant showing up, whether I felt motivated or not, and keeping promises I made long before I fully understood the weight of them. Learning to choose discipline over comfort. Over time, commitment became the engine that pushed me through self-doubt and helped me build momentum in all areas of my life.

Gratitude, on the other hand, taught me to slow down and take stock of the good, especially when things felt difficult. It rewired my mindset. Rather than focusing on what I lacked or how far I still had to go, gratitude reminded me of how far I’d come and the people who helped along the way. It created a sense of perspective that kept me humble and emotionally grounded, even in seasons of progress or success. Recognizing the small wins, the lessons from failure, and the everyday support from others acts as a continuing inspiration in my life.

Sacrifice was perhaps the most challenging quality to develop, but also the most transformative. It meant giving up short-term pleasures for long-term vision. Saying no to distractions, postponing gratification, and making hard choices became necessary trade-offs. But with each sacrifice came growth. I began to value purpose over ease, and resilience over instant results. Sacrifice deepened my sense of meaning, and it gave weight to the achievements that followed.

If you’re just beginning, know that commitment starts with a clear “why.” Take time to understand your deeper motivation. Not just what you want, but why you want it. Then, make small, daily promises to yourself and follow through. Start small. Consistency beats intensity; this is something that’s still hard for me to understand. As for sacrifice, remember that it’s not about suffering; it’s about choosing what matters most. Be intentional with your time and energy.

Ask yourself regularly: “What am I willing to give up now so I can live a life aligned with my values later?” Sacrifice isn’t a loss, it’s a long-term investment in the person you’re becoming. Gratitude comes later, but it comes easily. Look around you, take in all the beauty, appreciate it.

Start where you are. Be patient. These traits compound over time, and they’ll serve you in ways you can’t yet imagine.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m currently working on a creative project and looking to collaborate with talented sound designers who are passionate about storytelling through audio. Whether you specialize in soundscapes, Foley, experimental textures, or immersive audio design, I’d love to hear from you. This project values creative input and collaboration. I’m intending on blending sound design directly with dance, creating music with the movement of my body. If you’re excited about crafting unique sonic experiences and bringing ideas to life through sound, please reach out—I’m eager to connect and explore how we can build something great together. You can contact me through email, @[email protected] or through my instagram, @libbymattmiller .

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Roya Ramezankhani
Becca Penniston

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