Meet Breana Walker | Certified Dance Teacher & Creator of You Betta Werk!” “

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

Hi Breana, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Dance has always been a huge part of my life since the age of 5 years old. As I have gotten older, and hearing feedback from when I would teach dance classes, my clients have always praised me on how motivational I am and the energy that I bring while teaching. Since I teach dance formally during the day as a certified dance teacher to students in grades Prek-8th, I really wanted to find a way to dance informally, while incorporating dance into fitness, in a way that people of all levels can enjoy. That’s when I came up with the idea of “You Betta Werk!”. Growing up as a dancer, I always heard and used the phrase “you betta werk” when someone in class killed it or truly gave it their all, and often times while teaching, I even say the phrase to my clients/students. “You Betta Werk!” provides dance cardio “werkouts” for all women at any level. “Werkout” is spelled with an “e” because we are not doing your typical workout. In a “werkout” session, you are doing easy to follow dance movements that make you feel sassy, confident, and move like no one is watching!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As stated before, I started dancing at the age of 5 and that was only because my mother wanted to put me in some type of hobby to keep me occupied. From my first class, it became a huge passion of mine that led me to many opportunities such as receiving a scholarship to attend the “Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater” and dancing in the 2007 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the company. Additionally, I majored in dance at the “Fame” School, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, taught at dance studios for their summer intensives in the Western New York area during my time in college, and also coaching my college dance team while completing my undergraduate and graduate studies. In terms of my journey in regard to dance, it personally was never easy because I have always struggled with confidence, despite my accomplishments, and the compliments I have received. I never wanted to be in the front while taking a dance class, and even thought I was not good enough many times because of my own self-doubt. However, going to college really changed the way I viewed myself and my dancing and brought out more confidence in me that continues to slowly grow as an adult. Being the leader of my college team, there wasn’t a lot of space for being unsure, and insecure, because I was essentially the face of the team and had a reputation t uphold throughout the campus and community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting the area, I would make sure to take them to delicious restaurants (specifically seafood), a musical, and depending on the weather, I would also find cute strips to walk along that have a variety of shops and boutiques to look around and shop at. I am honestly a huge homebody, and I am typically very busy during the week so I like to relax and hangout with my family on my downtime.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my parents, my husband and my previous dance teachers Ashwi Williams, and Randi Hasner. My parents have always been my number #1 supporters when it has come to dance. My mother was always making sure I danced to the best of my ability, providing me with feedback, and pushing me to do more. My father was the best “dance dad” a girl could’ve asked for, always driving me to my events, practices (in NYC during rush hour), and never missing a show. My husband also deserves a huge shoutout as he is constantly pushing me and reminding me of my worth as a dancer and dance teacher. Without him, I wouldn’t have had the confidence or courage to start “You Betta Werk!”. He has been my manager, camera-man, and helped me with everything behind the scenes. My dance teacher Ashwi was the first dance teacher I had that truly broke me out of my shy shell, and helped me learn what it truly meant to be a performer. Lastly, my dance teacher Randi Hasner is the one who helped me define and see who I was as a dancer. With her training, I learned more technique, dance skills, and found my inner “sassyness” & “attitude” as a dancer.

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