Meet Mary Grace Brant | Dance Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Grace Brant and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary Grace, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
First off dance is very important for many reasons; it teaches you life skills like confidence, discipline, and leadership but it also produces serotonin and is a HUGE form of therapy for many. I knew what dance meant for me (it saved me from a dark place in life) but it wasn’t until I opened Gravity and heard back from my students that I realized just how much of a positive impact we have on the community. I have always prided Gravity off of being comfortable and judgement-free; all are welcome no matter what skill level! We have amazing industry-led studios here in Los Angeles that can feel daunting to someone who is just starting out or doesn’t feel confident enough in their skill level to step into that kind of space. I LOVE training at those studios, but I understand that it is intimidating at first for someone who dances as a hobby or is a beginner! Gravity is that stepping stone, this is your place to learn, to grow, to FLAIL without judgement and to find your confidence to step into those spaces. Gravity is home for many. I have cried with students, heard that class was “the only thing I had to look forward to today”, and seen people really open up and be vulnerable here because it is their safe space. We aim to make confidence in exploring dance more accessible.
My favorite thing is starting off the warmup for group classes and seeing everyone smile because as soon as we start jumping, no-one can keep a straight face. It’s only good vibes always I have NEVER had someone come in with a weird energy, and I love being able to open this home and teach the Shuffle Dance/Cutting Shapes styles to people who find it adding value and positivity to their lives. We are fostering a loving community here that students both regular and brand new can use to connect with like-minded people and reach their dance goals because we think Shuffling, Cutting Shapes, and DANCING is for everyone!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I can call myself a professional dancer and choreographer today, but I never thought I would end up chasing this career! I found Shuffling in 2017 while in the middle of getting a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Shuffling and Cutting Shapes became a hobby that I really leaned into while going through some tough life changes; I put all of my negative energy and feelings into this dance style and transformed it into something so positive and healthy through movement. For me it was just a hobby, until I got hired by a huge energy drink brand to dance and represent their company at expos around the world. This added so much excitement to my life; I had never stepped foot in an airport before this and now, at 20 years old, I’m suddenly being flown out once a month to go Shuffle all day with this brand. Once a month became multiple times a month, and the trips spanned from the US to overseas. I felt like I was living in a movie and these are still some of the happiest years of my life. That job showed me that dance can be a career for me, so while I did finish my studies I went STRAIGHT to work on dancing as soon as I graduated. I honed in on my own style, and work hard still to this day to get better at other styles to expand my skill. I got to keep this job until covid because sadly, no more touring during lockdown. I also met my husband, got married, and was pregnant with my first child while transitioning into a new way to make a living. I knew I wanted something more consistent then influencer pay (I built up a solid following during the touring years), so I was like “let’s open a dance studio!”
I built Gravity from the ground up with a friend of mine, and our original plan was to use it for our own private use (take our own clients in there, film tutorials, etc.) and use Peerspace to rent it out to help us pay the rent in the building. Peerspace ended up not working out at all, and so I realized it was time to start hosting some classes open to the public. My friend didn’t have time to be dedicated to the business side of this, so I took it on myself. I found our first teachers, set up everything we needed to go public, and hit the ground running May 1st 2023! This has not been an easy journey at all as I have never worked in a dance studio nor had any experience of what it means to be a small business owner. I found myself doing many things I felt like I didn’t know much about such as being our Marketing Director, our Bookkeeper, our Videographer, Website Designer, SEO Specialist, our Customer Service rep…wearing even the hat of the janitor! I had no investors and no budget to pay a team. I have learned how to get better at these jobs, but the marketing is still my biggest challenge to date. Constantly trying to reach those people who don’t know that they need us (because I know they will love our classes, they just don’t know we exist!) is such a struggle. Convincing people to invest in their hobbies in a post-covid world is also very hard. It has also been the biggest challenge to be a new mom during all of this. My business can keep my busy 24/7 but it is a huge priority to me to make sure that I make time for quality moments spent with my son. It has not been easy trying to gain respect as a studio owned by a self-taught dancer who is still growing in skill, learn these skills needed to properly run my business and maintain the high standards I have for it alone, and be present for my son but I have learned how to be more efficient at tasks and manage my time wisely to allocate it where it needs to be for me to get things done and be mentally at peace. I want the world to know that I am working my butt off for this studio to exist because I know what dance has done for me, I know how important it is to foster a loving community, and I want this to be something I can show my son as proof that there is an American Dream and he can do whatever he wants to do with his life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I don’t go out much because the studio keeps me that busy! If I did though, I would highly recommend Bottega Louie or The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker for brunch. These are my favorite.
I also love walking the Hollywood Reservoir for a little physical activity outside of the gym and would take anyone for a beach day in Santa Monica because you can always find parking and it’s big enough to get a private-ish spot on the sand. Because my friends and family are producers and DJs, when I am out it is for their shows! Exchange, Sound, Academy, and Avalon are a few clubs I have gotten to see them play at and always have a good time! If you see ALRT, JOYRYDE, or HABSTRAKT on the local lineup…go.

Now if you’re asking me to do an itinerary for moms this is something I’m way better at. If you have kids, the Science Center is so great because it’s huge and it’s FREE! I also love going to the Peterson Auto Museum, which is near LACMA if you want to make it a whole day. Underwood Family Farms is a great, all-day activity that is only a car-ride away and one of our favorites.

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?
I MUST shoutout my teachers because without them, Gravity could not hold the regular classes! These are all people who are equally passionate about dance, dedicated to their craft, and lead/instruct in a loving, welcoming manner.

Brea Isaacson: Reverse Combos Class creator (IG: @iam__brea)
Kathryn Eaddy: Intro to Shuffle Teacher (IG: @kathryneaddy)
Kento Moriguchi: Int/Adv Freestyle and Choreography Teacher (IG: kento_baby)

These people are also so much more than their role in Gravity as well!

I also need to shoutout to my husband who has helped me build the studio and inspires so many of his fans through his work in music
Irad Brant aka ALRT (IG: @alrtmusic)
and my landlords Jonney & Efrat who have given me the opportunity to call their building home for Gravity and have supported the business endlessly.

Website: https://www.gravityspacela.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marygrace/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.g.oconnor.3

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gravity-space-los-angeles

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MaryGraceBrant

Other: The Gravity instagram!!! https://www.instagram.com/gravity.la/
My personal TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marygrace___?lang=en