Meet Xavier “Flyywalker” Drayton | Dancer & Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xavier “Flyywalker” Drayton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xavier “Flyywalker”, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk was the key to my success. Moving from my hometown of Buffalo, New York to pursue my passion here in Atlanta was a risk that changed my life forever. The thought of taking that risk initially scared me, but the reward was well worth it. Risk requires discomfort, and like most people, I don’t like being uncomfortable. However, I wouldn’t have accomplished much without taking risks.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Dance has always been my primary outlet of expression, but I also act and sew clothing. I’m blessed to have different ways to express myself. I used to think being a “jack of all trades” was a bad thing, but now I see it’s a gift. I spend my time practicing dancing, training in Acting, and studying fashion. Due to the pandemic, I was forced to spend more time at home working on all my talents. I went through a creative slump, but I’ve been learning to be more patient. I try not to force anything and that helps relieve the pressure I put on myself. It was definitely a rough time adjusting to the current state of the world, but it’s gotten easier over time. I’m excited for what the next chapter holds for me.

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.
If they wanted to shop, I would take them to Collected ATL or Goodtimes ATL. Then we would take a trip to the Beltline. It has something for everyone: local art, restaurants, and outdoor activities.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First I would like to shoutout Shane Fry and Heather Russell of Verve Dance Studio in Buffalo, New York. They held dance battles every month which I participated in from ages 8-18. Verve also provided me with performance and teaching skills that I still utilize today. Second, I would like to shoutout Gino and Denise Vaccaro of the Future Dance Center in Buffalo, New York. At age 12, I was given a scholarship to their dance studio. From then, I trained in hip-hop, ballet, and jazz. We also competed and traveled to dance conventions yearly. Gino and Denise exposed me to the industry and the dozens of styles within it. Lastly, I would like to shoutout Kiki Ely and Sakinah Lestage of ATLA Entertainment Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2017 I auditioned for their dance company. ATLA provided me with training from the top choreographers in the industry and creative direction skills. These three organizations really cultivated all of my crafts. If it wasn’t for all of their skills, lessons, advice, and mentorship, I would not be who I am today.

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