We had the good fortune of connecting with Quan Powers and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Quan, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think that there are many factors that go into whether to keep going or giving up. I always tell my students, shoot for the stars unless someone tries to stop you and even then find a way to work around it. In my career, there have been many moments that I have wanted to give up, but I strived for better because I knew that I was worth more and that I deserved better. As an educator, we don’t always get those moments of praise that some people in other jobs get. We work long hours, spend time away from our families and give all we have to our students and our schools to sometimes not feel appreciated, but you always have that one student that reminds you of why you keep going and why you have to make sure that you are an impact in the educational field.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think that one of the things that sets me apart from others is my passion for equity in Arts Education. One of the things that I wanted to make sure of is that my students that I taught would be able to see themselves woven in the tapestry of Dance. I wanted them to be able to open a book or take a course and learn about people that look like them. I think that that the way that I started dancing and choreographing came about in a pretty crazy way. I was a show choir kid at Nacogdoches High School and my choir director saw that I picked up really easily. She would always encourage me to be close to the choreographers when they came in to learn the choreography because she knew that I would remember it. My senior year of HS she gave me the challenge of creating the opener for our entire choir department. As a teenager, who had no prior dance experience this was a big challenge. I was able to choreograph and she brought me back every year until she retired from the position.
I went on to a Junior College where I majored in Musical Theater and I was also in the show choir there as well where dancing was a big part of what we did. My journey to being a choreographer and dance educator was not easy. My family was not poor but we were not rich, I learned dances from friends who were taking dance class, watching videos and just trying to create my own style of dance. My parents were not able to afford dance classes so this is what I had to do until I was able to go to college where I was able to get a formal dance education.
One of the biggest lessons that I have learned along the way that I tell my students everyday is to follow your dreams. If I would have followed mine I would have ended up in NYC but I also feel like I am where I am supposed to be right now. I have been very blessed to be a part and create so many beautiful and needed things for Arts Education. I would like the world to know that I want to be able to to take the dance world by storm and for most people that means by performing or choreographing but I want to be a driving force in dance education to make sure that all of our students; black, white, brown, purple or green have equitable dance spaces and dance education. I’m currently working on a project that would connect dancers, choreographers, dance educators and dance advocates across the DFW. A space for them to be able to network and also a space for students of the DFW to be able to take class from some of the biggest up and coming dance talent.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many spots in the city! I think that the easiest way to give you good spots to visit and eat in would be to create an actual itinerary for you:
Monday- Breakfast at Taco Joint, Visit Kylde Warren park and have lunch at one of the food trucks, so many amazing ones!!, Dinner at Ida Claires in Addison, the food and drinks are amazing!
Tuesday- Lunch at Rodeo Goat, some of the best burgers and drinks, Dallas Museum of Illusions, Drinks and Dinner at Vidorra in Deep Ellum
Wednesday- Walk around Bishop Arts area ( spend the day here) Breakfast at Oddfellows, sooo good! Lunch at Dallas Grilled Cheese Company, Dinner at Paradiso ( such a cute place) end with dessert at Emporium Pies
Thursday- Shopping at the Grandscape in the Colony, Hit up the Ferris Wheel and Electric Gamebox, a really cool game place and end with dinner at Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant and round out the night at the Puttery
Friday- Spend the day at White Rock lake and have a picnic, end the week with dinner at the XOXO Dining Room or as I like to call it, the Burn Book Club because it reminds me of Mean Girls
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout article to my Husband, my sweet beautiful daughter, my mom and my grandparents. They have all shaped me into the person that I am today. I work hard and I know that sometimes I can be alot, but they always support me in whatever I do. They always make sure that I’m okay and that I do my best. Even though my grandparents are no longer living, they loved me like nobody else and they always supported me.
I would also like to thank all of the students that I have taught. It’s because of you that I am the educator that I am today. I have had a chance to come into contact and teach so many students who have inspired me to keep touching and to further my dance education as well.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quan-powers-95071a16
Facebook: Quan Powers
Image Credits
Images by: Jamie Denae Photography and Brian Guilliaux Photography