Meet Lydeah Kearse | Choreographer & Producer

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

Hi Lydeah, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has always felt like my shadow. A constant presence that I’ve learned to embrace instead of fear. Growing up in Kansas, I always felt a pull or an energy telling me that my story was meant to be written somewhere else. So, at 18, I made the riskiest decision of my life. I packed up everything I knew, applied to one school—North Carolina A&T and moved 18 hours away, without knowing a single soul. No backup plans. Just a suitcase and a dream. It was terrifying, but for the first time, I had the autonomy to create the life I truly wanted.

Majoring in entrepreneurship was no accident; it was destiny meeting preparation. One of the first lessons drilled into us was “the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.” But for me, that wasn’t just classroom talk; it was already my life. And let’s be honest, being a dancer in itself is a gamble. The ones who take the big leaps, physically and artistically are the ones who stand out. I knew that. I felt it every time I stepped onto the floor.

Pursuing a career as a creative and professional choreographer? That was a gamble too. It meant giving up certainty for a dream that didn’t come with guarantees. It meant investing every drop of sweat and every ounce of hope into something intangible but deeply felt. Somewhere between being that young Black girl with dreams too big for Kansas and standing in Atlanta teaching my own classes, working as an industry choreographer, and collaborating with people’s favorite artists on huge stages—somewhere in that space, I learned that risk pays off. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s real. It makes you show up, give your all, and grow through every setback.

Risk-taking is a muscle I’ve worked my entire life. It’s what brought me to where I am now, creating, performing, and connecting. Without risk, I’d still be dreaming in Kansas. With it, I’m here, building the life that once felt impossible. So, do I think risk is worth it? Absolutely. Every time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Dance has been an integral part of my life since I was three, when I first stepped onto the floor of a competitive studio. I was hooked from the beginning, but back then, I couldn’t have imagined that dance would become my life’s work. Growing up, I saw dance as a passion, but not a real profession. The paths seemed limited, NFL or NBA teams, Broadway, cruise ships, or maybe becoming a Rockette (but I was too tall). I had no role models showing me it could be more than that. So, after high school, pursuing dance seriously felt like a wild fantasy. I just kept doing what I loved, teaching classes in nearby cities during college to earn some cash. That hustle turned into me transforming youth competition programs, winning choreography awards at local competitions, and realizing that this thing I loved had room to grow.

Then, as the art of dance began to rise on social media, something clicked. I saw an opportunity to take my passion to the next level. After graduating college, right at the height of the pandemic, I packed my bags and moved to Atlanta. I started in corporate (tech sales) to fund my passions, but it was a leap of faith that led me to Jeremy Green in a way that felt almost predestined. What started as an administrative internship evolved into a mentorship and then a partnership. Jeremy has taught me the ropes of the industry, and I went from being someone in the background to becoming an integral part of his team—a choreographer and producer shaping the soul of performances. For that, I’m endlessly grateful.

Throughout my career, I’ve been honored to work with incredible artists and platforms, including performances for 4batz, K. Michelle, Omarion, DaBaby, Sexyy Red, and Meek Mill, with credits spanning the BET Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Rolling Loud, Blockfest, The Voice, and more. What sets my art apart? It’s power, femininity, and precision, all poured into every beat, every movement. My choreography isn’t just about steps; it’s a story, a feeling, an experience. It’s a blend of raw energy and sharp technique, unapologetically rooted in who I am as a person and as an artist. I’ve been told it looks like I came out of nowhere, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Behind every accomplishment is years of grit, hustle, faith, and moments where only God knew what was next for me.

Was it easy? Not even close. There were countless challenges and moments when I questioned if this path was sustainable, if the sacrifices were worth it. I leaned on faith, resilience, and the lessons learned from both success and failure. One of the hardest parts was learning that being authentically me wouldn’t always be easily understood or embraced. But those challenges refined me; they made me stronger and even more committed to staying true to myself.

