Meet Christiana Chrissy” McLeod Horn | Dance Practitioner | Photographer | Filmmaker | Educator”

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christiana “Chrissy” McLeod Horn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christiana “Chrissy”, how does your business help the community?
Dance706 was created specifically to celebrate and bring awareness to the dance ecosystem that exists in Augusta, GA. I found that there was a gap in the conversations I was hearing around the arts scene, specifically dance, and what I was seeing through personal experience. There are so many dance studios, teams, stores, events, and independent artists in and from the area that were thriving, yet I would hear a negative connotation centered around a lack of these very instances. I felt that it would be highly important to share the great opportunities in the area in one central location, so that when they were posted it was across multiple platforms and everyone following the page would be privy to these opportunities. This tangible representation of the positive was a beautiful project that turned into an ongoing sharing of community joy found through dance. Beyond the local area, my aim was to share the great artistry of the community with those within and beyond the boundaries of Augusta.

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 trained dancer and dance photographer, and what sets me apart from other niche photographers is my expertise in the subject matter that I am shooting, which informs my creative direction and my eye as a shooter. The lines that I have been trained to execute correctly over nearly a decade are the same lines that I look for in a studio or location shoot on my subjects. I am most proud of Dance706 turning one year old in February of 2023, which proved to me that I could stay consistent with the platform I created and I was amazed by the growth and support from within the community. To get to the point where I am currently in my career, I had to overcome numerous challenges and in turn undergo massive personal growth. I was able to get through each situation I faced with the faith that something more rewarding was on the other side and by trusting the plan that God had for my life. The main lesson that I learned along the way was to remain consistent and have grace with myself on the days where I felt that I had fallen short; even on those days, even if the steps I took were smaller than on my best days, they were still steps in the right direction. I want the world to know that Christiana “Chrissy” McLeod Horn’s passion for movement and archiving movement propelled her through life, and that the platform of Dance706 is available to all Augusta dance artists, past and present, to preserve the groundbreaking work being done in the area in the dance realm.

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.
Atlanta is full of amazing events and locations to network, hang out, and have a great time. From my point of view, the Underground Atlanta is a great place for artists of all walks of life to connect and share their artistry, especially during events like First Friday. Taking dance classes at local studios like Fuzion Force, Xcel, Atlanta Dance and Music Academy, i-Inspire, and Divine Dance Studio will always challenge you to build your confidence and work up a great sweat. I love a good brunch, and would recommend Red Pepper Taqueria, and a restaurant called Gocha’s Breakfast Bar. For good locations to shoot content, I would suggest visiting Cam Kirk Studios and Bee Fearless Studios, as both provide amazing education on photography and have plenty of equipment available to help execute your vision.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out both my mom and my partner, Walter. My mom has supported me throughout each stage of life and continues to be the biggest proponent of my work. When I brought up the idea of starting Dance706, she was on board and went a step beyond support by being present at each dance photoshoot that I coordinated in efforts of promoting the brand and bringing more awareness to local dance artists. We would drive around together, scoping locations to ensure that the city was represented well and the site enhanced the personality of each dancer stepping in front of the camera. My partner often served as an assistant on set, carrying heavy equipment, ensuring each dancer felt comfortable, and adding creative input which made room for further creativity and exploration behind the lens.

Website: https://linktr.ee/christianamcleodhorn

Instagram: @christianamcleodhorn

Facebook: Christiana McLeod Horn

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9e7KEFjvSW3rpChnHpKPHw?app=desktop&sub_confirmation=1

Image Credits
Images by Christiana McLeod Horn of Pointe + Shoot Co.