Meet Lashonda Johnson | Modern/Contemporary Choreographer, Dance Artist, and Teacher

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

Hi Lashonda, how do you think about risk?
I thinks risks are good! Risks can be good for the soul, your career, and your personal relationships. However, I believe risks can and should look different for everyone. For me, taking a risk means making a decision that energetically feels good to me without thinking about it for too long. For others, a risk could be the complete opposite. I am a person that will spend however long it takes thinking and over-analyzing things in my life. So when I get the rare feeling to just jump into something, I try to listen.

Taking risks has played a huge role in my career, in fact I wouldn’t have a career if I didn’t take the risks that I did. I would say the first and most important risk of my career was auditioning and becoming a dance major at Slippery Rock University. I had no formal dance training and was not familiar with the culture within dance communities. But I loved dance and I loved to create dance so I was willing to learn and soak up everything I could in my four years. Thinking back to those early ballet and modern classes when I didn’t know anything, I’m so proud of that version of myself. That version of Lashonda is so much braver than she realized back then. Taking that risk lit a fire that couldn’t be put out and got me to Atlanta, Ga making the art I’ve always wanted to.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a modern/contemporary freelance choreographer in Atlanta, Ga. I didn’t have the experience of getting formal dance training from a young age but I was privileged to grow up around community centers where art was always there, even if it wasn’t being properly funded. I always had art, music, and movement around me and that has shaped the way how I approach choreography. So yes, I’m a modern and contemporary choreographer but my work is heavily influenced by the natural movement of bodies and the feeling or lack thereof that comes with it. I approach the art already inviting the audience in from day one of rehearsal because to me it’s a communal experience, no matter where it’s performed or what the theme of the piece is.

Getting to this point of my career hasn’t always been easy personally but any challenge I’ve gone and came through, has always made me a better person and choreographer. The way I overcame challenges was to recognize it, acknowledge how it made me feel (no matter how long those feelings lasted), and moved forward with intentionality, trusting that I will carry the experience with in a healthy way. I’ve learned that it’s important to know and be confident in yourself, especially as a black woman. I’ve also learned to not define myself by the no’s or even the yes’s I receive from others, only I can define myself and my art.

I’m most proud of how much dance has become a constant in my life through performing, teaching, and choreographic opportunities. I didn’t always know what heights I wanted to take my career to but I always knew that I wanted it to be consistent in some way. From teaching class every Thursday to being asked to choreograph for graduating dance majors at my alma mater, I’m so proud that I’m still here and still fortunate to be given opportunities to share my art. It’s a privilege to be given a stage or the resources for art and I don’t take it lightly at all I’m always grateful and excited.

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.
I would recommend the High museum, laying out in Piedmont Park, or walking the Beltline if my friend was looking for something chill but still fun to do. I always recommend going to MJQ If you want to dance all night, they have three rooms with three different DJ’s most nights and I always have a great time. There’s usually some sort of food or art festival happening in Atlanta so I would head over to Eventbrite to snag tickets. For food, I would recommend Bulla Gastrobar for brunch, I love their 3-course menu and their food is always a hit. If they wanted a chill lunch I would recommend Tacos La Villa or Buenos Dias Cafe & Pupuseria, I love both of these places. My all time favorite places to have dinner at is Poor Calvins and Osha Thai Sushi Galleria.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout my best friend in and outside of dance, Kendall Alexander! Being an artist is hard and sometimes you need someone in your corner who can motivate you and celebrate your wins with you and also be willing to have those hard conversations, both are needed. Kendall has helped me so much in my career by always being in my corner. She has also danced in just about every sinlge one of my pieces, she is always willing to help! We’ve been close since being college dance majors and I’m so glad it’s carried over to Atlanta.

Instagram: @shonda.xo

Facebook: Lashonda Johnson

Image Credits
John Ramspott
Shannel J Resto – SJR Photography
Richard Calmes