Along the way, I’ve learned that your journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be valid. There’s power in perseverance, in stepping out when others stay safe, in putting yourself and your work out there even when it feels risky. I’ve also learned that collaboration and humility open doors that talent alone cannot.

What do I want the world to know about me and my brand? I’ve always been about creating from a place of authenticity and intention, keeping God at the center of it all. My journey isn’t simple, but it’s mine, and it’s driven by passion, a deep respect for the art of dance, and a relentless work ethic. Every leap, every beat, every project is my way of sharing a story, sparking connection, and inspiring others to take their own leaps of faith. And I’m just getting started.

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?
Shout out to my besties and line sisters! Okay, so let’s kick this trip off right. Since I’m a caffeine addict and a serious foodie, we’d start the day at Bellwood Coffee in East Atlanta. For me, it’s a dirty chai (can’t function without it), and for them, a matcha latte. We’d catch up, laugh way too loud, and start the day on a caffeinated high.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so we’re heading to Le Petit Marche next. Starting with the beignets is a non-negotiable. We’d follow that up with fish and grits, which will make you reconsider every other breakfast you’ve ever had. Properly fueled, we’d grab my dog, Yankee, and head to Fetch Dog Park. Watching him run around like he owns the place while we lounge and talk about everything under the sun is my idea of a good time.

Of course, after all that, we’re in desperate need of a nap (Yankee too). Or, if we’re not dozing off, it’s time for an “Insecure” binge session—let’s be real, I’ve watched it a million times, but Issa and Lawrence always need analyzing and re-analyzing.

Dinner rolls around, and we’re dressing up a bit for No. 246. Hands down, the best Italian in Atlanta! We’re talking fresh pasta, impeccable service, and a wine list that’ll make you stay for “just one more glass.” By now, we’re feeling good and ready to wrap up the night at MCK with a couple of cocktails, good vibes, and tapas. It’s the perfect way to end the night and yap.

For the rest of the week? We’d mix it up. We’re probably going to catch a concert. My friends will also get to observe my heels class. They may not learn the step, but they’ll be hyping me up from the sidelines. We’ll make a bunch of ambitious plans that we probably won’t follow through on, choosing instead to crash and fall asleep mid-conversation (classic us), but when we’re awake, we’ll indulge in the most current reality love show, dissecting every messy twist and unexpected romance like our lives depend on it. And, since new music drops on Friday, we’ll have a full-on debate session, analyzing every beat, lyric, and vibe until we find our new favorites.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If we’re talking about who deserves credit in my story, it starts and ends with my parents. They’ve been the architects of who I am. The real MVPs who poured the foundation and then cheered from the sidelines as I started building my own dreams. My father was the one who showed me what grit looks like. He planted that entrepreneurial spirit in me from a young age. Watching him chase his goals taught me that nothing worth having comes without hustle, sacrifice, and a few failures along the way. He always told me when we traveled to dance competitions around the world that I belonged in any space. That lesson stuck.

Then there’s my mother. To know her is to know me. She taught me that knowledge is power and that there’s strength in leading with dignity (and humor). From her, I learned to carry myself with pride, to speak with intention, and to move through life with compassion. She’s the one who made sure I saw the beauty in the journey, not just the destination. She showed me that you can be both fierce and kind, driven and gentle.

Their sacrifices, their late nights and early mornings, their unwavering belief in me has always kept me going. Every step I’ve taken has been on the path they paved. So this shoutout is for them. For teaching me that life is about building something bigger than yourself, keeping God first in all that I do, and for giving me the tools and the courage to do exactly that. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being the first ones to show me what resilience and grace look like in action. I owe you everything.

Website: https://lydeahkearse.my.canva.site/hello-i-am-lydeah

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydeahkearse/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lyderallyco

Image Credits
Photographers: @official_holland_reid, @yungceophoto, @iskinnylove, @mr.koa