Today we’d like to introduce you to Joleen Rose.
Hi Joleen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story is that I simply do not give up. I may take a break, I may make some wild changes but with my faith in God and myself quitting cannot and will not be an option.
It started all with dance, been dancing since I was 5 and now at the age of 37 I can happily say I made a career out of it & will dance till I die. I’ve done everything from performing, teaching, choreographing, battling, event creating, to now being a Founder & CEO of the non-profit, Defining Movement Inc., dedicated to not only helping dancers but all artists with community support and events and business education.
Being a dancer also connected me to the world of makeup. At 19 I specifically remember writing my goals down and saying I will become a makeup artist and at 31 it happened. I quickly got hired for weddings, photoshoots, commercials, you name it, and now as a Licensed Esthetician and Creator of Skin Belief, I offer skincare and makeup services.
I wanted a life full of creativity and love and I’m so blessed to say I’m living in it.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
This path that I decided to take has not been smooth at all but has been fun, wild, and full of growing pains.
The most challenging part of being an entrepreneur has been learning how to become a boss and business owner honestly. I can create a dance, a look, an event but geesh after my first year of working as an independent artist and tax season came, it was a slap in the face. I literally had no clue how to handle my finances correctly because I always had W2’s for the most part.
I was the first in the family to go this route and didn’t have anyone showing me the ropes. Many didn’t understand how I could even live off my art. Another example is when we first started Defining Movement we actually started off as an LLC under a different name, which was a mistake, and then after losing so much money we realized becoming a non-profit is what we should have done.
Another struggle was deciding who to work with on certain projects and knowing when. I’ll write a book someday on all this because I can share so many lessons learned. Entrepreneurs go through a lot of struggles, knowing your why and purpose will keep you going.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Defining Movement is my pride and joy and so excited to see that we are on to the next chapter. 2022 will be year 10 for us and since then we always had a goal of finding a location to call home but at the right time and the right place. Happy to say that we are now located at Kaley Square Community Center, where we aim to create a business and resource center for artists and also provide art programs for the local residents. Not only will we provide a service to artists but also create jobs for our community. Something that I never thought would even be something I can create! Find us if you are looking for volunteer and/or internship opportunities.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Wow, I see so much. Defining Movement will definitely be in full swing and I know we will have a full-time and part-time staff! I believe and can see us making a huge impact by educating artists on how to thrive and getting kids off the streets and providing new avenues for them to explore.
I see my makeup career pushing me through doors I never knew existed. I’m currently working on set for a special project that is already having a large impact, sorry I cant share all the details yet.
Art is everywhere and it will never disappear. Art no matter how you create it speaks, inspires, provokes, entertains, and saves lives. Saved mine. The dance industry exploded, the beauty industry exploded, and even after a pandemic, the entertainment business is not going anywhere. Just look at NFTs…
Artists, Creators, I believe will gain better pay and higher respect.
Contact Info:
- Email: joleenrosecreative@gmail.com
- Website: www.DefiningMovement.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/definingmovementinc
- Other: www.SkinBelief.com
Image Credits:
Viviimage Photography Neidy Marie Collins Collectives Bay Break Entertainment
