Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Sutton
Hi Shelby, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I began dancing at the age of 2, and I haven’t stopped dancing since! I danced recreationally from ages 2 to 7, and danced competitively from ages 8-14 under “La Studio Academy of Dance”, and ages 14-18 as a “Company” member of “DanceSouth”. Being able to travel and learn from so many professional choreographers and compete with so many talented dancers from around the country really helped accelerate my training growing up. I won numerous awards and scholarships as a competitive dancer, but at age 17, I was invited to become a member of the American Dance Team and compete against 23 other countries in Barcelona, Spain at the World Dance Championship. I was named “Captain” of the team, and I was able to help lead Team USA to victory. Not only did Team USA win as a group, I was also awarded “World Dance Champion” as a soloist.
After graduating high school, I was invited to train professionally in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at TOKYOtheAcademy, under world-renowned choreographer Tokyo Inouye. I was able to work with highly respected instructors from all over the world, as well as learn other industry skills such as videography, staging, and how to choreograph dances myself. With this, I developed an interest in choreographing and teaching, and I began to fall in love with the idea of pursuing this later in my career after I finished dancing professionally.
After completing my season at theAcademy, I decided it was time to chase my dreams of dancing professionally. At the age of 20, I packed my entire life into my car, and I moved to Orlando Florida. Since moving to Orlando, I have been able to perform in small company projects, concept videos, and my biggest achievement, performing at Walt Disney World. In my 7 1/2 years at WDW, I have been able to dance and perform in 4 shows, 4 parades, and many other Entertainment projects. Some of my greatest achievements within the WDW Company include: “Opening Cast” for Mickey’s 50th Celebration Cavalcade, “Swing/Standby” for Disney’s Fantasmic, and “Closing Cast” of DJ’s Ready, Set, Dance Party in Hollywood Studios. After entertaining professionally for five years, I suffered 2 career changing injuries within the same year. While I wasn’t sure what my future held as a professional dancer, I decided to take this recovery time to further my career as a dance instructor/choreographer. Since devoting my full attention to teaching, I can honestly say I have fallen more in love with dance than when I was a dancer myself. In the last 2 years, I have been fortunate enough to complete 2 internships as a “Maintenance Choreographer” for Walt Disney World. I have been able to travel all around the Southeast and teach, choreograph, and judge at various dance competitions, schools, and dance studios. I have won 2 choreography awards, and my choreography has gone viral on TikTok, with over 500,000 views and shares across all platforms. I was even given the opportunity to be a guest artist for a dance convention, which has always been a dream of mine. My biggest achievement as an instructor/choreographer, however, is my own small business I created as a “virtual dance instructor”. I am able to teach private dance lessons via FaceTime and Zoom. In just 3 years, I have gone from teaching 1 student a week, to now teaching dozens of students a week.
Thankfully, I have recovered from my injuries, and I am able to dance professionally again. However, I am so grateful to be teaching dance full-time also, and now I get to live out both of my dreams simultaneously.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In February of 2021, I tore my meniscus in my right knee while filming a dance video. I had surgery to repair the injury, and was able to make a full recovery. In November of 2021, I tore my left ACL and meniscus at a dance audition, which I was not able to have surgery to repair until February 2023. Yes.. I danced professionally on a torn ACL for the entire year of 2022..
My 2023 surgery was met with a 9 month recovery. I had so much time to sit and reflect on my life, and all I could do was ask God, “Why was this happening to me?” But I soon realized that this wasn’t a punishment, but rather a way for God to allow me to grow both as a person and as a dance instructor. I now have such a different outlook on life, and I came out of my recovery a better person… and I am a better teacher because of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a dance instructor, I create dances for dance studios and dance teams to compete at regional and national level competitions. I am able to pick music, create choreography, and even create costumes for my pieces. When I am not choreographing, I am training students in different dance styles, working on their technique, or rhinestoning a costume most likely!
During the spring season, I also travel and work for a dance competition as a judge and an awards coordinator. I use my time on tour to learn new skills and broaden my knowledge of dance so I can take what I learned back to my students and help make them better.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Everyone is different, and everyone learns differently. Take from as many instructors as you can, and find what teaching style works best for you!
For other artists out there: Know your worth and never be afraid to network and collaborate with others!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @shelbysutton.dance (dance Instagram) and @shelbssutton (personal Instagram)
Image Credits
Headshot credits go to CJ Ayd (@mainstreetlightroom).
