Life & Work with Cheyenne Griggs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyenne Griggs.

Hi Cheyenne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. My Nan took me to my first dance class at the age of two and ever since then, I haven’t stopped. Even as a kid, I always had this deep knowing that dance was more to me than just an activity.

Dance feels like a part of me and is something that fuels my soul to keep living. It’s a place for me to truly express the deep emotions inside of me that I am unable to express verbally or even unable to comprehend. Dance just flows through me, it is part of my being and I 100% believe that it is my true purpose on this earth. Dance isn’t just about the steps. Dance as a whole is about the story and experiences you’ve made along the journey. It’s about the healing it can do for yourself and others, it’s the inspiration you are able to feed others, it’s the connections and friendships you build along the way. Dance is about living. Living your true authentic purpose and being vulnerable with the world and yourself, sharing your story through your movement.

All of that being said, I have truly been living my life by following my heart’s desires. I knew that the best place for me to further my dance knowledge and to be closer to my ultimate goal was to situate myself in Los Angeles. So I moved over to LA in 2019 to attend AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts. It was genuinely one of the hardest decisions to make, as I am a very family-orientated being. The fact is that I had this fire within me to follow my dreams and I had the full love and support of my family and friends. AMDA was an amazing experience, where I grew and gained so much knowledge. I have built friendships that have turned into family and have connected with some amazing mentors. My senior year at AMDA was a very interesting time, not just for me but for the whole world. Covid hit halfway through my senior year so I got to experience both normality and ‘new’ normality. I graduated with my AOS in Dance Theatre and got to experience a virtual graduation which was pretty cool.

Since then, I have been signed with Go 2 Talent Agency which has been a major blessing for me. I am currently a part of Cameron Lee’s Mentorship program which is such an amazing experience. As we are still in this period of coming out of Covid and trying to find this ‘new normality,’ times have been very unexpected. The whole performing arts industry has been flipped over and we are all trying to find this new balance. But, I am a true believer in ‘Everything Happens for a Reason’ and believe that we will surpass this challenge and come out even greater than before.

It’s crazy to think that I am living in my dream city pursuing what I could have only dreamed of as a little girl. The power we all hold is insane. As a kid, I would write out my goals and create vision boards, not even truly thinking it was possible. Now I sit back and laugh because I know for a fact younger Cheyenne would never have thought that this was all going to happen. I still have a lot to accomplish but I am proud of where I am at now.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Offff. It has been a roller coaster of a ride. The pure fact of being halfway across the world from my family is a constant daily struggle. I am pretty good at dealing with my emotions, but the family part never gets easier. It’s now coming onto 16months since I’ve seen my family and friends. Honestly I can’t even believe it, time just flies. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without experiencing this. I find it so beautiful to know that I have a family that I love wholeheartedly and the strength I have formed both mentally and emotionally to be able to do this is really powerful. I also find it beautiful to know that my heart is calling me to stay in Los Angeles to pursue dance. I treat every obstacle as a blessing in disguise and believe that even in the darkest places there is always light to be found.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Honestly, I would say I am a creative soul. I love to dance, choreograph and perform. When I am on stage, I feel the most clarity and am in my truest form. I love teaching kids and allowing them to fully express who they are through their movement. I am a pretty well-rounded dancer, growing up I studied everything, but I am known for Hip-hop and Jazz. I am definitely most proud of moving over to Los Angeles. Stepping out of the comfort of my own home and moving over here by myself is something to be proud of. Expressing my true authentic self is definitely what sets me apart from everyone because there is only one Cheyenne Griggs in this world and there will only ever be one Cheyenne Griggs.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Connecting with different individuals is one of the best parts about dance. Being able to explore other’s movements and being able to listen to how others view dance/life is so powerful. I love learning! Learning new things like different perspectives or how you process a certain move is so interesting to me. When it comes to collaborating, I am always on board. I know that I am able to give something to someone whether that be advice, feedback or just a body to be able to see the movement on and vice versa. I know I will always learn something from someone else. Collaborating is about connecting and growth. If you ever want to collaborate with me just send through a message and I will be so down!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://cheyennegriggs.wixsite.com/chey/bio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheyenne_griggs/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjnCZc5c1M6wD_4irffcUlg

Image Credits
Diva Dance Photography Serdar Design