Today we’d like to introduce you to Auriana Ehsani.
Auriana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began dancing around ten years old in Tucson, Arizona, where I grew up. I always loved dance but never truly took it seriously until I entered high school. Once I graduated high school, I found myself in a bind, because I wanted to dance professionally but was unsure of what that really entailed, and it was important to me and my parents that I go to college. I ended up going to the University of Arizona as a business major to give college a chance. I joined a sorority, lived in the dorms and really went all in with the “college experience”!
While at school, my heart was still in dance and I grew bored and unfulfilled. I remember over Winter break of my Freshman year I told my mom that I wanted to audition for the Edge Scholarship program and move to LA. She was completely on board but said the only way she would support me is if I didn’t drop out of school and kept the same budget as I did living in Tucson. I stayed up all night writing out a budget for myself (which might I add had me spending $200 less a month than I was currently spending ;)), as well as the courses I needed to take to stay on track in school. I showed it to her and starting Spring semester I gave it a go. I took about 21 credits that next semester and another nine over the summer.
After making the Edge Scholarship program, I moved to LA within two weeks and continued to take school courses online along the way. The program gave me the foundation of everything I know about commercial dance and the entertainment industry. After 12 months of training, I signed with Bloc Talent Agency and have been auditioning and working ever since. Since I have danced in commercials for Ford and AT&T. I also danced at the VMAs for Ariana Grande and have danced for MAC Cosmetics. Last Spring, I also graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration, which was the cherry on top for both me and my parents.
I am forever grateful that I took a leap and moved to LA to pursue my dream. It has not been an easy road and I know that I will continue to struggle, but I feel so lucky to wake up every day and be surrounded by people who love what they do, are inspiring, and push me to be the best version of myself possible.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the hardest struggles for me has been believing in myself and maintaining a positive mindset. As a dancer it’s so crucial to showcase what makes you unique and to be your most authentic self, but when there’s so much noise in what others are doing and the natural competitiveness of the field, it becomes so easy to lose that spark.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a professional commercial dancer and have trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, jazz-funk, contemporary, and lyrical. It’s always my goal to be as versatile as possible. When I first moved to LA, I was limited in the amount of styles I felt comfortable in, but since moving here I have really tried to push myself to diversify my vocabulary. I try to throw myself into a lot of classes that are out of my comfort zone to really push myself so that I am prepared for any job in the future.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment has been dancing at the VMAs for Ariana Grande’s God Is A Woman performance. Before moving to LA, dancing at the VMAs for a major artist was one of the main goals I had set for myself, so that moment was so surreal for me. Experiencing how the creative process worked and seeing the piece come to life was one of the best experiences I could have ever asked for and I am forever grateful for it.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’d say it’s a mix of patience, hard work and consistency. I’m not always the best dancer in the room, but I really love it and am willing to work hard for as long as I need to to reach my goals. Especially nowadays, I feel like so many people want instant gratification and results. I think it says a lot when someone is willing to be patient and put the work in to reach the point they want.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurianaehsani/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurianaehsani
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78_ACSknXiU
Image Credit:
PLindsay Rosenberg, Vince Trupsin, Marcus Hyde
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