I first saw Reid dance at North Atlanta's spring dance concert. I had done some choreography for the show and came to support my dancers. I was in awe of this beautiful young artist that kept gracing the stage. Eventually I started seeing her in classes at Gotta Dance as well as in rehearsals with the company I dance with. I became more and more impressed with her talents everytime I saw her dance. This young star is definitely on her way to an amazing dance career!! If you know her you know there is no question as to why I am highlighting her as my next BOSs dancer!
"I grew up as a serious competitive gymnast. I started dancing at Atlanta Ballet and school and I loved it. Eventually I realized I needed more rigorous training with more personal attention which brought me to look into summer intensives. After my summer at the Ailey intensive I started working with Robert & Jennifer Mason to privately train me in ballet and horton, and mentor me through the next two years so I could get good enough to be accepted to my dream school: The Fordham/Ailey BFA program. The training was so hard, but I got through it and I owe all of my success to Robert and Jennifer. Amidst all of this I was also accepted into the Governors Honors Program for dance, where I met my other mentor, Ms. Dawn Axam. She was so inspiring and helped me to think in ways I never had before. When the summer was over I began apprenticing with her company; Axam Dance Theater. The combination of The City Gate School training with Jennifer and Robert and the performances and hours spent in rehearsal with Dawn Axam was absolutely perfect for me. I ended up being accepted into some of the most prestigious dance BFA programs in the country, which I owe all to God and Jennifer/Robert/Dawn. And I have chosen to attend Fordham/Ailey with the help of a lot of scholarship money. I had to play catch up, but it was all worth it in the end. I am hoping to graduate from the program and go right into the Alvin Ailey company. I want to dance professionally for many years after I graduate and travel, and eventually start my own company as the artistic director. I also love to sing, and have been taking voice lessons at Jan Smith Studios and performing with them for about a year. So we will see where life takes me:)"
Full Name
Julia Reid Newton
Hometown
Atlanta
Age
18
When did you start dancing?
13, 8th grade, seriously in 9th grade
What/who made you want to become a professional dancer?
I was a competitive gymnast until I was 13 years old, and then I switched to dancing. I fell in love with it and knew I had some catching up to do so I started working like crazy to catch up on the technique I knew I needed to turn dance into a career. It just felt right when I started.
What is your dream job?
To dance professionally in the Alvin Ailey Company and or Cirque Du Solei, and eventually start my own contemporary company.
What is your best dance memory?
The Governors Honors Program show. I was a dance major and the show we did with Dawn Axam was the most emotionally vulnerable yet physically demanding show I have ever done. I bore my soul on stage and it was a great 4 weeks.
What does dance and creativity mean to you?
Dance and creativity embody a universal language…we get on stage and essentially show others our experience in life through an asthetic medium. We try to make them feel what we felt, or feel/think about something that they never felt/thought about before. As dancers and choreographers it is our job to push ourselves physically in order to portray a message so that everyone can feel it and understand it. Intangible art.
What do you appreciate most about the dance scene in Atlanta
I appreciate how small it is. Almost everyone knows each other in one way or another, which can be comforting but can also be a little suffocating at times.
What advice can you give dancers who are looking to BUST OUT?
Just don't compare yourself to anyone else. Push yourself to the limit but know your own limits. If I compare myself to Alicia Graf, I will be sad all day long. But I'm Reid, not Alicia Graf, and I have been born with a talent to share and I do that to the best of MY ability. Don't be discouraged by expectations, let them fuel you.
FUN FACTS
What's your slogan or something you always say?
I am kind of quiet on that front haha.
What's your favorite food?
Mexican food
Is there something in particular type of clothing you have to wear while dancing?
Layers! Look as homeless as possible haha so many random articles of clothing.
What can you not live without?
My dog tiger
What super power would you have and why?
to fly…other than the obvious travel opportunities… imagine the choreography you could make with that!
