Meet Sydney Lewis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Lewis.

Sydney, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a 13 year old girl who had played just about every sport, it was time for something new. Something I had a real passion for. After being inspired by so many music videos, I came to the realization that I wanted to be in those videos dancing. I started up some classes with my best friend to have the owner of the studio tell me that I was stuck there and didn’t get to go back to play soccer. She wanted me all to herself to train and compete around California. I competed and attended conventions for four years after that until I eventually graduated high school and moved to San Diego to attend San Diego State University with a major in dance. It wasn’t until about a year and a half in when I realized while sitting in a lecture room that I was ready to leave and move to LA to pursue dance professionally. With a lot of convincing through a PowerPoint presentation to my mom, I finally made a move to LA with the support of both my brothers living in the city. Trained my butt off the second, I stepped in the city and never looked back.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think anybody’s road is smooth. I’ve struggled with family problems all my life, but the biggest struggle I ever faced was thrown at me just within the first few months of moving here. My brother, who struggled with drug addiction and numerous mental illness problems, passed away from a drug overdose at the end of 2015. I had just started to get over some of my depression right before that time to pick it back up again and have to get through this new struggle. I was discouraged, depressed, heartbroken. It was a big setback for sure, mentally, especially. But thankfully I had the love and help of my family, friends, and therapist.

Please tell us about your work.
It’s interesting to answer this question considering I am my own company. I am my own business and that’s not what a lot of people can say. I am advertising myself daily just by walking in rooms, stepping into coffee shops, showing up to auditions, and relaying my life on Instagram. I guess I specialize in “hip hop,” whatever that means these days. I am technically trained in many different styles of dance and I only learn more and more every day! It’s the greatest part about being out here. All the new things you choose to learn! I am most proud of my most recent event that I put on to raise suicide awareness and just mental illness awareness as a whole. I believe it was a pivotal part of my career as a person and an artist. What sets me apart from others in this industry, I believe, is genuinity. I have such a drive to become the best dancer and just all-around artist and I believe it shows in my work when I am hired and even when I am just volunteering my skills and time.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
If I were to write every supporter in my life where I think I would go over the word count lol. My first and biggest supporters in my life through this whole journey are my parents and brothers and sister. My brother, Blake, I look up to soooooo much and thankful that I have him in my life still every day. I owe EVERYTHING to them and I hope to make them proud every day of my life. My first mentor who was a second mother to me, Melissa Galvin, I thank every day for teaching me all that I was taught in the first five years of my dance life. She unfortunately passed away from breast cancer the year I had moved away for college in SD. She was a beautiful soul and I pray to her and my brother every second I have before I am stepping on a stage. Some other incredible mentors that formed in my life when moving to LA are Kolanie Marks and Antoine Troupe. They took me under their wing and made me dive deeper into my mind and movement to better understand my own body and talent. And of course, the beautiful Ava Bernstine-Mitchel who trusted me from day one and also took me under her wing. There are too many people to thank for being my cheerleaders! Everybody who ever supported me has gotten me here!!! (Also, my amazing boyfriend Roel Salazar who inspires me every day and puts up with my shit. 🙂

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @sydneynlewis
• Facebook: Sydney Lewis

Image Credit:
Taylor Glassman
Anthony campusano
Alex cole

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