Meet Alyssa Baker | Dancer, Model, Brand Ambassador, and Arts Educator

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

Hi Alyssa, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
One piece of conventional advice that I would disagree with is waiting for the right time to action. Yes, there is a time and a place for everything but sometimes you have to take a risk and go for it. Too many times have I heard stories of other saying they wish they had taken a risk and maybe things would be different for them if they hadn’t played it so safe. I think of waiting for the right time is feeding into hesitation to be great. If we keep waiting for the “right opportunity” think of how many can pass you by. If we wait for the “right year” think of how many years will pass you by? If we keep waiting for the “right price”, and this is going to go over some people’s heads, think of how many collaborations and network growth you can miss out on. In 2018 when I graduated from VCU I was auditioning for dance companies to officially start my professional dance career. I was chosen by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble to become a part of their second company. While I was ecstatic about the being selected and accomplishing my goals to be accepted into a dance company it also came with a decision to make. I had to move to Denver, Colorado. Not only did I have to move but I have to move within 2 weeks of finding out I made it into the company. I remember being asked if right after college was the right time to move across the United States to somewhere I hadn’t even been to visit before and start a new life on my own at 21. I battled with the option of saving up my money and reauditioning in a year or taking a leap of faith, going to an unfamiliar place where I knew no one, and being a 4 hour flight away from family. In the end I made the decision to move to Colorado and chase my dreams. I ended up loving Colorado, having new scenery, making new friends, and dancing full time. All of my years training in grade school and college I aspired to be part of a professional dance company and the opportunity was at my threshold. I can only imagine how things would be different for me had I not made the decision to follow my dreams. I could also say the same for my move to Atlanta. It was September 2021 when I decided to move to Atlanta after going back home to Baltimore once the world went into quarantine, I had just finished my season with the dance company virtually and was looking for a new opportunity. I didn’t have much money in the bank, definitely not enough for a move and I was not really sure what I was going to do when I moved but I knew one thing…..While every other place was still on heavy quarantine and shut down, Atlanta was wide open! So I said why not, packed up my car and drove 10 hours to start a new adventure her in Atlanta. Since arriving I have met some many dope creatives, artists, entrepreneurs and more! Being in Atlanta and being around so much black excellence was a breath of fresh air and sparked interest for me to try new things like modeling, being a brand ambassador, and acting. Had I waited for the right time and for things to be perfect I would not have gained all of the knowledge and experience that I have today. Take the leap of faith you never know what could happen!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I come from Baltimore, MD where there is a lot of talent but not a lot facility for the youth to focus on their talents. But I believe that that is changing daily with my generation coming back to build up the city. I started my dance career when I was 6 at a dance school called Baltimore Dance Tech in Baltimore city where we were trained to dance in a church with tile floors and no mirrors. This was the beginning of my training in ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop and continued my training into my adulthood. It wasn’t until middle that I danced on a sprung floor and in front of mirrors where I could actually see myself while I dance. My dance teachers never made us feel like we had anything less than the next studio but that everything we need is already inside of us. We didn’t need mirrors or sprung floors to assess our talent. I was blessed enough to attend both a middle and high school where I could be a dance major and get daily training in my class pushing me towards my future aspirations. We were exposed to professional dance companies, had the opportunity to take master classes and even attend concerts of touring dance companies if they came to our city. All I could dream of was being on stage with people coming to see me and my gift. Little did I know that I would actually achieve my goals. My passion for the arts is deeper than just the gift I was given. Its where I can always find peace, where I can release any negative feelings, where I can just be. The authenticity that dance requires always kept me in tune with myself and what I wanted for myself. Acknowledging my strengths and where I wanted to grow, I continued with my passion when I attend Virginia Commonwealth University where I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance and Choreography with an independent study of children’s pedagogy and teaching methods. I knew that while I was dancing professionally and after I wanted to pour into the next generation of dancers/artists and share my knowledge and knowledge that was shared with me when I was growing up. Right now I teach the fourth grade in the daytime and though I am teaching regular academics I always make an artsy reference or dance reference to better help my students understand their work and most of the time they get it! My scholars also know that I am an artist outside of school and they admire the fact that I am not “just a teacher.” I love that I can even inspire my students to follow their dreams outside of their academic aspirations.

