Meet Niyah Lashae | Artist. Creative Visionary. Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Niyah Lashae and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Niyah, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Everything in life is a risk. Waking up in the morning is a risk, answering a phone call is a risk, going outside is a risk, even staying home is a risk! To not take risks, is to not be living, and I actively make the choice to live every single day.

I think the word “risk” comes with a negative or taboo connotation. To me, the word “risk” is a synonym for “choice”. We as people will always face the “what if” scenario. It is embedded in every decision we make. Personally I struggle with taking risks for that very reason. “What if I do, what if I don’t”. To take risks is to be present in your life, and I think most of us tend to live in yesterday or tomorrow, but never today. To take a risk, or to not take a risk, is a choice. And every choice has an inevitable consequence, good or bad. I believe that every risk I have taken in my life has led me to every single blessing I have had. I believe it has also led me to every single lesson I was supposed to learn.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets my art apart from others is simply the fact that it is MY art. It doesn’t make it the best, nor does it make it the worst. It just makes it mine, and I am super proud of that.

I truly love the idea of the Circle of Life. That’s how I like to think of my growth. I would say that I was always a creative and animated kid. I was a competitive Figure-Skater from the age of seven to fourteen, and performed on a Theatre on Ice Team that got to travel internationally! It taught me a lot of discipline, commitment, and harsh truths about the world. I was one of maybe five black people in a company over 100 people, which played a bigger toll on me than I realized at the time. Being a young girl growing up, going through adolescence, constantly feeling like I was altering things about myself just to fit in. it was hard to find myself when my friends didn’t look like me, most lived in a two parent house hold, costuming always looked different on me, etc. I didn’t really know how to be confident in my own skin. Now don’t get me wrong, there were SO many beautiful people I met and incredible experiences I was privileged enough to have, I wouldn’t change a thing. I actually wouldn’t have some of my best qualities today if I grew up different. I just never felt like I truly belonged because as an artist you have to completely, unapologetically be yourself. But I had no clue who I was, or what I wanted.

I feel like my re-birth came when I started dancing. I felt my creativity begin to flourish. I had just turned fourteen when I joined the dance company at school, as well as B. Funk Dance Studio. As the years went by, I really became a sponge as I began exploring my voice and expression… kind of like the first few months of an infants life. After I graduated high school, I began to use that voice more and more, building that confidence to lead unapologetically … kind of like that confident kindergartener that wants to be line leader… See where I am going with this?

Currently I see myself like the kid entering middle school where they have to find all their classes by themselves. No specific lines to follow, just moving with the current of the crowd as I find my way.

I’d also like to state for the record by no means do I feel like I have it all figured out, I am just allowing the circle of life to play out as it should with keeping these three things in mind..

1. “Live for today! Be Present!” Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised.
2. “Listen to your body”.
3. “You are what you eat, drink, and think. Foremost what you think”. Be careful about the type of consumptions and energy you allow into your life, it can make or break you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am from Washington D.C. My entire family is from D.C. I love D.C with all of my heart! It would have to be D.C. there is so much to do!

We would definitely eat at a few of my favorite soul food restaurants such as, Ooh’s and Aahs, Carolina’s Kitchen, and Carribean Cove. We would definitely visit the African American Museum, I love the Spy Museum, ride scooters around the monument. If timing aligned, I would definitely take my friend to an event called “Moechella” who’s initiative is to keep the Go-Go music and the culture of D.C. alive by hosting new and traditional bands to have mini street concerts. I honestly don’t know I am always down for whatever!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My village is irreplaceable! I would like to shoutout my family, friends and all of my mentors I have had throughout my journey. One person I would like to shoutout specifically is my High School Dance Teacher Holli Tucci. I would not be half the dancer, artist, or creative visionary if it were not for her education and support! She saw something in me from such a young age that ignited the spark in me, I never knew I had. Forever grateful for her!

Instagram: @__niyahh

Image Credits
Corrin Johnson – @corrinstudios Jacob Webster – @jpwphoto Niyah Lashae – @__niyahh