I have had the pleasure of interviewing Brie Valenti who is the owner and artistic director of Mia Bella Academy of Dance in Palm Coast Florida. I started off by asking Brie what is unique about her studio and she said, “EVERYTHING!!!!” The studio is unconventional, to say the least. The walls of the studio are painted bright pink and accented with zebra stripes, so right from the first step in the door, you know this will be a place with high energy! Brie and her entire staff truly love what they do, and they strive to meet each and every dancer where they are at. They want all their students to focus on creating and developing their art, not just doing the steps they were given, and she thinks that is something that makes their program so unique and special. They also have a special hairstyle they do for competition, they call it “Gaga hair”, and it’s their signature.
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| Brie and Samantha |
To keep her dancers motivated she tells them frequently that trophies are earned in the studio (after long hours and hard work), and just picked up at competition. They constantly bring in guest artists to expose them to new styles, so that they don’t become just one trick ponies. Her dancers are extremely well rounded. Constant growth keeps them on their toes, and always wanting more.
The Mia Bella Competition Team are 4 time National Champions. They also have had numerous regional awards, scholarships, and Brie has received 16 Choreography awards in 4 years. As far as competitions go, she loves Platinum National Dance Competition. She believes the staff is amazing, the talent is phenomenal, and they are always fair. Edge National Talent is another favorite of theirs because the competition is a bunch of fun and they really give out some great scholarships with their awards.
When I asked about the standout dancer’s at the studio, Brie told me about Samantha Tanenbaum. Samantha is a graduating senior this year and was one of her first students. She has won numerous high score awards, scholarships, and has won the highest score of the entire weekend last season at one of the events. Caroline Rizzo and Jazmyne Valenti, other dancers at the studio, have recently booked a TV show, at only ages 10 and 12. Jazmyne and another student, Kari Dutton, were in a music video in Los Angeles this summer. Shayna Mayes was their first ever dancer to go undefeated regionally and nationally all season, at age 8. So much talent!!!
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| Caroline, Cayla, and Jazmyne |
Brie thinks the biggest mistake that she sees with dancers competing is when the dancers forget to PERFORM! Dancers can always work on technique, but both judges and audiences want the same thing-to be entertained! Brie wants to be able to feel the passion, and be able to know how much each dancer truly loves what they do. She would much rather watch a less technical dancer live on stage, then a person who hits everything perfectly with zero stage presence.
“It’s all about the heart! Never be afraid to leave it all on the dance floor.”
“It’s all about the heart! Never be afraid to leave it all on the dance floor.”
When asked about dance clothing, Brie loves unique prints and colors. She likes to see things you won’t see on every dancer at conventions. She believes the fit is crucial, everything should stay in place, and not move around when the dancer lifts a leg or an arm. In her dancer’s dance bags, highwaisted black leggings are a must! According to Brie, they flatter every body type, and go with everything. Her kids love big flowers for their buns and have a different one with every outfit. Since zebras are the studio’s “thing”, there are lots of zebra and animal prints reflected in their wardrobe choices.
Every year, Brie’s goal is to inspire and motivate dancers to step outside of their comfort zone. They are constantly reevaluating, taking their weakest area and focusing on it to improve. So, her goal is always MORE. “More growth, more development, always going to the next level.” Her advice to other dancers is, “Don’t forget why you started out in the first place. Focus on being the best you can be, not on the talents and successes of others. Each person is valuable to the team.”
I loved talking to Brie and wish both her and her studio the best of luck in the future!
If you have experience with Mia Bella Academy of Dance or Brie Valenti please leave a comment below about your experience!
By Cyndi Marziani
