Meet Alternese Griffin | Dance Choreographer & Artist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Alternese Griffin and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alternese, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Yes, the quote I live by and have seen to be such a positive force on my journey is “when there is a will, there’s a way.” Let me tell you I have hit rock bottom, been mistreated by studios that I have given my all to, didn’t have a means of transportation, and lost my jobs unexpectedly due to covid hitting in 2019. For some reason the quote resonated to me being that I still had the will to teach I still had the will to want to help others, I still wanted to be creative and I just got really determine to make it happen. So what I did is really took some time to think about it and figured well , all of the dance studios are being hit so hard right now because people do not want to be in crowded places with other people due to Covid. So, I figured why can’t I bring the dance class to them if everyone is staying home. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve always taught private lessons, but they were par request. It wasn’t really me pushing my mobile classes as a business till March 2019. Groovement Dance Company was just what it says a dance company meaning a group of performing dancers, that I started back in my hometown Charleston SC. We would do shows , events, guest performances ect. As of now Groovement Dance Company is an LLC here in Atlanta Georgia and I provide mobile dance classes where I come to you and provide music and offer just about any dance style! I call it grooving to your destination. Hints the name having the word Groove and movement put together. “A way,” So at the time of me pursuing this business with Groovement Dance LLC I didn’t have anything. So, what I did was I rented a car from Turo made money to pay for the car , along with founding my business by doing Postmates, Instacart, and gig jobs using Thumbtack. Due to Covid these jobs were in demand being that people didn’t want to leave their homes so innocently Covid was a negative and strangely a positive for me as well. However that “will” prompt all of it !
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. Alternese Griffin also known as Neasy, is a Hip-Hop, Afro beat/African, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Jazz, Majorette dance style, Praise, Step, Acro and Tumbling instructor. Born and raised in Charleston, SC, Neasy started dancing at age 3 and began teaching professionally at age 12. She started dance with Linda Harvey doing Ballet as a child and later attended Darlene’s school of Dance where she was introduced to street Jazz, hip hop, and Acro dance. Neasy has trained with Pros Darrin Henson, Christian Vincent, Nappy Tabs, Brian Friedman, Rhapsody James, Travis Wall, Sean Bankhead, Gil Duldulao, Luam, Mr. Wiggles, Kevin Meher, Laura Edwards, and Riquel Orlander of “We Are Heroes” dance crew. She has worked for and with MTV as a “MADE” Coach, and has been featured season 2 and 3 of FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance”. She has Performed with Music Artist: Hurricane Chris, Goody Mob, Big Boi of Outkast and more.
I specialize in mobile dance classes meaning I go to my clients and teach them dance classes, but not only do I teach them dance classes, I customize the class for them by what they want to learn not what I want them to learn yeah of course it’s my choreography and everyone needs to dance technique, but the classes I provide are built on their needs are. I’ve been teaching since I was 12 years old so now that would be right around 23 years of teaching. I actually have a really strong passion for dance dance art, and music by itself but most of all I love making others feel great! Seeing them smile when they accomplish is everything! I want everyone to win and my clients know it, they feel it ! I am also a music artist and I mix music for my clients as well for their routines, Especially my Wedding Dance clients! So basically I’m a one stop shop that’s what sets me aside from everyone else. I truly care about my students and it’s so much more than “making of living for me.” If there is something you want out in this life , you must not lose sight of it and keep going even when it gets hard , speak life to all that you do and keep God first thus lighting the way. I am Groovement Dance Company LLC
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We are definitely hitting up either spa land or Jeju Korean Bath houses to relax and get clear our minds. I love food and love Delicious things there is this restaurant in Marietta called Delray’s it’s actually a diner it is amazing! Of course you got to have dessert, so I would definitely go to insomnia cookie any location I love their ice cream and I love their cookies the best in Atlanta! I’m actually pretty new here and there’s a lot that I haven’t tried yet so here’s some thing that I want to try, I want to check out top golf and the aquarium and the zoo because I still have not had a chance to visit, I’m not so good at golf but I love animals! As far as nightlife goes I love EDM music !!! so we are definitely going to this event called Arcadia that goes down every Friday 11pm- sunrise aye, and Saturday night got to see if there is a EDM show at Believe music hall , another dope spot! And Sunday is Bonfire !
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?
Yes , shout-out to Thumbtack for providing a platform for Entrepreneurs to actually find people looking for what we offer, Jodi Kempany owner of Prodigy Performing Arts in Marietta GA, Fine Arts Matter in Woodstock GA, my dedicated students and their parents, my clients for being so supportive and loving my craft, my best friends Leia Williams, Maurice Ravennah, and my mother Alterea Baxter for their continued engagement, business tactics and love through it all !
Instagram: https://instagram.com/dancegroovement?utm_medium=copy_link
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/alternese-griffin-a8849652
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groovement247/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCDgcrmjszXWMSXn5e6xg0Sg
Other: My music on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/cheray247 Google : https://g.page/groovement247?share TikTok : https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdMRy6gm/
Image Credits
Carrington Tucker
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