Today we’d like to introduce you to India Collins.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey started in 2006, where am I fell in love with cheerleading. I cheered in Pop Warner from 2006 until 2009. From there, I began coaching my own team within the Pop Warner division from 2010 to 2012. Nearing the end of my time with Pop Warner in 2012, I took an interest in the dance scene at IDA while also starting my own all-star cheerleading team. While dancing with something I’d love to do, it was not paying the bills. I would work in a corporate office during the day and spend my nights watching my dance favorites on youtube or catching Wildabeast or Taiwan at Millennium. From 2013 to 2017, I gained, at my heaviest; 400 pounds all while still dancing and doing what I love to do. I knew I was overweight and that this was not the way I wanted to feel while I danced so I took control and decided to get weight loss surgery. In 2018, I spent the entire year training. Taking classes from Nicole Kirkland, Wildabeast, Taiwan, Fefe Burgos and more. In 2019, I decided to audition for Lizzo, and this began my professional journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are a lot of challenges that come with being in the dance industry. As a cheerleader and dancer, I have always been the biggest in the room. Not only that, I’m am African American Woman. These challenges have made the journey harder but has made me build so much confidence in myself, knowing that my dreams can still be accomplished even with the odds stacked against me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professional dancer, choreographer and model. I am known for my street/urban style of dancing. I feel, because of my background in cheerleading, I have a more full-out approach when performing. This sets me aside from most because I can give street/hood, then switch to a full-out tour performance in an instant!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I would love to work with and train dancers who want to take their dance careers to the next level. I have a lot of knowledge about the industry and would love to share with dancers in the community. I post on my Instagram when I am looking to work with dancers for visuals @indi2badd. If you would like to work with or support, a message to my IG page would be best.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
ig: @es.photography.la
