SOULDEGA: How did you get your start in Dance?
ELAYNA: My mother was a dancer & is a dance teacher til this day. So she gave me my start by putting me in classes at 3yrs old & i just stuck with it ever since!
SOULDEGA: Can you describe your dancing style? What role does fashion play in it?
ELAYNA: My dance style is a mix of jazz, lyrical, modern, with a dash of posing. When it comes to fashion, I wake up & put together a look that represents how i’m feeling that moment, what era i want to look like i’m living in. & eventually the outfit may alter my movements like if i’m in a dress versus in pants. Or if i have a look that resembles a flapper from the 1920s, my dance moves will derive from that time period.
SOULDEGA: We love how you use art shows and museums as backdrops for movement. How important is it for you to fuse the two when curating your freestyle videos?
ELAYNA: #ARTTwithART started when i fractured my tailbone & couldnt dance for the time being (took a year for recovery). I needed a creative outlet which was important to me & i already enjoyed going to art galleries & getting inspo. So i thought of the idea of combining all things i love; art, dance (i mainly did minuscule movements to not hurt my injury), fashion+style, & music!
SOULDEGA: What are some of your most rewarding experiences performing live? Any not so great experiences?
ELAYNA: Would definitely have to be finishing the show knowing you got through it doing the best job you can do. & Ive luckily had no bad experiences when performing live!
SOULDEGA: What artist ( living or deceased), would you love to Dance with?
ELAYNA: PRINCE!
SOULDEGA: Lastly, out of all of your art/dance videos which work of art are you currently most proud of?
ELAYNA: I am proud of all because they each represent a journey but my favorites are always the ones i do in dance studios. That’s home for me.