Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailee Payne.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hailee. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I absolutely love dance. And not just the actual act of dancing, but every aspect that surrounds it. The art, the soul, the history, the music. I enjoy it all. Even before I knew what “dancing” was, I remember bouncing around the living room with my dad to his club hits and just enjoying the music. We would go at it for hours it seemed. Granted, I was very young, four to be exact, but deep down, I knew that this is what made me happy.
Besides bopping around with my dad, one of my fondest memories from my childhood was watching the 1999 Thanksgiving Day Parade with him. He kept saying, “Wait until you see the Rockettes!” As soon as they came onto the screen I was hooked! My dad says that I instantly turned to him and said, “Daddy, I want to be a Rockette!” Those must have been the magical words because I was in dance classes the next week.
At four years old, you do not do too much besides stand there, clap off beat, and look cute. But as I grew older, I started understanding, learning, and appreciating the art of dance. I dabbled on a competitive softball team for a couple of years but nothing compared to when I was on stage dancing. I knew then that it was time to get serious. At age 12, I started training at the studio, Infinity Dance, in Ogden Utah where I began training extensively in jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, jazz funk, tap, ballroom and everything in between. I would compete in 12 group routines, have two solos, and still want more. I would travel on the weekends and assist with dance conventions where I would be training from 6am until 4pm, then run competition until midnight… And I always wanted more. It was in my blood! I had to dance!
As I grew older, nothing changed. I set my goals. I wanted to compete on So You Think You Can Dance, move to Los Angeles, dance on television, shoot a print ad, dance with major artists, teach to the youth around the country, and all the while continue to be kind to everyone that I encountered along the way. To this day, I still cannot believe that I have had the opportunity to pursue all of those dream and make them a reality. I have been very fortunate and blessed throughout my life and my passion and drive have never wavered. Not to mention I have a wonderful support system behind me. Without the loving support of my parents and the guidance of my dance teacher, Mandy Shaw, I would not be where I am today. With all of those factors, I am determined to keep growing and reaching for the stars! Lady Gaga I am coming for you girl! Let’s dance together!
Has it been a smooth road?
I have had my fair share of smooth sailing but I have also hit some very big potholes along the way lol. Honestly, one of my biggest potholes does not come from an outside source but from the control center, my own brain. My brain likes to play games with me and challenge my “truth” and my “essence.” Deep down, I know my truth and who I really am. I am a confident, rock & roll chick who sports short blonde hair, band tees, loves dancing, enjoys doing makeup, always has an outside voice, being weird is her favorite hobby, believes everyone should be treated with kindness and is a magical unicorn in this life.
It is so easy to lose sight of those things when working in the entertainment industry when you constantly hear no or stop booking jobs. Instantly my thoughts go to the negative. I start questioning who I am as a human and pick apart every detail of myself. Do I need to grow my hair out? Do I need to change my hair color? Or maybe I need to be skinnier? Should I take more dance class? Have I lost my touch?
These are all questions that have run through my head at some point during my four years of living in Los Angeles. It comes and goes in waves. Although these thoughts make my stomach clench, I know they are not true. A friend of mine, Jessie Douglass-Smith who has a wonderful podcast “What Moves You”, asked me to tell her what thoughts are. I proceeded to list things such as memories, feelings, etc. She said, “Those are the components that make up a thought but what is it exactly?” The light bulb came on… Nothing! They are made of nothing! Thoughts are just clouds trying to block your true light, your truth, your essence. Ever since that encounter, when these thoughts of doubt start to surface, I immediately think of her and her kind words. I am instantly reminded that I am strong and have many things to offer to this world. I have never felt better living in Los Angeles!
So yes, I have struggles along the way but I am learning to cope with them and almost welcome them so I can make my road stronger.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Although I do not own a company, I promote myself and have dove into the world of self-employment. I have found success as a professional dancer and choreographer which I am beyond grateful for. I get to wake up everyday knowing that I am following my dreams and passion.
Dancers are not all that well known. We are climbing the social media ladder though and making our presence known with class footage as well as YouTube videos. I love that people are appreciating and loving dance! As for myself, if people do know me, it is for my participation in the tv show “So You Think You Can Dance Season 12” where I placed in the top four. That was my first stepping stone into this crazy dance world. From there, it was all about making connections and working hard. I am proud of all my achievements. From dancing on the Soul Train Awards, performing with Taylor Swift on the American Music Awards, being an assistant choreographer for the Netflix film “Feel the Beat”, teaching on the dance convention, NRG Dance Project, and so much more. With each opportunity, I have grown not only as a dancer but as a human being. One of my proudest moments though was booking the Backstreet Boy’s Las Vegas residency. I never in my wildest dreams believed I would be dancing behind the Backstreet Boys. I grew up watching the music video “Everybody” singing along and hoping one day I could perform those iconic moves. March 1, 2017 was that exact day and I did it alongside an inspiring cast who I still cherish like a family.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My favorite thing about Los Angeles are all the amazing opportunities! This is the city people come to make their dreams come true. It is the melting pot. I am still surprised when I meet people who actually grew up here lol. And can we talk about the wonderful weather! But because of all the incredible opportunities, it does become a very competitive city. It’s like a double edge sword in a sense. Everyone is on a mission to get where they need to be and in the quickest way possible. When I slow down for a moment to enjoy life, it seems as if everyone is judging me for doing that. The pressure to succeed is felt at all times. I enjoy that pressure since it drives me to continue to push for what I want, but I am working on finding balance. I believe life is not about having more than or less than, but striving for balance in all aspects of life. Also, the traffic… that is quite possibly the worst part of Los Angeles lol!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @hailee_payne & @hushblush_hailee (for makeup)
- Facebook: Hailee Payne
- Twitter: @hailee_payne
Image Credit:
Wes Klain; Shiobian Dumas
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