When it comes to my art I used to only categorize myself as a dancer but now I truly call myself an artist because I am more than just a dancer and I have expanded myself as an artist to tap into more of my other talents. I now model, have starred in short films, and have even begun training my voice. I am a creative, a jack of all trades and I believe that that is what sets me apart from others. As an artist I have trained myself to be able to do everything that I need to be successful. From mastering my own make up, being able to do my hair, choreograph, hand sew and make alterations to outfits, create mood boards and pitch decks, and even having some skills working behind the scenes on lighting, stage managing, and capturing behind the scene videos. I believe that if I had to put on a show by myself I could do it. I am so excited to see how my career grows as I continue to master my crafts and network with more people. I am a sponge continuously learning from others around me and figuring out ways to keep up the excellence of my crafts. Getting to where I am today took a lot of discipline from a young age, ambition, focus and flexibility and still does. Being focused on what I want has always kept me aligned in the right direction. That doesn’t mean it was easy. I have experienced many hurdles and obstacles along the way. From illness to injury, loss of loved ones, and self doubt. My most successful coping mechanism is to step away, write and revisit what is troubling/challenging me. I find that when I take a moment to exhale and write out a plan to solve an issue I gain more clarity of situation at hand and how to handle it. Even if my plans end up changing I focus on the solution and not the problem. Focusing on the problem will leave you stuck in the same cycle.

The most important lesson I have learned along way is to remain authentic. In the entertainment industry its so easy for people to get sidetracked and influenced by what others have going on around them. Being your authentic self will get you into the right rooms with people who will support you and be in your corner. Being authentic helps you to remain focused on your dreams and not allowing outside noise to taint your experience and growth. Find your niche and your target audience. Who do you want to reach? What is the message you want to give? What movements will you support? All of this is decided by you. You cannot make the best decisions for yourself if you are making decisions based off of what you think others want from you. What I want the world to know about my brand and story is that I’m just beginning and I am ready to take the world by storm. I am on the path to greatness and I am not looking back. I am also looking for other creatives in Atlanta to work and collaborate with to make more art. Cameramen, Videographers, Dancers, Models, Entrepreneurs, Everyone! Lets make art together and keep making the world beautiful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a great question! My best friend was in town visiting me not too long ago. Atlanta is a city that never sleep. There is always something to do here whether its a club, festivals, longue, Piedmont Park, or walking the beltline. My friends and I love adventures and activities plus the turn up. We would probably start our days off with brunch at Snooze, Fin and Feathers, or Suite Food Lounge and then go on to visit some museums and ride scooters or bikes around the city taking pictures and getting content to share. After that we would change outfits and get ready for nightlife. We might go to a bar or lounge like Escobar or a restaurant Ponce City Market and then end up at Opium, Teranga City, or the strip club to end the night. There’s so much good food, places to go and activities to participate in. The options are endless!

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?
Where do I begin! I am so grateful for my support system. First I am forever thankful that God favors me the way he does. Not only did he give me a gift to share with others and a way to leave an impact on the world but he also surrounded me with loved ones, family, friends, sorors and teachers who always spoke life into me, cheered me on and were always around to lend a helping hand or word of encouragement. Shoutout to my parents for all of the years of driving me back and forth to rehearsal, show, auditions and pushing me to always set the bar higher and reassuring me that I am capable of anything. I could not done it without them! Thank you to my dance teachers at Baltimore Dance Tech who consistently poured into me inside and outside of the dance studio helping to shape me into the woman I am today. I also have to thank myself in this moment. I can’t believe I’m being interviewed for by Shoutout Atlanta! If I didn’t believe in myself and do the work I would not be where I am today or have more goals for my future.

Instagram: @biglyss_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-baker-93a420117/

Facebook: Alyssa Baker

Image Credits
Eagle picture- Stanley Obert Pink Leotard- @Finesse Pho on Instagram Hair Flip Dance Picture- Eddie Johnson Blue Jacket and Jean Picture- Khaf/Genius Creative Studios @flickupkhaf_2 on Instagram