Meet Rene Nesbit | Director of Cherish Dance

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rene Nesbit and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rene, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
At Cherish Dance, we believe that stories are powerful. As their director, I envision so much growth for this company, that I treat every project seriously, and try to think big picture with each endeavor. Just recently, Cherish was officially registered as a non-profit organization in the state of Georgia. We have an amazing board of directors and have started the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status. Once that tax exempt status is achieved, more opportunities for grants and fundraising will be possible. With actual financial support to give life to the performances we dream of, I can see how Cherish could truly reach such a larger audience. Our end goal is to inspire and uplift our community. And while we do that currently, on a very low budget, through our open classes and small shows, I know that with an expanded budget, we will unfold our stories to their full potential.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Cherish Dance is a unique blend of modern dance, poetry, and storytelling. Founded in the spring of 2021, this company rose out of the ashes of the thought–“If not now, then when ?” I had always wanted to start my own dance company, but often felt hesitant and doubted my own leadership skills and potential. So, “What if I fail ?” and “What if I don’t do it right ?” filled my head. These are powerful questions that must be answered. And, in the midst of COVID-19 and quarantine, I felt the call to respond to them. Yes, I might fail. Yes, I might be awful at this, at first. But I will learn. And I have something worth saying. So, that is a big part of our mission statement. That stories are powerful and we want to bring them to life. I think I understand how inspiring art can be, for example, when I see a performance or go to a museum or hear a great song, and I want to bring that transformative experience to the stage with Cherish. I have a strong background in ballet and modern dance. I am also a poet and write about everything from nature, to family, to abstract ideas. With the narrative nature of modern dance already in my movement vocabulary, all that I need is an interesting piece of music, and the images start flying out. Interlacing spoken word with dance is something I have played with since I started combining American Sign Language with my choreography, back in college. To me, all forms of communication, verbal or nonverbal, overlap and collide. We listen and view them separately, often, but there are no rules to say they cannot uplift each other–at least, not in art.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Aatma Dance Studio — for a fun salsa class

Rumi’s Kitchen — for the best hummus and chicken kabob out there.

Tre Vele — for NY style cheesecake and espresso martinis.

Decatur Square — for the cool stores, restaurants, and walk-ability.

Piedmont Park — obviously, for the trees and exploring aspects, and there is always a fun festival/event going on.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Katelyn Roth– she is one of our dancers and board members. Without her enthusiasm, trustworthiness, and conviction, I would not be as determined to make the future of Cherish Dance a reality.

Peachtree Dance–I teach modern dance part-time at their Buckhead location. My director, Esther Darden, and the staff at Peachtree are super supportive and encouraging. I am so glad I have gotten to know them better in this second year of my teaching there.

Angelo Moio–One of my first jazz teachers at Backstage Dance Studio in Las Vegas. He always brought so much energy to class and shared his love for music and movement with everyone. I often think of him when I am teaching and feel such gratitude toward those mentors in my childhood.

Website: www.welcometocherish.org

Instagram: @cherish.dance

Facebook: @cherish.dance.family

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSJbzZ0wdVXeLXPnwrErIlA

Image Credits
Cody J. Jacques for the last two pictures (Katelyn in blue/green watercolor, and myself in black, on floor)