We always enjoy highlighting artists that are focused on what they create and how they make others feel. Red Bull dance athlete, Marlee Hightower has been in a number of competitive dance shows from World of Dance, America’s Got Talent, and more. From a young age, she has been working in the industry as a Choreographer and Movement Director. Her work can be seen among an array of luminaries in the industry that include Coldplay, Janet Jackson, and Pharrell Williams. She also has her MOTIV Dance Studio that she founded as well as her MOTIV Crew that works with her throughout the world. We sat down with Marlee to talk about her love of hip-hop. dance, how she approaches taking on her projects, and much more! ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love, you know, with dance? MARLEE HIGHTOWER: For me, I started dance when I was really little. My mom put me in dance when I was 3. So I kind of grew up into it. I don’t feel like there was this specific moment for me more so that it has just been such a big part of my identity and it’s just been a big part of who I am! AM: What style of dance did you start with? I started at 3 with tap. MH: Really? I did hip-hop. AM: Oh wow so it has always been hiphop? MH: I started out doing a little bit of everything. But, I took my first hip-hop class when I was 6. And I was like, this is what I want to do. AM: Who is, the first dancer or show that made you realize that this is something that you wanted to do? MH: Honestly, Beyoncé. AM: Nice! MH: I was, like, I’m gonna be Beyoncé. I MH: I was, like, I’m gonna be Beyoncé. I was a kid, but I could have sworn it would be her. She was incredible and honestly the Step Ups. I was obsessed with Step Up 2. I was obsessed with the moves, it was my everything. AM: What drew you to hip-hop and how do you define yourself? Is there a sub style even within hip-hop dance? MH: I feel like with hip-hop, it’s interesting because there is like a very foundational version of hip-hop. AM: Right. MH: I think that over time, especially in the choreography space, like it has evolved and even in freestyle - it has evolved. You know, you have other styles coming into play, even in New York, you have, light feet and stuff like that. So, yeah, there’s like, umbrellas. For me, I grew up listening to a lot of like old school, hip-hop - A Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, and Mos Def. That’s like so much a part of who I am and even my family. My dad’s a graffiti artist. AM: Oh wow! MH: So hip-hop culture as a whole has been like very much a part of my life, so it just feels natural for it to also showcase itself, in my dance. AM: When did you realize that this passion for dance should also be a career for you? MH: I started dancing professionally at a very young. Like my first commercial, I did when I was 7 years old, then I went on America’s Got Talent. I made it to the top 10 when I was 10 years old. So, I’ve been working in the industry for a really, really long time. And then I opened up my dance studio in Orlando with my father when I
X
Instagram
Facebook