This week’s featured Dancer of the Week is Najaah Malone. She has been competing and winning dance competitions at a very young age and hopes to study dance at the prestigious Julliard in New York City.

Name: Najaah Malonne

Age: 14

Hobbies: Dancing, Singing, watching movies and reading

Dance School: Independent so I don’t have a home studio.I love being an independent dancer! It allows me to expand my dance community, by meeting and dancing with instructors and dancers from all over the world. With various styles, methods and perspectives, I can learn lots of new things. Each experience has contributed to my growth as a dancer and as a human being!

I just finished The Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive in New York. In Atlanta, I frequently train with The Atlanta Dance Connection. I have instructors and teachers I look for and follow to various studios. I have a long list of favorites! They each teach differently but each gives me something I need! I also participate in master classes, mini intensives and boot camps when I can. I prefer conventions over competitions because you get to take class! I do at least 4 or 5 conventions a year.

Talents: Dancing, Singing & modeling. I am academically talented too. I finished 8th grade with straight A’s in all advanced classes. I am a good public speaker. I am also a good DJ. When hanging with friends, I am in charge of the playlist. They call me DJ Real Chill - ha ha!

Inspiration: When it comes to dance, I would have to say that music inspires me personally. And every dancer inspires me. Not just famous dancers or industry dancers. But that dancer who just wants to dance for fun. They dance and you can tell they are just enjoying themselves. Enjoying the music and the movement. They inspire me, to just do me.

What is your guilty pleasure? Eating chocolate

Why you became the type of dancer you are? The many incredible teachers that I have encountered in my training and simply my love for dancing.

Your idea of ultimate success is…Fulfilling my dream as a true professional dancer and doing what I love everyday while earning a living.

What are the best advice/tips you received in dance? While technique is important, never be afraid to just get lost in your movement and truly express yourself!

What is your fondest memory of dance? Having the opportunity to be asked to dance with current Alvin Ailey company member Sean Aaron Carmon without even knowing I was going to be able to during his Broadway jazz class. When he originally asked me to dance with him I was so nervous and knew I was going to definitely forget the choreography but once the music came on I forgot all about my nerves and had so much fun!

What challenges have you faced in dance? Often times I am the youngest in class or in a company I may be performing with. That can be challenging because they don’t relate to me socially. They hang out and are dance friends. But I am a kid and they are adults. So I get it. Some don’t respect me. They don’t appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that is required to dance on their level. So I have some haters. But what’s crazy is they are usually older than me. It’s not easy. I work hard every single day. I have missed birthday parties, school dances, football games. Things most kids do. So I don’t understand it. No one handed me anything. I earn it.

I have long legs and believe it or not, dance clothing is always a challenge! Finding leotards that don’t ride up or having to get a larger size to cover my buns but then they are too big up top! Nothing’s worse than having to worry about how you look when you are dancing. It’s uncomfortable and if you have a wardrobe malfunction, it’s embarrassing. But the show must go on, as they say!

What would you do if you were a dance superhero?
I want my grand battement to have super human strength. As I lift my leg in my grand battement, I am able to knock down buildings and attack bad guys.

What are your future goals? I only work this hard because I love dance and want dance to be my future! Lately, I think I want to audition for companies at 18. I would love to do Broadway too. I am still focused on my education too. I am interested in studying at Julliard or Fordham.

I have interest in broadcasting also so maybe NYU could be an option. I know I am young and things change. But right now my future goal is to be a professional dancer. It’s hard to see anything else for my future.

What advice you can give to girls starting out in dance? I would advise a young girl starting out in dance to try all disciplines and with many different instructors. You may discover your passion in the right discipline or with the right instructor. And even if you don’t discover your passion, in the right discipline, with the right instructor you will find joy!